Virtual reality intervention alleviates dyspnea in patients recovering from COVID pneumonia

Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (iVR)-based digital therapeutics (DTx) are gaining clinical attention in the field of pain management. Based on known analogies between pain and dyspnea, we investigated the effects of visual-respiratory feedback, on persistent dyspnea in patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia.

We performed a controlled, randomized, single-blind, cross-over clinical study to evaluate an iVR-based intervention to alleviate dyspnea in patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia. Included patients reported persistent dyspnea and preserved cognitive function. Assignment was random and concealed. Patients received synchronous (intervention) or asynchronous (control) feedback of their breathing, embodied via a gender-matched virtual body. Outcomes were assessed using questionnaires and breathing recordings.

Twenty-six patients were enrolled (27% women; age: median=55, interquartile range (IQR)=18). The median (IQR) rating on a 7-point Likert-scale of breathing comfort improved from 1(2) at baseline, to 2(1) for synchronous feedback, but remained unchanged at 1(1.5) for asynchronous feedback (p<0.05) between iVR conditions). Moreover, 91.2% of all patients were satisfied with the intervention (p<0.0001) and 66.7% perceived it as beneficial for their breathing (p<0.05).

Based on these findings, our iVR-based DTx presents a feasible and safe respiratory rehabilitation tool that improves breathing comfort in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection presenting with persistent dyspnea. Future research should investigate the DTx’s generalizability to persistent dyspnea with other etiologies and its potential for preventing chronification.