Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Research Articles

The effect of craniocervical flexion and neck endurance exercises plus pulmonary rehabilitation on pulmonary function in spinal cord injury: a pilot single-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Randomised controlled trial with computerised allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. This study wanted to prove that cervicocranial flexion exercise (CCFE) and superficial neck flexor endurance training combined with common pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible for improving spinal cord injury people's pulmonary function. Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare: Department of Physiotherapy, Taiwan. Thirteen individuals who had sustained spinal cord injury for less than a year were recruited and randomised assigned into two groups. The experimental group was assigned CCFEs and neck flexor endurance training plus normal cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The control group was assigned general neck stretching exercises plus cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Lung function parameters such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), inspiratory capacity (IC), dyspnoea, pain, and neck stiffness were recorded once a week as short-term outcome measure. The experimental group showed significant time effects for FVC (pre-therapy: 80.4 ± 21.4, post-therapy: 86.9 ± 16.9, p = 0.021, 95% CI: 0.00-0.26) and PEFR (pre-therapy: 67.0 ± 33.4; post-therapy: 78.4 ± 26.9, p = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.00-0.22) after the therapy course. Furthermore, the experimental group showed significant time effects for BDI (experimental group: 6.3 ± 3.0; control group: 10.8 ± 1.6, p = 0.012, 95% CI: 0.00-0.21). The exercise regime for the experimental group could efficiently increase lung function due to the following three reasons: first, respiratory accessory muscle endurance increases through training. Second, posture becomes less kyphosis resulting increasing lung volume. Third, the ratio between superficial and deep neck flexor is more synchronised. TYGH108045. NCT04500223.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation’s influence on cognitive functions, psychological state, and sleep quality in long COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: Cognitive impairment, brain fog, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance are prevalent symptoms among individuals with long COVID, for which there currently is no treatment. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of an eight-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme on cognition, psychological well-being, and sleep quality in individuals with long COVID-19. Methods: Forty participants diagnosed with long COVID-19 (26 female, 14 male participants; mean age 53 ± 11 years) were randomly assigned to a rehabilitation group or to a control group. The control group maintained their regular daily habits, while the rehabilitation group was prescribed an individualized clinical programme consisting of three sessions per week. Each session involved light to moderate aerobic exercise, resistance training, and respiratory exercises. Neuropsychological tests evaluating executive function, memory, and processing speed were administered at baseline and at study completion. Participants also completed questionnaires on their psychological state and sleep quality at both time points. Results: No difference between groups was observed for neuropsychological test performance, however significant group differences in perceived stress and depression were found post-intervention. Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation was shown to be effective in individuals suffering from long COVID in terms of decreasing perceived stress and depression levels but not for neuropsychological test performance. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05035628. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05035628..

An Experimental Study to Analyse the Effect of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Improving Functional Capacity and Pulmonary Function Test in Patients with Post Renal Transplantation

An Experimental Study to Analyse the Effect of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Improving Functional Capacity and Pulmonary Function Test in Patients with Post Renal Transplantation

Surgical Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease Against the Background of Coagulopathy of Unknown Etiology. Case Report

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and one of the leading causes of death in the world. Diet is the first step in the prevention of CHD. Vegetarians have significantly lower risk of death from CHD, but also have changes in the hemostasis system due to a deficiency of blood clotting factors. Cardiosurgical intervention for patients with hemostatic disorders should be performed in specialized centers with the necessary support.
 Case description. A 73-year-old patient G. was hospitalized to the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery with angina pectoris, weakness and edema. From the past medical history it is known that the patient has been following a diet with complete exclusion of meat and dairy products for 20 years, rarely eats fish; in addition, he smoked for 20 years at a young age. After coronary angiography, the patient developed bleeding from the oral cavity of unknown origin, which resolved on its own. According to the examination, the patient was found to have a multivessel lesion of the coronary arteries, and cardiosurgical intervention was indicated: coronary bypass surgery. At a case conference with cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologist and cardiologist, a decision was made to perform salvage cardiac surgery. The predicted mortality risk was 7.0% by the EuroSCORE II. The early postoperative period was complicated by bleeding with subsequent revision of the pericardium to identify the source of bleeding. Coagulopathy of unknown origin was suspected. Replacement hemostatic therapy was started, which included massive blood transfusions. The pace and level of exudation significantly decreased, the operation was completed. After surgical interventions and hemotransfusions, thromboelastography was performed and plasma hypercoagulation was detected. The patient was discharged for continued cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and outpatient treatment was prescribed.
 Conclusions. This case report describes successful treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease by bypass grafting in a vegetarian patient with a coagulation disorder. Studies of the effects of a vegetarian diet on the hemostatic system indicate that vegetarians may have lower concentrations of hemostatic factors and that thrombin time is also prolonged due to the nutritional guidance provided by this diet. In addition, timely detection of a deficiency of blood coagulation factors in the plasma of a patient with such history can facilitate the diagnosis of the hemostasis system.

Koronavirüs Pandemisi Sırasında Görev Yapan Fizyoterapistlerin Pandemiye İlişkin Bilgi, Farkındalık ve Tutumlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Purpose: It was aimed to determine the change in the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of physiotherapists working in the field of cardiopulmonary physiotherapy and rehabilitation (PWCPR), and to investigate the burnout level of PWCPR and physiotherapists working in the other fields (PWOF).
 Methods: The demographic and occupational information of the participants were recorded. The Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude Questionnaire, which was designed specifically for research, was administered only to PWCPR group, and The Turkish Adaptation of The Burnout Measure-Short Version (TA-BMS) was administered to all participants online via Google Forms. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 11.5 program. Significance level was measured to p

Physical functional recovery in the early period after hospitalization for COVID-19: impact of hypertension and outcome prediction model

The aim – to study the influence of hypertension (HT) on the dynamics of natural recovery of physical functional status in the early period after hospitalization for COVID-19 and to develop a model for predicting recovery results at 1 month after discharge.Materials and methods. 221 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (age 53.4±13.6 years, 53 % women) were included in the study, 176 of whom underwent the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) using an extended protocol within 1-2 days before discharge. A repeat visit to assess the dynamics of natural recovery was performed at 1 month after discharge.Results and discussion. Pre-discharge 6-minute walk distance was 378±57 m in patients with HT and 418±75 m without it, p=0.001, during the second visit – 440±52 versus 478±68, p=0.002; the achieved percentage of the individually predicted distance was 67.4±10.5 vs. 69.5±13.6 % and 81.6±9.9 vs. 81.9±15.7 %, respectively, p>0.05 for both visits. The increase in heart rate during the test at visit 1 was 18.5±8.3 versus 30.1±19.3 bpm, p<0.001, the percentage of chronotropic reserve utilizatoin was 21.3±9.6 % versus 29.2±11.4 %, p<0.001. During the second visit, residual manifestations of this trend were observed, with an increase in HR by 24.0±9.5 vs. 30.8±12.1, p=0.003 and the use of chronotropic reserve of 28.1±10.1 % vs. 33.4±12.4 %, respectively, p=0.029. The developed multivariate linear regression model explained 59 % of the variability in the achieved percentage of the individually predicted 6-minute walk distance at 1 month after discharge. The use of machine learning allowed to create an artificial neural network based regression model that used age, height, use of remdesivir in treatment, and SBP and DBP values at the time of discharge as predictors, and explained 90 % of observed variability.Conclusions. Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were characterized by a decrease in the general physical functional status as assessed by 6MWT at the time of discharge and incomplete recovery after 1 month. Presence of hypertension was associated with more pronounced disturbances of the autonomic regulation of heart rate, but did not affect the reached percentage of the distance walked. The proposed artificial neural network based regression model allows for a high accuracy prediction of the 6MWT results at 1 month after discharge, which can be used in the selection of candidates for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on function and quality of life in sepsis patients.

Sepsis, as a non-limiting host infection disease, can be accompanied by serious complications such as organ failure, which seriously threatens patient quality of life. To investigate the effect of early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis. A total of 80 patients with sepsis who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022 were selected and divided into the observation group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 40) according to the random number table method. The observation group was treated with early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and the control group was treated with a conventional treatment regimen. Cardiac function indexes (central venous pressure, cardiac troponin I, B-type brain natriuretic peptide), lung function indicators (diaphragmatic mobility, changes in central venous oxygen saturation, oxygenation index), and quality of life (Quality of Life Evaluation Scale) were compared between the two groups after treatment. After treatment, the central venous pressure, diaphragm mobility, central venous oxygen saturation, oxygenation index, and Quality of Life Evaluation Scale scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The observation group was less than that of the control group for other parameters, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Early stepwise cardiopulmonary rehabilitation can effectively enhance cardiac and pulmonary function and improve the quality of life in patients evacuated from mechanical ventilation with sepsis.

Impairments of functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, balance and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundMuscle weakness, balance, and functional capacity are affected in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dialysis. However, studies about kinesiophobia, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, balance, exercise capacity, fatigue, and physical activity level in patients with CKD 3–4 are limited. The study aimed to compare the functional exercise capacity, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, balance, kinesiophobia, physical activity, fatigue, and dyspnea between patients with CKD 3–4 and controls.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 43 patients and 45 controls. Functional exercise capacity [6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT)], peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, dyspnea, fatigue, physical activity, balance [Berg Balance Scale (BBS)], and kinesiophobia were evaluated.ResultsDemographic characteristics were similar in patients [53(50–57) y, 26 M/17F] and controls [51(4.506-55) y, 33 M/12F] (p > 0.05). The 6MWT, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function, physical activity, and BBS were significantly lower, and the level of dyspnea and kinesiophobia were higher in patients compared with controls (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPatients had impaired functional exercise capacity, upper and lower extremity muscle strength, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and balance, increased perception of dyspnea and kinesiophobia, and reduced physical activity level compared with controls. Patients should be directed to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Association among cardiopulmonary and metabolic rehabilitation, arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia responses of patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF.

There's limited evidence of the potential benefits of cardiopulmonary and metabolic rehabilitation (CPMR) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of CPMR on the myocardial ischemia response (MIR), exercise-induced arrhythmias (EIA), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, heart rate recovery (HRR), Borg CR10 perceived symptoms, and the SF-36 physical and mental health summary scores. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 106 patients undergoing 12 weeks of CPMR who completed two exercise tests pre- and post-CPMR: 1) maximum incremental test (CPX) and 2) submaximal constant load test (SUB). After CPMR, the effects on MIR, EIA, NYHA functional class, and HRR during both tests were analyzed. There was a significant change in NYHA functional classes after CPMR, with 96% of the patients in class I (vs 62% pre-CPMR, P<0.0001), 4% in class II (vs 32%), and none in class III (vs 6%). There was a significant reduction in the frequency of EIA (P<0.05) and MIR (P<0.001) and a significantly improved performance on both CPX and SUB tests (P<0.0001). Lastly, there was significant progress in the recovery metrics like HRR (P<0.0001), the Borg CR10 (P<0.0001), and the SF-36 summary scores (P<0.0001). The CPMR resulted in a significant decrease in EIA, delayed ischemia threshold in CPX and SUB tests, increased functional capacity, and improved quality of life.

Efficacy of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nursing in enhancing pulmonary function, sleep quality, and living ability in COVID-19 patients.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the impact of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nursing on the pulmonary function, sleep quality, and living ability of patients afflicted with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 98 patients with COVID-19 treated at The People's Hospital of Guang'an between September 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively collected as the research subjects. Among them, 48 patients who received standard nursing care from September 2021 to September 2022 were set as the control group, and 50 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nursing from October 2022 to January 2023 were set as the research group. The pulmonary function indicators [including Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)], sleep quality [evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], and living ability [assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) scale] pre- and post-intervention were compared between the two groups. Pre-intervention, FEV1, LVEF, PSQI scores, inflammatory factor levels [C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT)], and SF-36 scores showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Post-intervention, the research group exhibited notably enhanced FEV1 and LVEF, lower PSQI scores, lower CRP and PCT, and higher SF-36 scores compared with the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that non-receipt of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, age ≥60 years, concurrent respiratory failure, coexistent heart failure, and acid-base imbalance were independent risk factors of adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients (P<0.05). Application of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation nursing in COVID-19 patients can significantly improve pulmonary function, sleep quality, and overall quality of life, and relieve the inflammatory state of the patients, thereby enhancing prognosis. This approach has certain value of popularization and application.

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation along with Inspiratory Muscle Training to Improve Aerobic Capacity in Athletic Patient Following Atrial Septal Defect Closure: A Case Report

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation along with Inspiratory Muscle Training to Improve Aerobic Capacity in Athletic Patient Following Atrial Septal Defect Closure: A Case Report

Effects of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme on submaximal exercise in Tunisian patients with long-COVID19: A randomized clinical trial

Effects of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme on submaximal exercise in Tunisian patients with long-COVID19: A randomized clinical trial

Year in Review: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: Erratum.

Year in Review: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: Erratum.

Chronotropic incompetence is associated with reduced aerobic conditioning and sedentary behavior in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID, presents with persistent symptoms, including cough, dyspnea, and fatigue, extending beyond one month after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cardiac complications such as chest pain and arrhythmias have raised concerns, with chronotropic incompetence (CI), an inadequate heart rate increase during exercise, emerging as a significant condition contributing to diminished exercise tolerance and quality of life. This study estimated the prevalence of CI and explored its association with aerobic capacity and physical activity levels in long COVID patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a private hospital in Sergipe, Brazil, involving 93 patients over 18 years old with persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections. Exclusion criteria included beta-blocker use, inadequate respiratory exchange ratio, and inability to complete cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Clinical histories, CPET results, and chronotropic index calculation were used to identify CI, with logistic regression analyzing associated factors. Of the participants (mean age 45 years; average duration since COVID-19 diagnosis 120 days), 20.4% were diagnosed with CI. Logistic regression identified a strong association between CI and sedentary behavior (OR 11.80; 95% CI 2.54 to 54.78; p=0.001). Patients with CI showed lower predicted peak heart rates and maximal oxygen uptake. The prevalence of CI among long COVID patients in this study was approximately 20%, associated with decreased aerobic capacity and increased sedentary behavior. These findings highlight the need for timely diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, including cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, to enhance the quality of life in post-COVID patients with CI. The study's cross-sectional design and its specific context have limited causality inference and generalizability, underscoring the importance of further research in diverse settings.

[Development of intelligent monitoring system based on Internet of Things and wearable technology and exploration of its clinical application mode].

Wearable monitoring, which has the advantages of continuous monitoring for a long time with low physiological and psychological load, represents a future development direction of monitoring technology. Based on wearable physiological monitoring technology, combined with Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence technology, this paper has developed an intelligent monitoring system, including wearable hardware, ward Internet of Things platform, continuous physiological data analysis algorithm and software. We explored the clinical value of continuous physiological data using this system through a lot of clinical practices. And four value points were given, namely, real-time monitoring, disease assessment, prediction and early warning, and rehabilitation training. Depending on the real clinical environment, we explored the mode of applying wearable technology in general ward monitoring, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and integrated monitoring inside and outside the hospital. The research results show that this monitoring system can be effectively used for monitoring of patients in hospital, evaluation and training of patients' cardiopulmonary function, and management of patients outside hospital.

The effect of early cardiopulmonary rehabilitation combined with melatonin supplementation in patients with myocardial infarction treated by a primary percutaneous coronary intervention

The effect of early cardiopulmonary rehabilitation combined with melatonin supplementation in patients with myocardial infarction treated by a primary percutaneous coronary intervention

[Chinese expert consensus on the rehabilitation treatment and nursing practice for stable coronary artery disease].

Cardiac rehabilitation, with exercise training as the core component, has well-known benefits for stable coronary heart disease. This therapeutic approach is gradually gaining wide application in domestic clinical practice and is currently recommended by major guidelines at home and abroad. In recent years, more progress has been made in the technical specifications and nursing practice of rehabilitation treatment for coronary heart disease. This consensus is written by experts from the Professional Committee of Cardiopulmonary Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association and the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Medical Association, with a view to further promoting the development of physical therapy and nursing practice for stable coronary heart disease in China.

Individualised monitoring programme for pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised mainly by exertional dyspnoea, which may lead to activity reduction. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is considered capable of mitigating these impairments. However, access to PR is limited to specialised centres, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Moreover, low-cost home rehabilitation programmes have non-individualised prescriptions, which might lead to inconsistent clinical effects in patients with COPD. Therefore, it is important to develop new, low-cost protocols involving individualised prescriptions and staff supervision. This is a descriptive protocol for a randomised controlled study at the Grade III A Hospital in Tianjin. The sample size was calculated according to a described formula. Fifty-six participants will be selected and randomly allocated into two groups: (I) control (traditional PR training, medication, and nursing interventions); and (II) intervention [PR training in the hospital and at home by the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation System Management Platform (CSM)]. The protocol will be performed twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks in the outpatient clinic, and the training will be performed by the application of the CSM system in the final 6 months of the trial. The study will assess lung function and physical fitness and analyse the scores of the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale, the COPD assessment test, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, and the 6-minute walk test before and after the training protocol. Comparison of differences will be performed using repeated measures analysis of variance, a linear mixed effects analysis, or a non-parametric test, which will include only participants who completed all outcome measures and followed the intervention protocol. The study results will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. The new, low-cost supervised rehabilitation programmes are expected to present positive results, making PR programmes more accessible and effective for patients with COPD. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000040723.

A retrospective analysis of empathy-centric care strategies on negative emotional states and expectation levels in acute heart failure patients.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of an empathy-centered care approach on the intensity of negative emotional states and levels of expectation in patients experiencing acute heart failure. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 106 patients presenting with emergent heart failure. The patients were bifurcated into a control group (53 patients) and an intervention group (53 patients) based on their respective care management plans. Following the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated decreased values in left ventricular end-systolic diameter and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and increased left ventricular ejection fraction compared to the control group (P < .05). Additionally, the 6-minute walk test used for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and the 30 seconds sit-to-stand exercise revealed superior results in the intervention group (P < .05). Positive scores on the Positive Negative Affect Scale, the various dimensions of the Herth Hope Index Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Chinese Cultural Modified Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire were notably higher in the intervention group, whereas negative scores on the Positive Negative Affect Scale and scores on the Self-Assessment Scale of Anxiety were comparatively lower than those in the control group (P < .05). Implementing an empathy-based care approach can bolster cardiac function, augment functional fitness, mitigate negative emotional states, elevate expectation levels, enhance psychological resilience, improve quality of life, and decrease complication rates in patients with acute heart failure.

Post-coronavirus disease-19: the impact of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation on arterial stiffness, left ventricular deformation, and ventricular-arterial coupling

Abstract Introduction Although coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a primarily a respiratory disease, impairment of cardiovascular function has been documented, even in the post-acute phase. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation could represent an appealing approach in the management of cardiovascular sequelae of post-COVID-19, which may affect arterial and left ventricular function, ultimately influencing ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC). Purpose In this study, we assess the impact of a post-acute COVID-19 rehabilitation program on arterial stiffness, left ventricular deformation, and VAC. Methods We enrolled 60 convalescent patients from COVID-19 and one-month post-acute disease were randomized at 1:1 ratio in a 3-month cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program (study group) or not (control group). The levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by carotid-femoral Pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) at 1 month and at 4 months post-acute disease. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed, and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) was estimated. Finally, the ratio of cf-PWV/LV-GLS was calculated as an index of VAC. Results There were no significant differences in major risk factors across the studied groups (age, sex, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia). Moreover, patients across the study groups did not differ regarding the levels of IL-1β. Although cf-PWV was similar in the study and the control group at baseline, it was improved only in the study group (8.2±1.3m/sec vs. 6.6±1.0m/sec, p&amp;lt;0.001) but not in the control group (8.9±1.8m/sec vs. 8.8±1.9m/sec, p=0.74). Similarly, for GLS, no differences were noted at baseline. However, the study group exhibited a significant improvement during the study (-19.6±2.0% vs. -21.3±1.9%, p&amp;lt;0.001), while no changes were observed in the control group (-18.7±2.9% vs. -18.3±2.1%, p=0.15). Finally, VAC was significantly ameliorated only in patients receiving cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (-0.43±0.11m/s% vs. -0.31±0.06m/s%, p&amp;lt;0.001). When individuals undergoing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation were stratified according to median baseline IL-1β levels, those presenting with lower concentrations experienced a significant benefit in ΔVAC (IL-1β&amp;lt;8.4pg/ml: 0.14±0.08m/s% vs. IL-1β≥8.4pg/ml: 0.09±0.05m/s%, p=0.04). Conclusion A 3-month cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program following the acute phase of COVID-19 accelerates the recovering of arterial and ventricular function, especially in individuals with a lower baseline inflammatory burden.