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Asimakos A, Spetsioti S, Mavronasou A, Gounopoulos P, Siousioura D, Dima E, Gianniou N, Sigala I, Zakynthinos G, Kotanidou A, Vogiatzis I, Katsaounou P. Additive benefit of rehabilitation on physical status, symptoms and mental health after hospitalisation for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. BMJ Open Respir Res 2023; 10:e001377. [PMID: 37385736 PMCID: PMC10314701 DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The potential additive benefits of rehabilitation beyond spontaneous recovery post-COVID-19 currently remain unknown. METHODS In this prospective, interventional, non-randomised parallel assignment two-arm study, we investigated the effects of an 8-week rehabilitation programme (Rehab, n=25) added to usual care (UC) versus UC (n=27) on respiratory symptoms, fatigue, functional capacity, mental health and health-related quality of life in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 6-8 weeks post-hospital discharge. The rehabilitation programme included exercise, education, dietary and psychological support. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory and heart failure were excluded from the study. RESULTS At baseline, groups were not different in mean age (56 years), gender (53% female), intensive care unit admission (61%), intubation (39%), days of hospitalisation (25), number of symptoms (9) and number of comorbidities (1.4). Baseline evaluation was conducted at median (IQR) 76 (27) days after symptoms onset. Groups were not different regarding baseline evaluation outcomes. At 8 weeks, Rehab showed significantly greater improvement in COPD Assessment Test by a mean±SEM (95% CI) 7.07±1.36 (4.29-9.84), p <0.001 and all three fatigue questionnaires: Chalder-Likert: 5.65±1.27 (3.04-8.25), p <0.001; bimodal: 3.04±0.86 (1.28-4.79), p=0.001; Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy: 6.37±2.09 (2.08-10.65), p=0.005 and Fatigue Severity Scale: 1.36±0.433 (0.47-2.25), p=0.004. At 8 weeks rehab also showed significantly greater improvment in Short Physical Performance Battery: 1.13±0.33 (0.46-1.79), p=0.002; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Anxiety: 2.93±1.01 (0.67-5.18), p=0.013; Beck Depression Inventory: 7.81±3.07 (1.52-14.09), p=0.017; Montreal Cognitive Assessment: 2.83±0.63 (1.5-4.14), p <0.001; EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) Utility Index: 0.21±0.05 (0.1-0.32), p=0.001 and Visual Analogue Scale: 6.57±3.21 (0.2-13.16), p=0.043. Both groups significantly improved 6-min walking distance by approximately 60 m and pulmonary function measures, whereas post-traumatic stress disorder measurement IES-R (Impact of Event Scale, Revised) and HADS-Depression score were not different between groups at 8 weeks. A 16% attrition rate was observed in the rehabilitation group exhibiting a threefold increase in training workload. There were no adverse effects reported during exercise training. DISCUSSION These findings highlight the added value of rehabilitation post-COVID-19 to amplify the natural course of physical and mental recovery that otherwise would remain incomplete with UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Asimakos
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stavroula Spetsioti
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aspasia Mavronasou
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Clinical Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physiotherapy Department, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
| | | | - Dimitra Siousioura
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Effrosyni Dima
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Niki Gianniou
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Sigala
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Zakynthinos
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Kotanidou
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Vogiatzis
- Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Paraskevi Katsaounou
- 1st Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evaggelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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