RT Journal Article
T1 A tele-health primary care rehabilitation program improves self-perceived exertion in COVID-19 survivors experiencing Post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea: A quasi-experimental study
A1 Calvo Paniagua, José
A1 Díaz Arribas, María José
A1 Valera Calero, Juan Antonio
A1 Gallardo Vidal, María Isabel
A1 Fernández de las Peñas, César
A1 López De Uralde Villanueva, Ibai Julio
A1 Del Corral Núñez-Flores, Tamara
A1 Plaza Manzano, Gustavo
AB Background: Current evidence suggests that up to 70% of COVID-19 survivors develop post-COVID symptoms during the following months after infection. Fatigue and dyspnea seem to be the most prevalent post-COVID symptoms.Objective: To analyze whether a tele-rehabilitation exercise program is able to improve self-perceived physical exertion in patients with post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea.Methods: Sixty-eight COVID-19 survivors exhibiting post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea derived to four Primary Health Care centers located in Madrid were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. A tele-rehabilitation program based on patient education, physical activity, airway clearing, and breathing exercise interventions was structured on eighteen sessions (3 sessions/week). Self-perceived physical exertion during daily living activities, dyspnea severity, health-related quality of life and distance walked and changes in oxygen saturation and heart rate during the 6-Minute walking test were assessed at baseline, after the program and at 1- and 3-months follow-up periods.Results: Daily living activities, dyspnea severity and quality of life improved significantly at all follow-ups (p<0.001). Additionally, a significant increase in oxygen saturation before and after the 6-Minute Walking test was found when compared with baseline (P<0.001). Heart rate adaptations at rest were found during the follow-up periods (P = 0.012). Lower perceived exertion before and after the 6-Minute Walking test were also observed, even if larger distance were walked (P<0.001).Conclusion: Tele-rehabilitation programs could be an effective strategy to reduce post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea in COVID-19 survivors. In addition, it could also reduce the economic burden of acute COVID-19, reaching a greater number of patients and releasing Intensive Unit Care beds for prioritized patients with a severe disease.
PB Public Library of Science
SN 1932-6203
YR 2022
FD 2022-08-04
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/103223
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/103223
LA eng
NO Article Source: A tele-health primary care rehabilitation program improves self-perceived exertion in COVID-19 survivors experiencing Post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea: A quasi-experimental study Calvo-Paniagua J, Díaz-Arribas MJ, Valera-Calero JA, Gallardo-Vidal MI, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, et al. (2022) A tele-health primary care rehabilitation program improves self-perceived exertion in COVID-19 survivors experiencing Post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea: A quasi-experimental study. PLOS ONE 17(8): e0271802. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271802
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025