Efeito de um programa de reabilitação cardiopulmonar na capacidade funcional de pacientes com Síndrome Pós-Covid-19: estudo quase experimental

Abstract

Individuals who have had COVID-19 may experience persistent symptoms that affect functionality and quality of life, characterizing the so-called Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. Consequently, there is a need for information regarding the rehabilitation of this new condition, including the development of exercise programs aimed at improving functional capacity, as well as understanding the response to the proposed training. This study evaluated the effect of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program on the functional capacity of patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. The longitudinal, prospective study with adult patients included an assessment of post-COVID dysfunction using the Post-COVID Functional Scale (PCFS) and an evaluation of functional capacity through the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and the One-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test (STS), conducted before and after an eight-week predominantly aerobic training program. Data were compared using a paired Student's t-test for pre- and post-intervention moments, as well as between groups based on clinical and functional characteristics using an Independent Student's t-test, with a significance level of 5%. The correlation between the applied tests was also investigated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The sample of 41 patients, with an average age of 48.51±14.41 years and 53.7% women, had mild functional limitations (PCFS II), and 63.4% had a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Overall, the distance in the 6MWT increased from 454.30±113.79 to 518.64±121.43 meters (p<0.005), and the repetitions in the STS rose from 21.54±6.82 to 28.77±5.66 (p<0.005). Additionally, the difference obtained between the tests showed a weak positive correlation (r: 0.31; p: 0.028). The proposed protocol improved the functional capacity of patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.