Late Breaking Abstract - Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with long COVID

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> COVID-19 survivors face the risk of long-term sequelae including fatigue, breathlessness, and functional limitations. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been recommended, although formal studies quantifying the effect of rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients are lacking. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a prospective observational cohort study including consecutive patients admitted to an outpatient PR center due to persistent symptoms after COVID-19. The primary endpoint was change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) after undergoing a 6-week interdisciplinary individualized PR program. Secondary endpoints included change in the post-COVID-19 functional status scale (PCFS), Borg dyspnea scale, Fatigue Assessment Scale and quality of life. Further, changes in pulmonary function tests were explored. <b>Results:</b> Of 64 patients undergoing PR, 58 patients (mean age 47 years, 43% women, 38% severe/critical COVID-19) were included in the per-protocol-analysis. At baseline (i.e., in mean 4.4 months after infection onset), mean 6MWD was 584.1m (±95.0) and functional impairment was graded in median at 2 (IQR, 2-3) on the PCFS. On average, patients improved their 6MWD by 62.9m (±48.2, p&lt;0.001) and reported an improvement of 1 grade on the PCFS scale. Accordingly, we observed significant improvements across secondary endpoints including presence of dyspnea (p&lt;0.001), fatigue (p&lt;0.001), and quality of life (p&lt;0.001). Also, pulmonary function parameters (FEV1, diffusion capacity, inspiratory muscle pressure) significantly increased during rehabilitation. <b>Conclusion:</b> Personalized interdisciplinary PR improves exercise capacity, functional status, dyspnea, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with long COVID.