| Author | DOI | Year | Country | Experimental Dates | Aim of the study | Study Design | Type of rehabilitation service | Research Question | LFRI | Covid Phases | Population | N° of participants | Clinical presentation | Intervention | Comparator | Outcomes | Adverse events | Diagnostic test | Sensitivity | Specificity | Types of validity | Attributes of reliability | Main findings | Albu S | 10.3233/NRE-210025 | 2021 | Spain | N/A | To characterize persistent symptoms, physical, neurological and respiratory sequelae and their impact on daily life activities and quality of life in post COVID-19 patients included in an outpatient rehabilitation program | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | General postacute rehabilitation | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fatigue, sleep quality, respiratory functional parameters, muscle strength, physical function, physical performance, independence in ADL, neuropsychological function, anxiety and depression, and quality of life | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 30 COVID-19 patients (mean age: 54 years; 19 male; 16 admitted to the ICU) referred for rehabilitation more than 3 months after acute COVID-19. Cognitive impairment was found in 63.3% of patients, irrespective of the previous admission to the ICU. Increased physical fatigue, anxiety and depression and low quality of life were prevalent irrespective of acute COVID-19 severity. Post-ICU patients did not start rehabilitation earlier than non-ICU patients and their functional independence measures, cognitive affective state and quality of life were similar to the non-ICU sub-group. |
| Albu S | 10.3233/NRE-210025 | 2021 | Spain | N/A | To characterize persistent symptoms, physical, neurological and respiratory sequelae and their impact on daily life activities and quality of life in post COVID-19 patients included in an outpatient rehabilitation program | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | General postacute rehabilitation | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fatigue, sleep quality, respiratory functional parameters, muscle strength, physical function, physical performance, independence in ADL, neuropsychological function, anxiety and depression, and quality of life | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 30 COVID-19 patients (mean age: 54 years; 19 male; 16 admitted to the ICU) referred for rehabilitation more than 3 months after acute COVID-19. Cognitive impairment was found in 63.3% of patients, irrespective of the previous admission to the ICU. Increased physical fatigue, anxiety and depression and low quality of life were prevalent irrespective of acute COVID-19 severity. Post-ICU patients did not start rehabilitation earlier than non-ICU patients and their functional independence measures, cognitive affective state and quality of life were similar to the non-ICU sub-group. |
| Bardakci MI | 10.1002/jmv.27101 | 2021 | Turkey | From March 11 to July 30, 2020 | To evaluate long-term radiological changes in severe COVID-19 patients, to investigate pulmonary function, exercise capacities, and health-related quality of life results. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 65 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Spirometry, 6MWT, SF-36 were applied in the sixth month. Chest CT | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 65 COVID-19 patients who had severe pneumonia (75.4% male; mean hospitalization time was 11.7 days). They were assessed in the sixth month after discharge from the hospital. The main finding is represented by Functional and radiological abnormalities that were detected in a significant number of patients: FEV1% values in 30.5% of patients, FVC% values in 45.8%, and 6MWT in 23.2% were found lower than expected in the sixth month. On the SF-36 scale, physical function, energy-vitality, social functionality, pain, and general health parameters were found lower than normal. Minimal interstitial changes in chest CT were seen in 26 patients. Nine patients had lung area involvement between 10% and 50% of the surface, there was a correlation between FEV1% and FVC% values in this group. There was severe pulmonary fibrosis in four patients. There was a correlation between pulmonary function and physical function and general perception of health from SF-36 scale subparameters. A systematic monitoring plan must be established to assess and properly manage the long-term problems that may arise after COVID-19 infection. |
| Chun HJ et al. | 10.1172/jci.insight.148476 | 2021 | USA | N/A | To better understand the relationship between subjective and objective respiratory abnormalities in patients recovered from COVID-19 infections. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 61 | N/A | N/A | admitted to the post–COVID-19 rehabilitation unit | PFT, symptoms, biomarkers | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 61 COVID-19 patients (median age 63, 56% male; 21% were treated at home, 48% in hospital, 31% in ICU) assessed at a median 9 weeks after onset of symptoms. The main findings is represented by the rate of symptoms persistence (85% of patients). There was no relationship between PFT and symptoms persistence. |
| de Souza | 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.05.011 | 2021 | Brazil | June 2020 - August 2020 | To assess the association of physical activity before the pandemic and quarantine measures with the prevalence of hospitalizations in surviving patients infected with SARSCoV-2 virus and investigated symptoms of the disease, length of hospital stay, and the use of mechanical ventilation in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the association with sufficient and insufficient physical activity | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 938 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Symptoms, medications, hospitalization, and length of hospital stay, and physical activity level assessed with the IPAQ short version. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 938 COVID-19 patients (35% male). They were assessed after full recovery from COVID-19 infection. The main finding is that performing at least 150 min a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 min a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity, before the infection, was associated with 34.3% reduction in hospitalization rate . Moreover, an increased risk of hospitalization was observed in presence of the following risk factors: male sex ( p = 0.013), age over 65 years (p<0.001), obesity I (p=0.001), preexisting disease (p=0.002), 3 or more symptoms (p<0.001), and using 2 or more medications (p<0.001). |
| Delbressine | 10.3390/ijerph18116017 | 2021 | Netherlands | June 2020 - September 2020 | To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the level of self-reported PA (time spent walking per week and leisure-time sports activities) in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 239 | N/A | N/A | N/A | existing comorbidities received care, symptoms, and hospital admission. The average time spent walking performed before COVID-19 (retrospectively) and at the time spent walking after COVID | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 239 post-COVID-19 patients (mean age: 50 years; 82.8% female) with persistent symptoms, who were all members of online long COVID support groups, were requested to complete a questionnaire in two timepoints, at around 10.4 ±2.4 weeks (T1) and 22.6 ± 2.4 weeks (T2), of symptom onset. The main finding is represented by the rate of change in time spent walking per week. After three months of follow-up, walking time was significantly reduced compared to pre-COVID-19 (p<0.05). Although there was an improvement at six months (p<0.05), subjects still demonstrated a significantly decreased self-reported walking time six months after the onset of symptoms. In contrast, the proportion of participants that reported walking or cycling indoors increased over the course of six months after the onset of symptoms. |
| Divanoglou A et al. | 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100920 | 2021 | Sweden | From March 1 to May 31, 2020 | To determine Covid-19-associated mortality, as well as Covid-19 associated rehabilitation needs, four months after discharge from hospital. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any Activity limitation and participation restriction (d) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 734 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Symptoms at follow-up. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 734 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (median age 61 years, 56.8% were males, median LOS 6 days, 15.7% needed ICU) at 4 months follow-up after hospital discharge. One hundred twenty-five patients were dead at follow-up. Almost half of patients (40%) reported activity limitations/participation restrictions (25% patient reported problems walking > 1 km), and 20-40% of cases reported cognitive and affective impairments. These impairments should be considered when designing rehabilitation services for COVID-19 patients. |
| Finn A | N/A | 2021 | USA | From April 1 to November 30, 2020 | To aid the clinician in early identification, diagnosis and management of cardiac complications in COVID-19. | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Cardiovascular functions (Heart b410) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 41 | N/A | N/A | N/A | echocardiography | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 41 COVID-19 patients (mean age 66, 73.2% were male, mean length of hospital stay 9 days) with severe cardiac complications (70.7% of patients had a previous history of cardiac or related conditions).The main finding is represented by the fact that among survivors with COVID-19-related cardiomyopathy, only 20% demonstrated recovery of left ventricular function on follow-up echocardiography done within 12 weeks after initial diagnosis. |
| Frontera | 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117486 | 2021 | USA | March 2020 - May 2020 | To compare global functional outcomes between COVID-19 hospital survivors with and without neurological complications using an ordinal analysis of the modified Rankins Scale (mRS) | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Any Activity limitation and participation restriction (d) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 790 | N/A | N/A | 395 COVID-19 patients with neurological complicationwere compared to 395 COVID-19 patients without neurological complications | modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders short form self-reported health measures of anxiety, depression, fatigue and sleep. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 395 COVID-19 patients surviving neurological complications, and as many control patients surviving COVID-19 without suffering from neurological complications. Of the total 790 subjects, 196 with neurological complications and 186 controls completed the follow-up at 6.7 months of COVID-19 onset (median time). The six-month mRS scores were significantly worse in patients with neurological complications compared to controls (P =0.014). Patients with neurological complications were more likely to have impaired activities of daily living as measured by the Barthel Index (53% versus 35% of controls, P =0.002) and were less likely to return to work (41% versus 64% of controls, P =0.004). |
| Gramaglia C et al. | 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.667385 | 2021 | Italy | From March 1 to June 29, 2020 | To assess the possible differences between anxiety and depressive symptoms as identified by the clinical interview performed by an experienced psychiatrist and as assessed with self-administered screening questionnaires | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Nervous system structures (s1) and related functions (Mental functions b1) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 238 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Clinical and socio-demographic data, PFT, MINI, BAI, BDI-II, RSA, IES. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 238 COVID-19 patients (no available data on the mean age of the whole population, 59,8% males), assessed at a median of 131 days after hospital discharge. At the psychiatric assessment, participants complained of anxiety and depression in 32.9% and 29.5% cases respectively. Changes in appetite and sleep patterns emerged for 15.6% and 31.2% of patients, respectively. According to the self-administered questionnaires, 7.1% of participants had moderate-severe anxiety levels (BAI), while 10.5% had mild to severe depression (BDI-II). Psychiatric symptoms showed no correlation with acute COVID-19 severity, but rather with ongoing and persistent physical symptoms. |
| Groah SL et al. | 10.1002/pmrj.12645 | 2021 | USA | From March 1 to September 30, 2020 | To describe COVID-19 patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and their rehabilitation outcomes | Analytical: Cohort study | General postacute rehabilitation | Micro - Interventions (efficacy/harms) | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 82 | N/A | N/A | 814 COVID-19 negative patients in need of respiratory rehabilitation | Clinical data, LOS; discharge location; FA-SC; FA-Mob | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 896 patients who underwent rehabilitation. 82 of them were COVID-19 positive (mean age 59.4 years, 46.3% were female), while 814 were COVID-19 negative (mean age 62.95 years, 45.5% were female). Overall, patients COVID-19 positive and negative who had access to rehabilitation for neurological or orthopedic condition, showed similar improvement in functional abilities. |
| Kashif A | 10.1038/s41598-021-92717-8 | 2021 | Pakistan | From April to June, 2020 | To identify the presence of post‐viral symptomatology in patients recovered from mild COVID‐19 disease. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 242 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 242 COVID‐19 recovered patients with mild disease (mean age, 69.4% male), assessed 3 months after hospital discharge or 3 months after their hospital visit, for patients who were advised home quarantine initially. Mild disease was defined as mild clinical symptoms, i.e. fever < 38 °C (quelled without treatment), with or without cough (no dyspnea, no gasping, no underlying chronic lung disease) and, no imaging findings of pneumonia. The main finding is represented by the high rate of persistent post-viral sequelae, the most common being fatigue (41.7%). The sample was also stratified into two groups, those without any comorbidity (88%) and those with co-morbidities (12%) . People with comorbid conditions were older, and had more frequently decreased appetite and sleep disturbances than people without. The females had a significantly greater occurrence of myalgias, decreased appetite, headache, low mood, nausea/vomiting, chest pain, sleep disturbances, and fatigability.amongst females as compared to males. These results validate the presence of prolonged symptoms months after recovery from mild COVID‐19 disease, particularly in association with the female gender. |
| Liyanage-Don NA et al. | 10.1007/s11606-021-06855-w | 2021 | USA | From March 26 to May 27, 2020 | To examine the association of depression and PTSD with perceived recovery following COVID-19 illness. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Nervous system structures (s1) and related functions (Mental functions b1) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 153 | N/A | N/A | N/A | PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PHQ-8, length of stay, level of inpatient care during the COVID-19 hospitalization. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 153 COVID-19 patients (mean age 54.5 years, 39.9% were female) 3 months post-discharge. The most common persistent COVID-related physical symptoms were body aches (23.5%), fatigue (20.3%), shortness of breath (19.0%), and headaches (13.1%). Depression and PTSD were each associated with a greater mean number of persistent physical symptoms and a higher likelihood of feeling unrecovered. |
| Maniscalco M et al. | 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106470 | 2021 | Italy | N/A | To verify the impact of a preexisting cardiorespiratory comorbidity on multidisciplinary rehabilitation in post-COVID-19 patients. | Analytical: Cohort study | Specialized postacute rehabilitation | Micro - Interventions (efficacy/harms) | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 95 | N/A | 5-week pulmonary rehabilitation program with daily sessions (6 sessions/week). | Patients without comorbidities. | PFT, DLCO, 6MWT | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 95 consecutive COVID-19 patients after acute phase, at admission in a pulmonary rehabilitation ward. Patients were divided into two groups, patients with comorbidities (N=46, mean age 65.3, 84% females) and without comorbidities (N=49, mean age 61.5, 84% females). The main finding is represented by the improvement observed in PFT, DLCO and 6MWT in both groups. Response to the rehabilitation cycle tended to be greater in those without preexisting comorbidities, but DLCO was the only parameter that showed a significant greater improvement in patients without comorbidities. |
| Mei Q et al. | 10.3389/fmed.2021.617689 | 2021 | China | From January 18 to March 29, 2020 | To investigate both the physical and psychological symptoms, including severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 immune recognition, among a large cohort of COVID-19 survivors. | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 3677 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Incidence of post-COVID-19 sequelae. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 3677 COVID-19 patients (median age 59 years, 55.5 % were female) observed from hospital discharge to a median follow-up of 144 days.During follow-up, 976 (26.5%) patients had at least one post-COVID-19 sequela (such as dysfunction in pulmonary, cardiac or neurologic function). The incidence of post-COVID-19 sequelae among elderly COVID-19 survivors (age ≥60 years) was slightly increased compared to that of young COVID-19 survivors (age <60 years; relative risk=1.05). |
| Parizad N | 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101335 | 2021 | Iran | From June 15, 2020 to July 07, 2020 | To determine the effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19. | Randomised controlled trial | N/A | Micro - Interventions (efficacy/harms) | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Acute | COVID-19 | 110 | N/A | ten sessions of guided imagery for five consecutive days, twice a day | Routine care | Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety In- ventory (STAI), the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Vital Signs Flow Sheet. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports the effect of guided imagery in addition to routine care on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19, compared to only routine care. No details on the demographic and clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients are provided. The results showed that the implementation of guided imagery by nurses reduces the anxiety and the intensity and quality of pain. Moreover, this approach can affect heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation in patients with COVID-19. These results suggestes the effectiveness of this complementary method. |
| Pistarini | 10.3389/fneur.2021.643646 | 2021 | Italy | May 2020 | to explore and compare cognitive and psychological status of patients in the subacute phase of the disease (COVID-19 group) and patients in the postillness period (post–COVID-19 group). | Analytical: Cohort study | General postacute rehabilitation | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Nervous system structures (s1) and related functions (Mental functions b1) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 40 | N/A | N/A | post COVID-19 patients | MMSE MoCA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R). | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 40 COVID-19 patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. 20 of them (age: 62.85 ± 12.35) had a positive swab and were assessed at around 10 days of symptom onset, the remaining 20 (age: 65.40 ± 11.51) were post-COVID19 subjects and were assessed at 25.14 ± 10.39 days after the second consecutively negative swab. Post-COVID subjects had higher score in MMSE subtests of language (p = 0.02) and in MoCA subtests of executive functions (p = 0.05), language (p = 0.01), and abstraction (p = 0.02) and also reported significantly higher levels of distress at the IES-R (p = 0.02). compared to the subgroup in the acute phase |
| Polese J et al. | 10.6061/clinics/2021/e2848 | 2021 | Brazil | From September to October, 2020 | To evaluate pulmonary function after hospital discharge of individuals who presented with the severe COVID-19. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 41 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Clinical and demographic parameters, symptoms, PFT, radiographic findings. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 41 COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to severe disease (mean age 51 years, 73% were males). PFT was executed a mean of 36 days after the onset of symptoms. Approximately 93% of patients still had symptoms at examination. PFT showed a restrictive pattern in 54% of patients. A reduction of DLCO was observed in 79% of patients. |
| Scarpino M | 10.1111/ane.13433 | 2021 | Italy | From January 2016 to June 2020 | To determine if there were any differences between ARDS from COVID-19 and other aetiologies in the frequency of CINPM and outcome at discharge from the intensive care unit | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Nervous system structures (s1) and related functions (Neuromusculoskeletal and movement related functions b7) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 23 | N/A | N/A | 21 with ARDS due to other aetiologies | electroneurography/electromyography | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 23 patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 (mean age 66, 87% male) and 21 with ARDS due to other etiologies (mean age 57, 76% male). The length of ICU stay was similar in all patients with ARDS, with a median stay of 38 days for non-COVID-19 ARDS patients and 36 days for COVID-19 ARDS patients). They were assessed by ENG/EMG at 14-38 days, with a median of 18 days, from ICU admission. The incidence of CIPNM was similar in the two groups, 65% in COVID-19 patients and 71% in patients affected by ARDS of other aetiologies. At ICU discharge, subjects with CIPNM more frequently required ventilatory support, regardless of the aetiology of ARDS. ENG/EMG represents a useful tool in the identification of the neuromuscular causes underlying ventilator wean failure and patient stratification. A high incidence of CIPNM, with a similar percentage, has been observed in ARDS patients of all aetiologies |
| Srinivasan V | N/A | 2021 | India | N/A | To explore the efficacy of combining various breathing exercise to improve the pulmonary ventilation. | Randomised controlled trial | General postacute rehabilitation | Micro - Interventions (efficacy/harms) | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 48 | N/A | pursed lip breathing and the Bhastrika pranayama: at home, daily for 5 min thrice a day over a period of 6 weeks. | breathing exercise with incentive spirometry: at home, 5-10 times thrice a day over a period 6 weeks | Pulmonary Function Testing with the FVC & FEV1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | The present study analyzed the efficacy of interventions for patients with dyspnea in post covid follow-up clinic. No details on the demographic and clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients are provided. Both groups showed improvement after treatment, there was a significant difference between groups in the FEV1 post-test |
| Sultana S | 10.7759/cureus.15351 | 2021 | Bangladesh | From April 1, 2020, to July 30, 2020. | To estimate the prevalence of acute post-COVID symptoms and long post-COVID symptoms among the recovered medical doctors, and find out the risk factors of long post-COVID symptoms. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Any other body structure and function-generic (s/b) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 186 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 186 COVID-19 recovered medical doctors (mean age 34.8 years., 66.1% male). The interval between the participants' COVID-19 detection and the date of data collection was 124.4 (21.6) days on average. The authors classified the post-COVID symptoms based on their duration: symptoms persisting ≤60 days following recovery were considered as acute post-COVID symptoms and >60 days following recovery were considered as long post- COVID symptoms. The main findings are represented by: 1) about 70% of participants had at least one acute post-COVID symptom, including fatigue (43.0%), sleep disturbance (13.4%), lack of concentration (11.8%), breathing difficulty (10.2%), headache (6.5%), and muscle pain (6.5%). 2) About 24% of participants reported having long post-COVID symptoms like fatigue (8.1%), difficulty in breathing (6.5%), lack of concentration (4.8%), hair fall (4.3%), memory lapses (4.3%), sleep disturbance (3.8%), and joint pain (1.6%). 3) Female sex and comorbid conditions are risk factors for the long post-COVID symptoms. |
| Tian F | 10.23736/S1973-9087.21.06892-1 | 2021 | China | From March 1, 2020 to April, 5 2020 | To evaluate the efficacy and safety of short-wave diathermy for moderate COVID-19 patients. | Randomised controlled trial | Rehabilitation in acute care | Micro - Interventions (efficacy/harms) | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Acute | COVID-19 | 40 | N/A | A session of 10-min pulsed short-wave diathermy treatment once a day for 14 days or less (in the case of discharge or death within 14 days). The pulse repetition rate was 350 Hz. The electrodes were placed on the chest and upper back. | 13 COVID-19 patients underwent placebo short-wave diathermy | clinical improvement according to a seven- category ordinal scale: (1) not hospitalized with resumption of normal activities; (2) not hospitalized, but unable to resume normal ac- tivities; (3) non-ICU hospitalization, not requiring supplemental oxygen; (4) non-ICU hospitalization, requiring supplemental oxygen; (5) ICU hospitalization, not requiring ECMO and/or invasive mechanical ventilation; (6) ICU hospitalization, requiring ECMO and/or invasive mechanical ventilation; (7) death. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 40 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate symptom category as for fever, fatigue, and respiratory symptom (mean age 65, 37.5% female, 15.8 days between onset and enrollment, 6.8 days between diagnosis and enrollment). The main finding is represented by the clinical improvement that occurred in 92.6% of COVID19 patients exposed to SWD, as compared to 69.2% of patients in the control group. Similarly, CT improvement occurred in 85.2 % of patients in the SWD group and 46.2 % of patients in the control group respectively by day 14 . There was no significant difference in adverse events between the SWD group and the control group (2 of 27 with headache and dizziness vs. 1 of 13 with headache, respectively). This study provides the first evidence that SWD is a promising adjuvant therapy for COVID-19. |
| Vaes A W et al. | 10.1183/23120541.00141-2021 | 2021 | Netherlands | From June 4 to June 11, 2020 | To evaluate symptoms in COVID-19 patients up to 6 months after the onset of COVID-19 related symptoms. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 1939 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Number of symptoms, work productivity, self reported health, functional status and QoL (EQ5D) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 1939 COVID-19 patients (mean age 50 years, 82.8 % were female, 26% were hospitalized, not in ICU, while 74% were treated at home) 3 to 6 months after symptom oneset. The main finding is represented by the rate of persistent symptoms even after 6 months from the onset of symptoms: only 5,4% of patients were without symptoms. Those symptoms affected productivity, functional status and quality of life. These findings support the existence of a post-COVID-19 syndrome |
| Wang X | 10.1093/qjmed/hcaa178 | 2021 | China | February 2020-March 2020 | To investigate clinical outcomes, distribution of quarantine locations and the infection status of the contacts of COVID-19 patients after discharge. | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Ongoing | COVID-19 | 131 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Complete blood count and COVID-19 symptoms including fever, cough, expectoration, dyspnea, chest distress, chest pain, pharyngeal pain, rhinobyon, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, inappetence, myalgia, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and palpitation. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 131 COVID-19 patients (mean age 49 [36–62], 45.0% male). They were assessed every week up the 4 weeks from hospital discharge. The main finding is represented by the rate of change at the 4 week in cough (40.1% vs 9.1%), fatigue (7.6% vs 0%), dyspnea (3.82% vs 1.53), chest tightness (6.11% vs 0.8%), and chest pain (3.05% vs 0%). |
| Wu Xiaoyan | 10.3389/fcvm.2021.654405 | 2021 | China | March 2020 - October 2020 | To observe the persistent impact of COVID-19 in patients with and without cardiac injury | Analytical: Cohort study | N/A | Epidemiology - Natural history/Determining and modifying factors | Cardiovascular functions (Heart b410) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 27 | N/A | N/A | COVID-19 patients without cardiac injury | Self-reported symptoms, medications, laboratory findings, Short Form 36-item scores, 6-min walk test, clinical events, electrocardiogram assessment, echocardiography measurement, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 27 COVID-19 patients (13 with cardiac injury, mean age 63 [59, 70], 30.8% male, and 14 without cardiac injury, mean age 63 [57, 70], 28.6 % male). They were assessed at 6 months of hospital discharge. The main finding is represented by no statistically significant differences in terms of the quality of life and exercise capacity between the patients with and without cardiac injury |
| Yan X | 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.05.034 | 2021 | China | 1 year follow-up: From March 16 to March 28, 2021, acute infection: From January 24–March 18, 2020 | To assess pulmonary function in survivors who had recovered from COVID-19 one year before. | Analytical: Cross-sectional study | N/A | Epidemiology - Prevalence | Respiratory structures (s430) and related functions (Respiration b440-455) | Post-Covid | COVID-19 | 119 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Spirometry, DLCO | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | This study reports about 119 COVID-19 survivors (mean age 52.97, 41% male) assessed one year after recovering from COVID-19 infection. The subjects were subdivided in asymptomatic (n = 9), non-severe (n = 82), and severe (n = 28), based on clinical picture at COVID-19 onset. The main finding of this study was that lung functional impairment is highly prevalent in survivors with COVID- 19 at 1 year after discharge, and persistent lung function impairment still affects about 40% of survivors. Lung damage might be related to pulmonary fibrosis. |