Post COVID-19 ongoing symptoms and health related quality of life: does rehabilitation matter? Preliminary evidence, 2022, Mammi et al

Abstract

Objective
Individuals with persisting symptoms after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reported a decrease in health related quality of life. This study explores the outcome of 50 subjects with post COVID-19 ongoing symptoms including “Long COVID”(symptoms lasting over 3 months), after a rehabilitation program focused on three symptoms: fatigue, breathlessness and pain. Aims were:

- assessing the feasibility of the program

-observing a possible change in symptoms and quality of life (null hypothesis: no differences in variables before and after treatment)

-investigating a possible relationship between symptoms and quality of life

Design
Retrospective observational study

Results
Symptoms intensity measured with Numeric Rating Scale decreased. Mean differences: breathlessness: -2,91; fatigue: -2,05; pain: -2,41 (p > .001). Quality of life measured with Euroqol-5D (EQ-5D) improved. Mean differences: EQ-5D index : 0,104; EQ-5D VAS: 19,21 (p < .001). Effect size of these changings is classifiable as large (Cohen’s d > 0,8 and < 1,3) except for EQ-5D index ( Cohen’s d -0,575), resulting medium(>0,5 and < 0,8). Correlation (Pearson’s r) between symptoms and EQ-5D resulted moderate for pain and fatigue (-0,609 and -0,531, p < .001) and low for breathlessness (-0,533, p < .001)

Conclusions
Rehabilitation can be feasible and may improve symptoms and quality of life. Further research is needed.

Paywall, https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/Abst...9_ongoing_symptoms_and_health_related.84.aspx