scholarly journals Short-term Effects of a Three-week Inpatient Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program - a Prospective Observational Study

Author(s):  
Markus C. Hayden ◽  
Matthias Limbach ◽  
Michael Schuler ◽  
Steffen Merkl ◽  
Gabriele Schwarzl ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies distinctly. Particularly after severe or critical courses, i.e., after hospitalization, clinical manifestations frequently persist after the acute phase. However, symptoms may also persist after initially milder courses that can be treated in an outpatient setting. For patients who remain symptomatic after COVID-19, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended. However, only few studies investigated the effectiveness of PR, especially considering different disease courses. The main objective was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of post-COVID-19 PR.Methods:A total of 120 post-COVID-19 patients who were referred to the Bad Reichenhall Clinic between April 2020 and January 2021 were asked to participate in this prospective observational study. PR was tailored to each patient’s individual needs and was based on the current recommendations. The primary outcome dyspnea was assessed with numerical rating scales and the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale. Secondary outcomes included other symptoms such as cough and sputum; physical capacity; lung function; fatigue; quality of life (QoL); depression; and anxiety. Furthermore, patients rated the overall effectiveness of PR and their subjective change in health status.Results:A total of 108 patients (mean age 55.6±10.1 years, 45.4% female) were included and were assigned to 3 groups depending on the referral mode (A: severe acute; B: severe after interval, C: mild after interval). At the end of PR, we detected improvements in the intensity of exertional dyspnea, physical capacity, QoL, fatigue, and depression in the overall group, with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d>0.8). Moderate effect sizes (0.5≤d<0.8) were found for resting dyspnea and the mMRC-dyspnea scale. Cohen’s d>0.4 was found for vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, partial oxygen pressure, and anxiety. Significant but rather small effect sizes (0.2<d<0.4) were found for cough, sputum, pain, and other lung function parameters.Conclusions:PR is feasible, safe, and effective after acute COVID-19, which was true for all 3 groups analyzed, with a trend toward greater efficacy after severe courses of COVID-19 and an earlier start of PR after acute COVID-19. Therefore, all post-COVID-19 patients who remain symptomatic should be offered PR.Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00023180. Registered 01 September 2020 – Retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023180

Author(s):  
Markus C. Hayden ◽  
Matthias Limbach ◽  
Michael Schuler ◽  
Steffen Merkl ◽  
Gabriele Schwarzl ◽  
...  

For COVID-19 patients who remain symptomatic after the acute phase, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended. However, only a few studies have investigated the effectiveness of PR, especially considering the duration between the acute phase of COVID-19 and the onset of rehabilitation, as well as the initial severity. This prospective observational study evaluated the efficacy of PR in patients after COVID-19. A total of 120 still-symptomatic patients referred for PR after overcoming acute COVID-19 were asked to participate, of whom 108 (mean age 55.6 ± 10.1 years, 45.4% female) consented. The patients were assigned to three groups according to the time of referral and initial disease severity (severe acute; severe after interval; mild after interval). The primary outcome was dyspnea. Secondary outcomes included other respiratory disease symptoms, physical capacity, lung function, fatigue, quality of life (QoL), depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, patients rated the overall effectiveness of PR and their subjective change in health status. At the end of PR, we detected improvements with large effect sizes in exertional dyspnea, physical capacity, QoL, fatigue, and depression in the overall group. Other parameters changed with small to medium effect sizes. PR was effective after acute COVID-19 in all three groups analyzed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-58
Author(s):  
João Paulo Branco ◽  
Filipa Rocha ◽  
João Sargento-Freitas ◽  
Gustavo C. Santo ◽  
António Freire ◽  
...  

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of recanalization (spontaneous and therapeutic) on upper limb functioning and general patient functioning after stroke. This is a prospective, observational study of patients hospitalized due to acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery (n = 98). Patients completed a comprehensive rehabilitation program and were followed-up for 24 weeks. The impact of recanalization on patient functioning was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale (SULCS). General and upper limb functioning improved markedly in the first three weeks after stroke. Age, gender, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission were associated with general and upper limb functioning at 12 weeks. Successful recanalization was associated with better functioning. Among patients who underwent therapeutic recanalization, NIHSS scores ≥16.5 indicate lower general functioning at 12 weeks (sensibility = 72.4%; specificity = 78.6%) and NIHSS scores ≥13.5 indicate no hand functioning at 12 weeks (sensibility = 83.8%; specificity = 76.5%). Recanalization, either spontaneous or therapeutic, has a positive impact on patient functioning after acute ischemic stroke. Functional recovery occurs mostly within the first 12 weeks after stroke, with greater functional gains among patients with successful recanalization. Higher NIHSS scores at admission are associated with worse functional recovery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S928-S929
Author(s):  
Manish Soneja ◽  
Manasvini Bhatt ◽  
Faraz A Farooqui ◽  
Naval K Vikram ◽  
Ashutosh Biswas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cardiac involvement in dengue fever is underdiagnosed due to low index of suspicion and overlapping clinical manifestations of capillary leak associated with dengue. The frequency of subclinical dengue myocarditis and its relative contribution to the hemodynamic instability in severe dengue needs to be explored. We studied the prevalence of myocarditis and clinical outcomes among admitted patients with dengue. Methods A prospective observational study was carried out in admitted patients with age between 18 and 65 years having confirmed dengue (NS1/IgM ELISA). Patients with electrolyte abnormalities or on medications affecting heat rhythm/ rate, pre-existing heart disease were excluded. The baseline demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were collected. A baseline ECG was done and repeated every second day. Trop-I and NT-proBNP were done at baseline and repeated only if elevated at baseline or there were ECG changes. The cardiac enzymes were measured using enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (VIDAS, bioMérieux, France). Patients with elevated enzymes underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography. Diagnosis of myocarditis was as per ESC 2013 criteria. Fluid management was as per WHO guidelines (2009). Results A total of 183 patients were recruited with median age of 29 years (IQR 21, 37) and 31% were females. Dengue with warning signs was present in 80 (44%) and severe dengue in 45 (25%) patients. Cardiac enzymes were elevated in 27 (15%) patients (cTnI in 25, NT-proBNP in 22). Among these 27 patients, 11 [6% (2.6–9.4, 95% CI)] had echo evidence and diagnosed as having myocarditis according to ESC 2013 criteria (Figure 1). Clinical features of fluid overload were more common in myocarditis group [8 (73%) vs 4 (2%), P = Overall, 5 (2.7%) patients expired, all of them had myocarditis (5/11 = 45%). These patients had severe dengue, 2 patients developed hospital-acquired pneumonia and 1 had malaria co-infection. Among patients with raised enzymes and normal echo (n = 16), 3 patients developed clinical signs of fluid overload compared with only 1 out of 156 patients without raised enzymes (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusion Myocarditis in admitted patients with dengue is not uncommon [6% (2.6–9.4, 95% CI)] and may lead to a complicated disease course. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Thorax ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A56.2-A57
Author(s):  
C Sharp ◽  
M McCabe ◽  
MJ Hussain ◽  
H Adamali ◽  
DL Smith ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Enocson ◽  
Richard Hubbard ◽  
Tricia McKeever ◽  
Nigel Russell ◽  
Jennifer Byrne ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey Haukeland-Parker ◽  
Øyvind Jervan ◽  
Hege Hølmo Johannessen ◽  
Jostein Gleditsch ◽  
Knut Stavem ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Recently, a large group of patients with persistent dyspnea, poor physical capacity and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following pulmonary embolism (PE) has been identified and clustered under the name “post pulmonary embolism syndrome” (PPS). These patients seem good candidates for pulmonary rehabilitation. The aim of the study is to explore whether a pulmonary rehabilitation program can improve physical capacity, dyspnea and HRQoL in PPS patients.Methods: A two-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT) is being performed at Østfold Hospital and Akershus University Hospital in Norway. Patients with PPS are 1:1 randomized into an intervention or a control group. The intervention consists of a supervised, outpatient rehabilitation program twice weekly (1 hour) for 8 weeks provided by experienced physiotherapists. The intervention involves individually adapted exercises based on existing pulmonary rehabilitation programs (relaxation, interval and resistance training), and an educational session including topics such as normal anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and circulatory system, information on PE/PPS, breathing strategies, and benefits of exercise/physical activity. Patients randomized to the control group receive usual care without specific instructions to exercise.Participants in the intervention and control groups will be compared based on assessments conducted at baseline, 12 weeks and 36 weeks after inclusion using the incremental shuttle walk test (primary outcome) and endurance shuttle walk test (exercise capacity), Sensewear activity monitor (daily physical activity), the Modified Medical Research Council scale, the Shortness of Breath questionnaire (dyspnea), and EQ-5D-5L and the Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life Questionnaire (HRQoL).Recruitment of 190 patients is currently ongoing.Discussion: Results from this study may provide a currently untreated group of PPS patients with an effective treatment resulting in reduced symptoms of dyspnea, improved exercise capacity and better HRQoL following PE.Trial registration: NCT03405480, Clinical Trials (registered prospectively.Protocol version 1 (from original protocol September 2017).The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines (Additional file 1).


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document