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. 2021;100(5):416-422.
doi: 10.1159/000514387. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients Recovering from COVID-19

Elisabetta Zampogna  1 , Mara Paneroni  2 , Stefano Belli  3 , Maria Aliani  4 , Alessandra Gandolfo  5 , Dina Visca  1   6 , Maria Teresa Bellanti  3 , Nicolino Ambrosino  7 , Michele Vitacca  2
Affiliations

Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients Recovering from COVID-19

Elisabetta Zampogna et al. Respiration. 2021.

Abstract

Background: In hospitalized patients recovering from the SARS-coronavirus-2 disease 19 (COVID-19), high prevalence of muscle weakness and physical performance impairment has been observed.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in these subjects in a real-life setting.

Methods: Retrospective data analysis of patients recovering from COVID-19, including those requiring assisted ventilation or oxygen therapy, consecutively admitted to an in-patient pulmonary rehabilitation program between April 1 and August 15, 2020. Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB: primary outcome), Barthel Index (BI), and six-min walking distance were assessed as outcome measures.

Results: Data of 140 patients were analyzed. After rehabilitation, patients showed improvements in SPPB {from: (median [IQR]) 0.5 (0-7) to 7 (4-10), p < 0.001} and BI (from 55 [30-90] to 95 [65-100], p < 0.001), as well as in other assessed outcome measures. The proportion of patients unable at admission to stand, rise from a chair and walk was significantly reduced (p < 0.00).

Conclusions: Pulmonary rehabilitation is possible and effective in patients recovering from COVID-19. Our findings may be useful to guide clinicians taking care of patients surviving COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Dyspnoea; Exercise capacity; Exercise training; Pulmonary rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT diagram of patient selection. SPBB, Short Physical Performance Battery; BI, Barthel Index.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Changes in SPPB and BI scores before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. SPBB, Short Physical Performance Battery; BI, Barthel Index.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Change of SPPB components (balance, 4MWT, and 5-STS) before and after rehabilitation. The lines indicating the medians of before rehabilitation data correspond to zero. SPBB, Short Physical Performance Battery; BI, Barthel Index; 4MWT, 4-m walking test; 5-STS, sitting position 5 times.
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