International Journal of General Medicine (Nov 2024)
A Narrative Review of Impact of Incentive Spirometer Respiratory Training in Long COVID
Abstract
Yao-Hsiang Chen,1,2 Yu-Shan Hsieh2 1Department of Nursing, Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch, Taipei City, Taiwan; 2School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei City, TaiwanCorrespondence: Yu-Shan Hsieh, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, No. 365, Ming-te Road, Peitou Dist, Taipei City, 112303, Taiwan, Tel +886-2-28227101, Email [email protected]: Long COVID refers to symptoms that appear 3 months after initial infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and last for at least 2 months, not attributable to other diagnoses. This health issue significantly burdens patients’ quality of life, the economy, and society. Improving the af-termath of COVID-19 is a crucial global health issue in the post-pandemic era. According to current results, it is evident that developing a simple, low-cost respiratory training method that can be easily used at home by themselves with long Coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms (long COVID) is an important and urgent issue. The incentive spirometer is widely used in physical, speech, and respiratory therapy, as well as in preventing postoperative pulmonary infections and improving sputum clearance. However, to date, the role of incentive spirometer respiratory training in long COVID symptoms is still limited. In this literature review is presented to explore the effectiveness of incentive spirometer respiratory training in alleviating symptoms among individuals recovering from long COVID. We also compile non-invasive assessment methods, with the aim to enable individuals to undergo training and assessments conveniently at home or in the community. In this review, a literature review approach was utilized to explore the effectiveness of incentive spirometer intervention in alleviating long-term COVID symptoms. This study is to synthesize the findings of articles published during January 2019 and December 2023 retrieved from PubMed/CINAHL/MEDLINE/ Google Scholar without re-strictions on study type. We ultimately identified seven articles and have summarized similar past studies. This review could contribute to improving symptoms related to long COVID by incentive spirometer respiratory training and serve as practical reference material for clinical medical staff and provide insights for healthcare policymakers in de-veloping guidelines for future research directions, clinical guidance, and educational strategies in the context of nursing care.Keywords: COVID-19, long COVID, incentive spirometer respiratory training, respiratory training, incentive Spirometer
