– I feel that everyday life is back to a large extent, says Tom Rosenvinge. He became infected with covid, and seriously ill, as early as March 2020, long before there was a vaccine, and was the first person to enter organized rehabilitation in May of the same year. The four weeks he was in rehabilitation were crucial for him to be able to return to the everyday life he had before he became ill. Tom Rosenvinge was among the first to get covid-19. Today, he is healthy – and in roughly the same condition as before the pandemic. Photo: Bjørne Østrem Djukastein / news – I usually say that Ahus saved my life, and rehabilitation gave me back the life I had, says Rosenvinge. The 52-year-old was diagnosed with corona in early 2020. Soon after, he was offered organized rehabilitation in hospital. He was allowed to stay there for four weeks. – Early rehabilitation Researchers from NTNU (Norwegian University of Technology and Science) have investigated the rehabilitation of covid patients. The study shows that around three out of four unvaccinated covid patients who were in hospital before the vaccine came out, have “normally good fitness” 12 months after printing. Study of rehabilitation after corona The study “Changes in cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and limitations 3 to 12 months after COVID-19” has looked at the rehabilitation of covid patients. The study will be published in the European Respiratory Journal, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published monthly. A main finding was that the oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse of three out of four patients (77 per cent) improved significantly from 3 to 12 months. At the same time, the study showed that around one in four (23 per cent) still have “exercise intolerance”. The study is based on almost 200 patients at six hospitals. 20 per cent of these were intensive care patients, 80 per cent were on regular bed rest. All patients who were admitted with COVID-19 from February 2020 to and including June 2020 were included in 6 hospitals in Norway (Ahus, Ullevål, Rikshospitalet, St Olavs Hospital, Sykehuset Østfold Kalnes and Haukeland). The study was carried out by researchers at NTNU. Sources: LHL/NTNU Although the reasons for this are many, researcher on lifestyle diseases at NTNU, Professor Charlotte Bjørk Ingul, believes that the key to success has been the rehabilitation services around the country. Researcher on lifestyle diseases at NTNU, Professor Charlotte Bjørk Ingul. Photo: n637485 / n637485 – It looks like those who have received structured rehabilitation actually function slightly better, she says. But emphasizes that the findings are taken from a limited amount of material, and will be a little cautious about drawing definite conclusions. The researchers have previously presented results for how the patients’ rehabilitation looked three months after they were released from hospital. Today, Tom Rosenvinge is grateful that he was offered rehabilitation so early. – It was like being at a school. The hospital trains the patients to be able to make the right choices when the rehabilitation stay is finished. – I was anxious at first, but quickly learned that the people who work there know their job inside and out. Tom Rosenvinge’s pulse oximeter watch which he used to measure oxygen saturation over time. Photo: Privat Still one in four struggling At the same time, the study shows that almost one in four was still struggling with fitness, 12 months after undergoing the covid disease. The researchers refer to this as “exercise intolerance”. Ingul believes that many people who have had corona have been reluctant to start training after covid-19. It may have had consequences. – Many have probably not had the chance to exercise, because when you start you get short of breath, and it reminds you of the illness, says Ingul. She says it is important to start training quickly after undergoing covid illness. – Follow-up on how to train, and learning that it’s not dangerous to get short of breath, is very important, she says. Help needed These are thoughts Rosenvinge has also been thinking about. He says that it was not easy to start training after covid-19. He needed help and trusted the help he got. At the same time, the 52-year-old was aware that he needed help, and he trusted the help he received. – When you are in a situation where you are seriously ill, you need help to get started early, says Rosenvinge. – You either have to stand by it and have full confidence in the scheme that is put in place, or you can just as well not do it, he says. Tom Rosenvinge became seriously ill with corona and needed breathing assistance for nine days. Now he has his everyday life back. Photo: Private
ttn-69
Three out of four have regained fitness after corona: – I was lucky
