RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Late Breaking Abstract - A randomised control trial using inspiratory muscle training in post-COVID-19 rehabilitation
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP OA169
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.OA169
VO 58
IS suppl 65
A1 McNarry, Melitta
A1 Shelley, James
A1 Hudson, Joanne
A1 Saynor, Zoe
A1 Duckers, Jamie
A1 Lewis, Keir
A1 Davies, Gwyneth
A1 Williams, Mark
A1 Berg, Ronan
A1 Mackintosh, Kelly
YR 2021
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/OA169.abstract
AB Introduction: One in ten people recovering from COVID-19 experience prolonged symptoms (>12 weeks), with many reporting breathlessness more than a year after acute infection. There is an urgent need to understand the recovery from COVID-19 and to identify safe, effective rehabilitative strategies.Aims: To investigate the recovery from COVID-19 and the potential rehabilitative role of inspiratory muscle training (IMT).Methods: 250 adults (48±16 yrs; 84% female) recovering from self-reported COVID-19, with a primary symptom of shortness of breath, were randomised 4:1 to an 8-week IMT or control arm, respectively. Breathlessness (King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (KBILD) Questionnaire), respiratory muscle strength, fitness (Chester Step Test) and device-based physical activity (PA) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.Results: In the first 87 participants (68 IMT) completed to date, IMT improved all domains of the KBILD, with breathlessness reduced by 33% (P<.001) - twice the minimal clinically important difference. Furthermore, IMT improved maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP; baseline 75±32 vs. post 117±58 cmH2O; P<.001), sustained MIP (420±204 vs. 575±265 PTUs; P<.001), fatigue index (17±12 vs. 23±16 au; P<.001) and fitness (36±13 vs. 44±19 ml·kg-1·min-1; P<.001). PA was unchanged. Time was associated with non-significant improvements in all parameters, but the magnitude of improvement was 2–14 times greater with IMT.Conclusions: IMT significantly accelerated the rate of recovery from COVID-19 and represents an acceptable and feasible home-based rehabilitation tool that should be considered for wider implementation as part of COVID-19 recovery strategies.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA169.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).