A large proportion of patients suffer from a persistent reduction in cardiorespiratory fitness after recovery from COVID-19, of which the effects on the heart may potentially be reversed through the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). In the present study, we hypothesized that HIIT would increase left ventricular mass (LVM) and improve functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals previously hospitalized for COVID-19. In this investigator-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 12 weeks of supervised HIIT (4x4 minutes, three times a week) was compared to standard care (control) in individuals recently discharged from hospital due to COVID-19. LVM was assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI, primary outcome), while the pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCOc, secondary outcome) was examined by the single-breath method. Functional status and HRQoL was assessed by Post-COVID-19 Functional Scale (PCFS) and King's brief interstitial lung disease (KBILD) questionnaire, respectively. A total of 28 participants were included (age 57 +/- 10, 9 females; HIIT 58 +/- 11, 4 females; standard care 57 +/- 9, 5 females), LVM increased in the HIIT versus standard care group with a between-group difference of 6.8 (mean 95%CI 0.8; 12.8) g p = 0.029. There were no between-group differences in DLCOc or any other lung function metric, which gradually resolved in both groups. Desriptively, PCFS suggested fewer functional limitations in the HIIT group. KBILD improved similarly in the two groups. HIIT is an efficacious exercise intervention for increasing LVM in individuals previously hospitalized for COVID-19.

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