Implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation program for patients with long COVID in Northeastern region of Brazil: a feasibility study

Abstract

Objective: to implement and evaluate the feasibility of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program for patients with long covid in the northeast region of Brazil. Methods: patients participated in a 12-week (2 sessions per week, 60 minutes per day) outpatient comprehensive PR programme. Socio-demographics and clinical variables were recorded during the baseline assessment. The feasibility was assessed through adherence analysis to the PR program. Exercise capacity, functional capacity, functional status, depressive symptoms severity and dyspnoea were assessed at baseline and after completion of study protocol. Results: the per-protocol study population consisted of 28 patients (64.2% female), mean age 55.3 ± 17.3 years, and the main complaint was limitation of efforts (67.8%). The feasibility of the PR program was 82.1% (n=23). Following PR, significantly improvements were found for the following parameters: exercise capacity (p<0.001), functional capacity (p<0.001), functional status (p=0.01), depressive symptoms severity (p=0.001) and dyspnea (p=0.01). Conclusion: PR is a feasible and effective intervention for improving physical and psychosocial outcomes of patients with long covid.