Evaluation of Effectiveness of Proprietary Rehabilitation Program in Patients After COVID-19 Infection

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Proprietary Rehabilitation Program in Patients After COVID-19 Infection

Evaluation of Influence of Proprietary Physical Training Program on Quality of Life, Physical Endurance, Function of Muscles and Myokines Profile in Patients After COVID-19 Infection.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of 6 week physical training and respiratory rehabilitation performed in outpatients rehabilitation clinic on quality of life, symptoms, physical endurance, mental state, force of respiratory and skeletal muscles and myokines profile in patients after COVID-19 infection.

The study of interventional, prospective character will be conducted in Rehabilitation Department of Medical University of Bialystok on total group of 60 participants less than 12 months after COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) infection. In all participants medical anamnesis, physical examination (including chest wall mobility), anthropometric measures, The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 6-minute walking test (6MWT six minute walking test) and treadmill stress test will be performed. Medical history will consist of questions regarding course of COVID-19 and its consequences with special emphasis on dyspnea during daily activities in Borg scale and dyspnea in daily living in mMRC scale, coexisting diseases, treatment, lifestyle, etc. Quality of life will be assessed with use of The Short Form (36) Health Survey - SF-36), Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS] scale and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Mental status will be evaluated with the use of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)) Biochemical measures will be performed including, among others, myokines such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), resistin, myonectin and inflammatory markers, such as interleukin 6 ((Il-6), C-reactive protein (CRP). Fasting venous blood will be collected in 2 tubes each a 10 ml, one dedicated to obtain serum ("on clot"), second with heparin) to perform biochemical analyses, In clinical evaluation measurement of respiratory (inspiratory and expiratory) muscles force with use of device MicroRPM (respiratory pressure meter), hand grip strength with use of hand dynamometer (Jamar) and strength of quadriceps muscles with use of digital dynamometer (AXIS) will be performed. During first visit also ECG (electrocardiogram), six minute walking test and treadmill stress test will be done. All patients will have diaphragm ultrasound with measurement of diaphragm thickness. Patient will be randomized to the control and interventional groups. Control group will be subjected to the safe protocol of 6 week physical training (aerobic training, resistance training, general improvement training, stretching training and respiratory rehabilitation) adjusted to the clinical state of patients. Additionally patients will be recommended to perform a set of exercises at home under a supervision of physiotherapist. Patients from interventional group in addition to the training protocol will be subjected to additional resistance respiratory training with the use of respiratory muscle trainer (Philips Respironics Threshold IMT). Control group will have placebo with no resistance set on respiratory muscle trainer (Philips Respironics Threshold IMT). The study will be double blind, patients will be unaware of being assigned to a group and investigators assessing functional state in the next stages of the study will not conduct rehabilitation and will not be aware of the allocation of patients to groups. Physiotherapists conducting rehabilitation will receive detailed, individual guidelines regarding the training parameters of each patient. In addition, both groups will be educated on rules of safe physical activity and how to deal with troublesome symptoms. Physical endurance (6 MWT, treadmill stress test), respiratory function, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, other functional tests (SPPB), biochemical determinations, dyspnea (mMRC, Borg scale), quality of life (SF-36, PCFS, MFIS) mental state (BDI, HAMD), chest wall mobility and diaphragm ultrasound will be assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. In addition, an analysis of the potential change in lifestyle of all patients will be carried out using accelerometry counting daily number of steps and assessing physical activity. Each patient will be equipped with basic exercise equipment and the necessary monitors of physical activity and vital signs to carry out the recommended activities at home (except for training units in the outpatient clinic). A reassessment of the long-term effects will be performed six months after the end of the exercises and will include 6 MWT, treadmill stress test, SPPB, spirometry, measurement of respiratory muscles force, handgrip strength, strength of quadriceps muscles, SF-36, PCFS, MFIS, BDI, HAMD, assessment of dyspnea in Borg scale during daily activities, mMRC, blood samples for biochemical analyses, ), chest wall mobility and diaphragm ultrasound . Patients in both groups will be monitored with the use of accelerometers in order to asses daily activity, daily number of steps within 7 days prior to intervention, after intervention and after observation period.

The study will be double blind, patients will be unaware of being assigned to a group and investigators assessing functional state in the next stages of the study will not conduct rehabilitation and will not be aware of the allocation of patients to groups.

Safe protocol of 6 week physical training (aerobic training, resistance training, general improvement training, stretching training and respiratory rehabilitation) adjusted to the clinical state of patients plus additional resistance respiratory training with the use of respiratory muscle trainer (Philips Respironics Threshold IMT).

Safe protocol of 6 week physical training (aerobic training, resistance training, general improvement training, stretching training and respiratory rehabilitation) adjusted to the clinical state of patients. No resistance set on respiratory muscle trainer (Philips Respironics Threshold IMT).

6-min walk test (6 MWT) is a exercise test that entails measurement of distance walked over a span of 6 minutes by patient good outcome > 500 m, bad outcome < 200 m. Treadmill stress test is performed with use of Bruce or ModBruce (modified Bruce) protocol, the outcome is measured in metabolic equivalents (METs) adjusted to the sex and age

Quality of life measurement with SF36 (The Short Form (36) Health Survey, which is a 36-item, patient-reported survey of patient health.The Optum™ SF-36v2® Health Survey asks 36 questions to measure functional health and wellbeing from the patient's point of view. It is a practical, reliable and valid measure of physical and mental health that can be completed in five to ten minutes. The more number of points witness of better quality of life. Scores are calibrated so that 50 is the average score or norm. This norm-based score allows comparison among the three surveys and across the more than 19,000 studies published in the past 20 years. This bibliography includes studies of hundreds of diseases, conditions and populations, and greatly enhances the ability to interpret SF health survey data in new studies.Range 0-180 points

Measurement of basic parameters as VC (vital capacity), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FEV1/VC (forced expiratory volume in 1 second//vital capacity) ratio

Series of tests used to evaluate lower extremity function and mobility including the gait speed, chair stand and balance tests. Range 0-12 points, 0-6 low performance, 10-12 high performance;

21-item, self-report rating inventory measuring characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depression. (Range 0-63 ponts, 0-11 points no depression, 50-63 points- severe depression)

Multiple-item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluate recovery. (Range 0-50 ponts, 0-6points no depression, 25-50 points- severe depression)

Post-COVID-19 Functional Status [PCFS] scale. Range 0-4 0- no limitation of daily functioning, 4 severe limitation of daily functioning

21-item scale measuring the impact of fatigue on a patient's daily life.Range 0-84 points. 0- no impact, 84 very severe impact

Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) most commonly used validated scale to assess dyspnea in daily living in chronic pulmonary diseases. Range 0-4, 0 grade dyspnea only with strenuous exercise, 4 patient too dyspneic to leave house or breathless when dressing

Inclusion Criteria: COVID 19 infection confirmed with a positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Scute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus type 2) test less than 12 moths prior to intervention more than 14 days from the day of obtaining a positive PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 or discharge from hospital. mMRC (modified Medical Research Council) score ≥1 age >18 years informed consent signed by patient to conduct the study Exclusion Criteria: severe pulmonary disease (e.g. COPD) the functional state that makes it impossible to carry out the pre-examination and improvement program severe chest pain worsening dyspnea hemoptysis worsening dry cough syncope worsening oedema of extremities myocarditis (less than 6 months from acute phase)

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