Late Breaking Abstract - Functional benefits of post COVID-19 multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has been linked to debilitating chronic illness related to altered pulmonary function, reduced exercise performance, higher anxiety and depression events. The aim of our study is to assess feasibility and analyze efficacity of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Two months post hospital discharge, Covid-19 patients were admitted to a 10 ambulatory sessions comprehensive PR. In this cohort study, functional exercise performance measures (6-minute walk distance, 6MWD), Pulmonary function tests (Forced expiratory volume;FEV1, Forced vital capacity;FVC), quality of life (COPD assessment test, CAT score, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, mMRC) and psychological evaluation (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) were assessed before and after PR.

Results: Twenty-one patients who completed the 10 PR sessions were included in the study with a male to female ratio of 2.125 with a media age of 60.16 [52-69]. On admission, patients had a 6MWD 354m [255.5-434], an FVC 63% [50.05-72], an FEV1 69% [57.25-82], the post 6-MWT fatigability scale 2.5 [0-3.75], a CAT score 16 [10.5-22.5], an mMRC score 2 [1.25-3], an HADS (anxiety 7[4-9.5], depression 6.5 [4-10]). At PR completion, patients significantly improved in 6MWD 445m [383-489.75]; p<0.0001, FVC 74% [70-93.25]; p<0.0001, FEV1 83% [74-104.5]; p<0.0001, and the post 6-MWT fatigability scale (0 [0-1]; p:0.039. The quality of life and psychological scores of CAT 8 [4-9], mMRC score 1 [0-2], HADS (anxiety 6 [1-9], depression 5 [2-8]) improved without reaching statistical significance.

Conclusion: Our study shows that PR is an effective therapeutic option in post COVID-19 patients.