Pulmonary rehabilitation improves functional outcomes and quality of life in post-SARS-CoV-2 mild-to-moderate infection patients: a pilot study

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection impairs functional outcomes and quality of life, even in its mild-to-moderate form. It is therefore appropriate to draw attention to the role played by respiratory rehabilitation and physiotherapists in the pulmonary rehabilitation process that post-SARS-CoV-2 patients must undergo. We enrolled 80 patients in a prospective case-control study; 40 cases (mild-to-moderate post-SARS-CoV-2 infection patients) and 38 control subjects (i.e. patients affected by other respiratory diseases) completed a full pulmonary rehabilitation cycle. 6 Minute Walking Distance, Borg CR10 Scale, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnoea scale, EuroQoL EQ-5D-3L questionnaire, Barthel scale, arterial blood gas test and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were compared for all patients before and after rehabilitation. All patients experienced significant improvements in all parameters analyzed, except for arterial blood gas test. Results were similar for both groups, in particular both groups experienced improvements in mMRC scale, EuroQoL questionnaire, Barthel scale and 6-minute walking distance. Pulmonary rehabilitation appears to improve exercise tolerance, dyspnea and quality of life in patients recovering from mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are needed on larger sample size population to validate these results.

Effects of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Functional and Psychological Parameters in Post-Acute Sequelae of Sars-Cov-2 Infection (Pasc) Patients

“…Preliminary studies have also indicated that PR may enhance exercise capacity, reduce fatigue, and improve pulmonary functions in PASC patients. 1,13,14 However, the research on PR's e cacy in the context of PASC is still in its nascent stages, and more rigorous studies are needed to assess the full extent of its bene ts. Moreover, an understanding of the optimal protocols for PR in the context of PASC, as well as its long-term effects and cost-effectiveness, require further exploration.…”

“…The most common comorbidities in the study population were hypertension (47.27%, n = 26) and depression (41.82%, n = 23). Obstructive sleep apnea was reported in 34.55% (n = 19) of patients, asthma in 23.64% (n =13), DM in 23.64% (n = 13), CKD in 12.73% (n = 7), ILD in 7.27% (n = 4), CHF in 3.64% (n = 2), pulmonary hypertension in 3.64% (n = 2), and vascular disease in 1.82% (n = 1). Active malignancies were reported by 3.64% (n = 2) of patients, and 9.09% (n = 5) of patients were in remission.…”