The Effectiveness of Respiratory Tele-rehabilitation After COVID-19 Pneumonia Related: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

In recent months, more and more studies suggest tele-rehabilitation as a means to be exploited to reduce the risk of contagion.

The intent of our study is to verify the effectiveness of a tele-rehabilitation intervention through the application of a respiratory rehabilitation program supported by contact with physiotherapists, in patients with outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection discharged from the various medical departments and taken over by physiotherapists after physiatric evaluation.

Faced with the same rehabilitation program prescribed to all patients, the primary objective of our study is to detect whether patients supported by remote rehabilitation after hospitalization improve both adherence to the rehabilitation program and cardiorespiratory endurance and dyspnea symptoms assessed with the Six Minute Walking Test scale (6MWT). This test is validated for multiple pathologies, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the clinic of which could be comparable to the outcomes of coronavirus interstitial pneumonia as suggested by the literature.

The secondary objectives concern the assessment of the impact of physical exercise assisted by tele-rehabilitation detected through: the assessment of the quality of life (Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire );the assessment of autonomy in daily life activities (Barthel Index Dyspnea Scale), the evaluation of the variation in thoracic expansion and lung volumes (with COACH , an instrument for respiratory physiotherapy that measures the inspiratory volume in ml); the evaluation of muscle strength and endurance (One Minute Sit To Stand) ; the detection of dyspnea during the execution of the exercises (Modified Borg scale); the assessment of the functionality of the lower limbs (Short Physical Performance Battery)

Conditions

• Respiratory Failure
• Sars-CoV-2
• Covid19
• ARDS
• Interstitial Pneumonia
• Respiratory Rehabilitation
• Dyspnea
• Quality of Life
• Coronavirus Infections

Interventions

OTHER

Telerehabilitation

Patients belonging to the experimental group will receive the brochure and, weekly a telematic comparison will take place lasting about 30 minutes, with a physiotherapist to be asked questions. The physiotherapist will be able to evaluate and modify the training program based on the patient's response. The tele-rehabilitation sessions will take place: once / week for the first month, once every 2 weeks for the second month and from the third month from the third month the patient can contact the professionals in case of doubts or questions regarding the exercises he is taking place at home.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Carolina Guerrieri, Director · AOSP Bologna

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-06-12

Primary Completion

2022-06-12

Completion

2023-06-12

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations