Safety and feasibility of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in patients hospitalized with post-COVID-19 fibrosis: A feasibility study.

Abstract

Emerging data suggests a spectrum of pulmonary complications from COVID-19, ranging from dyspnea to difficult ventilator weaning and fibrotic lung damage. Prolonged hospitalization is known to significantly affect activity levels, impair muscle strength and reduce cardio-pulmonary endurance. To assess the feasibility and safety of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and to explore effects on functional capacity, physical performance, fatigue levels and functional status. A prospective feasibility study. Inpatient unit of a tertiary care hospital. Twenty-five hospitalized patients diagnosed with post-COVID-19 fibrosis referred for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Individualized PR intervention including breathing exercises, positioning, strengthening, functional training and ambulation twice a day for six days a week. One minute Sit to Stand Test (STST), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and Post-COVID-19 Functional status Scale (PCFS). Twenty-five participants (males-19, females-6) with a mean age of 54.25 ± 13.36 years were enrolled. Sixteen completed the two-point assessment after undergoing in-patient PR of mean duration 14.8 ± 9 days. PR led to a significant improvement in all functional outcomes i.e., STST (from 7.1 ± 4.3 repetitions to 14.2 ± 2.1 repetitions, SPPB (from 5 ± 2.8 to 9.4 ± 1.5), FAS (from 33.3 ± 10.8 to 25.8 ± 4.7) at the p value ≤0.001 and PCFS (from 3.6 ± 0.9 to 2.9 ± 1.2, p value ≤0.05). Early initiation of PR for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 fibrosis was found to be safe, well-tolerated and feasible and may improve functional status. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.