Telerehabilitation for Post COVID-19 Condition

A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Implantation and the Impact of a Hybrid Telerehabilitation Program Based on Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Principles for People With Post-COVID Affection

Telerehabilitation is a great alternative to offering care during a global pandemic. 85% of patients with COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 8 months after the infection. There are no clear recommendations for post-covid rehabilitation. The aims of the study are (1) to test the logistic aspect of implanting a hybrid rehabilitation program and (2) to evaluate the acceptability and the potential impact of the program on treating patients with functional limitations and persistent fatigue symptoms. It's a pre and post-study without a control group.

Telerehabilitation is a great alternative to offering care during a global pandemic. 85% of patients with COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 8 months after the infection. There are no clear recommendations for post-covid rehabilitation. The aims of the study are (1) to test the logistic aspect of implanting a hybrid rehabilitation program and (2) to evaluate the acceptability and the potential impact of the program on treating patients with functional limitations and persistent fatigue symptoms. It's a pre and post-study without a control group. The intervention will be based on cardiopulmonary rehabilitation principles and will be administered for 12 weeks. Fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and functional/exercise capacities will be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living in the community
• Living near Sherbrooke (<50km)
• Having a diagnostic of COVID-19 confirmed (PCR) and post-COVID syndrome (according to the World Health Organization criteria)
• Being aged between 25 and 65 years old
• Having access to internet at home
• Living with a family member/caregiver or having a telephone or a medical alert system (in case of emergency)
• Reporting persistent fatigue symptoms according to the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) (score≥4/7)
• Reporting functional limitations according to the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale (PCFS (score ≥2/4);
• Being able to give free and informed consent (adequate understanding of the study protocol);
• Agreeing to perform a pulmonary function test, an exercise stress test, and an ergospirometric exercise test (adequate understanding of steps and procedures);
• Having a low exercise capacity and moderate-to-severe cardiovascular risk <7 metabolic equivalent of a task (MET) or ≤9 if significant reduction of self-reported exercise tolerance according to the stress test performed on a treadmill - Cornell protocol);
• Having no other potential explanatory causes for fatigue or reduced exercise capacity according to medical evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive impairment: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ≤24/30
• Inability to perform or understand study procedures
• Medical contraindication