Short-term cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program in a post-COVID-19 patient: a case report

Abstract

We aimed to report a successful clinical case of a short-term cardiopulmonary rehabilitation after hospital discharge due to COVID-19. Exploratory descriptive case study with a 58-year-old male, former smoker, and in need of supplemental oxygen after COVID-19 infection, admitted to a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program of six weeks in a school clinic in the Federal District, Brasília, Brazil. Chest expansion, aerobic capacity, physical function, and quality of life were evaluated before and after the program using, respectively, thoracic cirtometry, 6-Minute Walk Test, 1-Minute Sit-To-Stand Test, and Short Form Health Survey. At the end of the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, the patient presented increased chest expansion, increased walked distance with decreased perception of exertion, increased repetitions in the 1-minute sit-to-stand-test, and increased quality of life. Moreover, he was completely weaned from supplemental oxygen. A short-term duration cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocol can contribute to improvement in aerobic and functional capacity, and in quality of life after COVID-19.