An Update of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitative Measures in Long-COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: The long-term effects of COVID-19 on patients have become an emergent concern. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various post-acute care interventions for COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines across three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The studies were independently evaluated by two reviewers based on their relevance to the research question, which pertains to the effectiveness of interventions such as home-based pulmonary rehabilitation, inspiratory muscle training, pharmacological treatments, and novel technological methods.

Results: Our review included seven studies, each demonstrating improvement in physical and respiratory function, as well as in quality of life, following diverse interventions. Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation, with and without telecoaching, appeared to improve functional outcomes and decrease dyspnea and fatigue. Pharmacological interventions, such as Treamid, showed promise, particularly in women. EMG-driven rehabilitation robots demonstrated feasibility and safety, while H2 inhalation may also be a viable approach.

Conclusion: Post-acute care interventions, tailored to individual patient needs, can potentially improve health outcomes in COVID-19 patients. However, the heterogeneity of the included studies necessitates further large-scale randomized controlled trials to definitively ascertain the effectiveness of these interventions.