Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for Post-acute COVID-19 Symptoms

Hospital- Versus Home-based Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation for Post-acute COVID-19 Symptoms

The purpose of this RETROSPECTIVE study was to compare the effect of a hospital and home-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CPR) program on exercise endurance and quality of life in post-acute COVID-19 patients.

88 post-acute COVID-19 patients were divided two groups according to receiving hospital (n=45) or home-based CPR (n=43)in our rehabilitation clinic between January and July 2021. Both protocols consisted of aerobic, breathing and flexibility exercises. Hospital-based CPR: three or four days per week for a total of 20 sessions. Home-based CPR: three or four days/a week over a period of six weeks. The results of six meters walk test (6MWT) for exercise endurance as a main outcome measure, and Borg-dyspnea/fatigue, the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) as secondary outcome measures before and after treatment were recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being 18 years or older
• having COVID-19 treatment (home quarantine/hospital/intensive care unit) according to a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in a nasopharyngeal + oropharyngeal swab or chest computed tomography (CT)
• participating in a home-based exercise program (for 6 weeks) or hospital-based CPR (for 12-20 sessions) due to post-acute COVID-19 symptoms (fatigue, myalgia, dyspnea).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who had both a negative PCR test and chest CT
• Patients who had not completed the six minute walk test (6MWT), Borg scales, Short Form-36 and Visual analog scale-pain.
• Acute COVID-19 patients (patients whose symptoms had started less than one month previous)