Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 6, 2021; 9(19): 4939-4958
Published online Jul 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.4939
Enhancing oxygenation of patients with coronavirus disease 2019: Effects on immunity and other health-related conditions
Ayman Mohamed, Motaz Alawna
Ayman Mohamed, Motaz Alawna, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul 34522, Turkey
Ayman Mohamed, Department of Basic Science and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt
Motaz Alawna, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Arab American University, Jenin 24013, Palestine
Author contributions: Mohamed A and Alwana M wrote the review together; Mohamed A revised the review and made it ready for publication.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors confirm that there is no conflict-of-interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ayman Mohamed, BSc, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Gelisim University, Kristal, Block A, Room 507, Istanbul 34522, Turkey. amohamed@gelisim.edu.tr
Received: February 24, 2021
Peer-review started: February 24, 2021
First decision: April 18, 2021
Revised: April 26, 2021
Accepted: May 20, 2021
Article in press: May 20, 2021
Published online: July 6, 2021
Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) distresses the pulmonary system causing acute respiratory distress syndrome, which might lead to death. There is no cure for COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 is a self-limited infection, and the methods that can enhance immunity are strongly required. Enhancing oxygenation is one safe and effective intervention to enhance immunity and pulmonary functions. This review deliberates the probable influences of enhancing oxygenation on immunity and other health-connected conditions in patients with COVID-19. An extensive search was conducted through Web of Science, Scopus, Medline databases, and EBSCO for the influence of enhancing oxygenation on immunity, pulmonary functions, psycho-immune hormones, and COVID-19 risk factors. This search included clinical trials and literature and systematic reviews. This search revealed that enhancing oxygenation has a strong effect on improving immunity and pulmonary functions and psycho-immune hormones. Also, enhancing oxygenation has a self-protective role counter to COVID-19 risk factors. Lastly, this search revealed the recommended safe and effective exercise protocol to enhance oxygenation in patients with COVID-19. Enhancing oxygenation should be involved in managing patients with COVID-19 because of its significant effects on immunity, pulmonary functions, and COVID-19 risk factors. A mild to moderate cycling or walking with 60%-80% Vo2max for 20-60 min performed 2-3 times per week could be a safe and effective aerobic exercise program in patients with COVID-19 to enhance their immunity and pulmonary functions.

Keywords: Oxygenation, COVID-19, Immunity, Pulmonary functions, Psycho-immune hormones, COVID-19 risk factors

Core Tip: Coronavirus disease 2019 is a self-limited infection, and interventions that can increase immunity are strongly recommended. Thus, enhancing oxygenation is one of the safe and effective interventions in enhancing immunity and pulmonary functions. This review discusses the possible effects of enhancing oxygenation of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 on immunity and other health-related conditions.