Open AccessMountain spa rehabilitation improved health of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome: pilot study
Author(s) -
A Gvozdjáková,
Zuzana Sumbalová,
J Kucharská,
Zuzana Rausová,
Eleonóra Kovalčíková,
Timea Takácsová,
Plácido Navas,
Guillermo LópezLluch,
Viliam Mojto,
Patrik Palacka
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
environmental science and pollution research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.845
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1614-7499
pISSN - 0944-1344
DOI - 10.1007/s11356-022-22949-2
Subject(s) - tbars , rehabilitation , medicine , thiobarbituric acid , effects of high altitude on humans , lipid peroxidation , physical therapy , physiology , oxidative stress , anatomy
European Association of Spa Rehabilitation (ESPA) recommends spa rehabilitation for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. We tested the hypothesis that a high-altitude environment with clean air and targeted spa rehabilitation (MR - mountain spa rehabilitation) can contribute to the improving platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics, to accelerating patient health and to the reducing socioeconomic problems. Fifteen healthy volunteers and fourteen patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome were included in the study. All parameters were determined before MR (MR1) and 16-18 days after MR (MR2). Platelet mitochondrial respiration and OXPHOS were evaluated using high resolution respirometry method, coenzyme Q 10 level was determined by HPLC, and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a parameter of lipid peroxidation was determined spectrophotometrically. This pilot study showed significant improvement of clinical symptoms, lungs function, and regeneration of reduced CI-linked platelet mitochondrial respiration after MR in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. High-altitude environment with spa rehabilitation can be recommended for the acceleration of recovery of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.