Researchers have found that the cause of persistent fatigue in people with long-term COPD is reduced energy production by muscle cell mitochondria. Their study involved a bicycle test that worsens symptoms in people with long-term COPD. They found no evidence of coronavirus residue in muscle tissue and normal heart and lung function, suggesting that muscle cells are the source of fatigue. This study provides a direction for developing targeted treatments and recommends light exercise for patients.

Research from Amsterdam suggests that fatigue in Long-COVID patients is caused by reduced energy production by mitochondria.

Scientists from the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Medicine (UMC) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) have discovered that there is a biological reason for the persistent fatigue experienced by Long-COVID patients, namely that the mitochondria in muscle cells produce less energy than in healthy patients. The research results were published in the journal Nature Communications on January 4.

"We saw clear changes in the muscles of these patients," said Michèle van Vugt, professor of internal medicine at UMC Amsterdam.

Twenty-five Long-COVID patients and 21 healthy control participants participated in the study. They were asked to ride a bicycle for fifteen minutes. The cycling test can lead to a long-term worsening of symptoms in people with long-term COPD, a condition known as post-exertion fatigue (PEM). Extreme fatigue occurs after physical, cognitive, or emotional exertion exceeds an unknown individual threshold. The researchers tested blood and muscle tissue one week before and one day after the cycling test.

Research findings and implications

"We found various abnormalities in the patient's muscle tissue. At the cellular level, we saw reduced function of muscle mitochondria, also known as the energy factories of the cell, producing less energy," says Rob Wüst, Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Movement Sciences at VU University. "So the cause of fatigue is actually biological. The brain needs energy to think. Muscles need energy to move. This finding means we can now start looking into appropriate treatments for long-term COVID patients."

One of the theories about Long-COVID is that coronavirus particles may remain in the bodies of people infected with the coronavirus. "We have not found any signs of this in the muscles so far," VanVugt said. "The researchers also found that the patients' heart and lungs functioned well. This means that the long-term effects on the patients' physical performance are not caused by abnormal heart and lung function."

act within one's ability

"For patients with long-term COPD, exercise is not always a good thing. Specifically, we recommend that these patients pay attention to their physical limits and not exceed them. Consider light exercise without worsening the complaints. Walking or riding an electric bicycle are good options, which can maintain a certain physical condition." Brent Appelman, a researcher at the University Medical Center of Amsterdam, said: "Each patient has different limits. Because symptoms worsen after physical exertion, some traditional rehabilitation and physiotherapy methods are counterproductive for the recovery of these patients."

Symptoms of long-term HIV infection

Although most people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus recover within a few weeks, an estimated 1 in 8 people will develop long COVID. Symptoms in patients with Long-COVID, post-acute syndrome, or COVID or post-COVID syndrome (PCS) include severe cognitive problems (brain fog), fatigue, exercise intolerance, dysautonomia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), orthostatic intolerance, and exacerbation of symptoms after PEM.

Compiled source: ScitechDaily