The effects of a home telerehabilitation-based program on the cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients
Thanaporn Semphuet,
Netchanok Jianramas,
Veeranoot Nissapatorn,
Chaisith Sivakorn,
Maria De Lourdes Pereira,
Anuttra (Chaovavanich) Ratnarathon,
Chenpak Salesingh,
Eittipad Jaiyen,
Salinee Chaiyakul,
Nitita Piya-Amornphan,
Thanrada Thiangtham,
Khomkrip Longlalerng
Affiliations
Thanaporn Semphuet
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand
Netchanok Jianramas
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand
Veeranoot Nissapatorn
Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Chaisith Sivakorn
Intensive Care Unit, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
Maria De Lourdes Pereira
CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials & Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
Anuttra (Chaovavanich) Ratnarathon
Medicine Department, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute, Nonthaburi, Thailand
Chenpak Salesingh
Physical Therapy Department, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute, Nonthaburi, Thailand
Eittipad Jaiyen
Physical Therapy Department, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute, Nonthaburi, Thailand
Salinee Chaiyakul
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand
Nitita Piya-Amornphan
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand
Thanrada Thiangtham
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand
Khomkrip Longlalerng
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand; Movement Science and Exercise Research Center-Walailak University (MoveSE-WU), Thailand; Corresponding author. Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
Background: Relatively few studies have explored the impact of home telerehabilitation-based (HTB) programs on patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of HTB programs on the cardiopulmonary function, body composition, muscle strength, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed. Fifty-one patients with COVID-19 were divided into two groups after being discharged from the hospital. Participants in the control group (n = 26) were advised to engage in breathing and stretching exercises plus their preferred exercise program. In comparison, participants in the intervention group (n = 25) were instructed to perform a combination of aerobic, breathing, and resistance exercises. To monitor the exercise program at home, the physiotherapists called the participants using a mobile phone application platform once a month and once a week in the control and intervention groups, respectively. Outcome measurements consisted of cardiopulmonary functions including exercise capacity using the 6-min walk test (6 MWT), and the pulmonary function test (PFT). Leg muscle strength and endurance were determined using the 1-min sit-to-stand test (1MSTS). Other physical fitness parameters were also examined including the hand grip strength test and body composition attributes. The 36-item Short Form questionnaire was used to determine the quality of life. All outcome measurements were tested before hospital discharge and at 3-month follow-up. Results: Participants of the control (n = 18) and intervention (n = 14) groups completed a 3-month post-discharge exercise program. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for all outcome measurements (p > 0.05). However, the 6 MWT and 1MSTS values increased significantly at the time of the 3-month follow-up compared to the baseline values at the time of discharge for both groups. Conclusion: Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome exhibited beneficial effects on exercise capacity, leg muscle strength, and endurance after completing a 3-month duration post-discharge HTB program. Trial registration: https://thaiclinicaltrials.org/ with identifier number TCTR20210823004.
