Rehabilitation improves persistent symptoms of COVID-19: a non-randomized, controlled, open study in Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week face-to-face rehabilitation program on subjects with persistent symptoms of COVID-19 compared to a remote monitoring group. Design Clinical, non-randomized, controlled, and open study. The face-to-face supervised rehabilitation lasted eight consecutive weeks, twice a week. The remote monitoring group received health guidance. The allocation was carried out by preference due to the emergency period without vaccination during the pandemic. Fatigue, dyspnea (Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire), and exercise capacity (Incremental Shuttle Walk Test) were the primary outcome measures. Lung function, functional status (Post-COVID-19 Functional Status), symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), attention (d2-R), memory (Rey's Auditory-Verbal Learning Test), handgrip strength, and knee extensor strength were secondary outcome measures. Results 37 subjects (24.3% hospitalized) completed the baseline and final assessment, rehabilitation [n = 22, 40.8 (SD 10.0) years, 54.5% female], or remote guidance [n = 15, 45.4 (SD 10.5) years, 40% female]. Both groups showed improved fatigue and exercise capacity. Exercise rehabilitation improved dyspnea, anxiety, attention, and short-term memory. Conclusion Rehabilitation is essential for dyspnoea in subjects with persistent symptoms of COVID-19 while fatigue naturally reverses.