Effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia

Effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia

The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program to patients with Sars-CoV-2 pneumonia in the post-acute period on pulmonary functions, exercise capacity and anxiety level.

100 patients diagnosed with Sars-CoV-2 pneumonia will be enrolled in this prospective, interventional study according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients will be evaluated and a personalized PR program will be organized before hospital discharge. After discharge, the pulmonary rehabilitation program will continue in telerehabilitation.

In the telerehabilitation program, exercises will be supervised by a physiotherapist two days a week, and patients will be asked to do the exercises themselves for the other 3 days. Patients will also receive exercise videos for these 3 days.

Patients will be followed for 4 weeks and will be called for final evaluation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pneumonia without having severe findings or a need for oxygen support therapy (mild pneumonia) accompanying special conditions (chronic lung / heart disease / diabetes / hypertension / neuromuscular disease history / elderly / immobility etc.)
• Severe pneumonia (A suspicion of fever or respiratory tract infection and having one accompanying finding: respiration rate >30/min; severe respiratory distress; or SpO2 ≤93% in ambient air.) cases after they get clinically stable (decreased fever, reduced dyspnea, respiratory rate 90%)
• At least 7 days since the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in order to reduce the viral load and the risk of transmission
• Being able to make video calls for telerehabilitation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, neuromuscular and other systemic diseases that affect physical activity
• Psychiatric illness and cognitive deficit that will affect patient's exercise cooperation
• Pregnancy
• The deterioration in the general condition of the patient, worsening of the lung findings
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome