The effect of aerobic exercise on immune biomarkers and symptoms severity and progression in patients with COVID-19: A randomized control trial

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization in March 2020 has announced that COVID-19 is a world pandemic because the number of infected cases increases rapidly. however, there are several available vaccines, their protection is limited to a certain period. Thus, the role of modalities that improve immune functions should be performed to counter COVID-19 viral load and decrease mortality rates.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on immune biomarkers, disease severity, and progression in patients with COVID-19.

Design: A randomized controlled study.

Participants: Thirty patients with COVID-19 participated in this study. Participants' age ranged from 24 to 45 years old. Participants had a mild or moderate COVID-19. Participants were assigned randomly into two groups, exercise and control groups. There were two main dependent variables including blood immune markers and severity of respiratory symptoms.

Interventions: All participants performed 2 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for 40 min/session, 3 sessions/week. The measurements were performed at baseline, and after 2-weeks.

Results: At baseline measurements, there were non-significant differences between both groups in the Wisconsin scale total score, Leucocytes, Lymphocytes, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-10, Immunoglobulin-A, and TNF-α (P > .05). After the intervention, the Wisconsin scale (patient-oriented illness-specific quality-of-life) total score significantly decreased in the intervention group (P < .05); while, Leucocytes, Lymphocytes, and Immunoglobulin-A significantly increased in the intervention group (P < .05).

Conclusion: The current study indicated that 2 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreased the severity and progression of COVID-19 associated disorders and quality of life. Also, a 2-weeks of aerobic exercise positively affected immune function by increasing the amounts of Leucocytes, Lymphocytes, Immunoglobulin A.

Keywords: Aerobic capacity; Aerobic exercise; COVID-19; Immune biomarkers; Immune system.