Six-month outcomes and effect of pulmonary rehabilitation among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
Yaoshan Dun, Chao Liu, Jeffrey W. Ripley-Gonzalez, Ping Liu, Nanjiang Zhou, Xun Gong, Baiyang You, Yang Du, Jiyang Liu, Bo Li, Suixin Liu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients appear to maintain sequelae post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affecting daily life and physical health. We investigated the changes in and the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity and immunology six months after COVID-19 hospitalization. METHODS: This retrospective cohort reviewed 233 COVID-19 patients admitted from 17 January 2020 to 29 February 2020. Ninety-eight patients who completed 2-week and 6-month follow-ups and tests were included. Among 98 patients, 27 completed at least five sessions of PR at the First Hospital of Changsha, China, during the 6-month convalescence were allocated to the PR group; the reminder who had not performed any PR were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome was the change in six-minute walk distance (6-MWD) between the 2-week and 6-month follow-ups, which was assessed via analysis of covariance with a covariate of propensity score that adjusted for the potential confounders. Secondary outcomes were the changes in 6-MWD, SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins, T-lymphocytes and blood chemistry, which were evaluated via paired tests. RESULTS: .001). No differences in immunity variables and blood chemistry were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest PR may be a strategy to promote the improvement of exercise capacity after COVID-19.