AUTHOR=Zhu Pengfei , Wang Zhengchao , Guo Xiaomi , Feng Zhiyong , Chen Chaochao , Zheng Ai , Gu Haotian , Cai Yu 

TITLE=Pulmonary Rehabilitation Accelerates the Recovery of Pulmonary Function in Patients With COVID-19

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.691609

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2021.691609

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Objectives: To evaluate the effect of in-hospital pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on short-term pulmonary functional recovery in patients with COVID-19 .
Design: Perspective observational study.
Methods: Patients with COVID-19 (n=123) were divided into two groups (PR group or Control group) according to recipient of pulmonary rehabilitation. 6-min walk distance (6MW), heart rate (HR), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and CT scanning were measured at the time of discharge, 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks.
Results: At week one, both PR group and Control group showed no significant changes in pulmonary function. At 4 and 12 weeks, 6MW, HR, FVC, FEV1, and DLCO improved significantly in both groups. However, the improvement in the PR group was greater than the Control group. Pulmonary function in the PR group returned to normal at 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks in the control group. Control groups have more glass-group opacities at week one compared to the PR group. The residual lesions disappeared at 4 weeks for PR group, and at 24 weeks for Control group.
Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation could accelerate the recovery of pulmonary function in patients with COVID-19.