Abstract
Background: Some COVID-19 patients require hospitalization and subsequent referral to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). We examined the efficacy and patient phenotypes that may benefit the most, from a physio-psychological standpoint, from PR.
Methods: Forty-eight patients underwent PR at Dieulefit Santé center after a stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and/or at a Respirology ward. PR comprised respiratory therapy (20 min), cycling, walking and gymnastics (30 min each), 5 days/week. Patients benefited from strength exercises if needed.
Results: PR led to substantial improvement in lung function, muscle strength, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and psychosocial status; dyspnoea, corrected for 6MWD, was lessened (Table). Younger age, lower body-mass index and pre-PR 6MWD and greater pre-PR quadriceps strength predicted post-PR changes in 6MWD (p<0.001; R2=0.54). Longer stay in ICU and PR, greater pre-PR inspiratory muscle strength and lower pre-PR quality of life (QoL) predicted post-PR changes in QoL (p<0.001; R2=0.54). Changes in 6MWD and QoL correlated (r=0.43; p=0.002).
Conclusion: PR is particularly effective in improving the physio-psychological status of COVID-19 patients, likely due to the combination of the disease’s natural recovery process and the holistic approach of PR. Severely impaired patients seem to benefit the most from PR but other specific characteristics (e.g. preserved muscle strength) may also influence key outcomes.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA4050.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021