EPS1.03 Recommended shielding against COVID-19 impacts physical activity levels and adherence to airway clearance therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Background: Physical activity and physiotherapy are recommended as components of the cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment regimen. Objectives: To assess the impact of the lockdown during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily airway clearance and physical activity levels among patients with CF. Methods: A telephone-based survey on adherence to physiotherapy and physical exercise was conducted among CF patients attending our CF Unit during the “second wave of the pandemic” (November 2020–January 2021). Results: A total of 120 patients were included, mean (StDev) age 13.8 (8.1) years, mean baseline FEV1 pp 101.0 (24.7) %. Before the lockdown, 79.5% of the patients reported performing physiotherapy daily, 8.2% reported performing physiotherapy 2–4 times per week, and 12.3% of the patients reported performing no physiotherapy at all. Most of the CF patients (69%) did not change the frequency of their daily physiotherapy practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, 49.2% of the CF patients performed assisted airway clearance by having a physiotherapist visiting their home once a week through a home care program. Only 6.3% of them increased, 33.7% stopped, and 60% did not change the frequency of assisted physiotherapy during the study period. Concerning physical exercise, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 81% of the CF patients reported performing regular exercise. During the quarantine period, 58.4% of the patients needed to change the type of exercise, while 29% reported increasing the frequency, and 48% performed less exercise than before. Conclusions: Strict lockdown measures affected patients’ physical activity levels and their daily airway clearance practice. It is of vital importance to monitor CF patients and give incentives to maintain/increase the adherence to exercise and physiotherapy during such difficult circumstances.