Pulmonary Rehabilitation of Patients With a History of COVID-19

Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Quality of Life, Body Composition and Respiratory Function of Patients With a History of COVID-19

This study will determine the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life, body composition and respiratory function in patients with a history of COVID-19.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, appeared, causing a wide range of symptoms, mainly respiratory infection. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. COVID-19 has spread rapidly over several months, affecting patients across all age groups and geographic areas. The disease has a diverse course; patients may range from asymptomatic to those with respiratory failure, complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life, body composition and respiratory function in patients with a history of COVID-19.

The patients after COVID-19 will be included in the pulmonary rehabilitation protocol. The duration of rehabilitation will depend on the patient's condition: from 7 to 14 days.

Measurements:

• quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF)
• body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis, BC-420 MA, Tanita)
• weight, height and BMI
• spirometry (Spirometr PNEUMO, abcMED)
• diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (LUNGTEST 1000)
• morphology (CRP, D-Dimer, WBC) and gasometry (pCO2, pO2)
• chest computed tomography (CT).

These parameters will be recorded before the first day of rehabilitation (baseline), after completion of rehabilitation protocol, and three months after completion the rehabilitation protocol. A change in evaluated parameters will be assessed.

This will be a prospective, interventional, non-randomized study. All patients will be enrolled by Podkarpackie Center for Lung Diseases in Rzeszów.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients treated in Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Rzeszów/ Podkarpackie Center for Lung Diseases in Rzeszów,
• Patients with a history of COVID-19,
• Having obtained written informed consent (signed and dated) to participate in the study,
• Age at enrollment ≥ 18 years of age,
• No contraindications to pulmonary rehabilitation,
• No contraindications for body composition testing (bioelectrical impedance analysis).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal to participate in the study,
• Patients with any acute disease in the last 3 months before baseline,
• Patients currently enrolled in any clinical trial,
• Currently infected patients with COVID-19.