Home-based Respiratory Physiotherapy and Telephone-Based Psychological Support in Severe COVID-19 Patients

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia108 enrolled

Overview

Some COVID-19 survivors may have respiratory and mental health sequelae, especially those who required hospitalization. The investigators hypothesize that the participation of a rehabilitation program composite by home-based respiratory physiotherapy and telephone-based psychological support will improve respiratory function, quality of life, and psychological status in severe COVID-19 patients.

In Peru, almost one million persons have survived COVID-19 and initial reports indicate that could exist long-term health damage. This study aims to assess the efficacy of a 6-week rehabilitation program following hospital discharge for patients who had severe COVID-19. The program includes 12 sessions of home-based respiratory therapy that the patient will carry out with a physiotherapist and 7 sessions of telephone-based psychological support bring by a psychologist.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

108

Conditions

Covid19 Respiratory Disease Mental Health Disorder

Interventions

Respiratory and psychological rehabilitationOTHER

Respiratory rehabilitation consists of 12 sessions of respiratory and physical exercises that patients perform at home with the help of a physiotherapist. Sessions have 1 hour of duration and are performing twice a week. Exercises include (1) Training of the respiratory muscles through pursed-lip breaths. (2) Effective cough exercises. (3) Diaphragmatic contractions in a supine position with a lightweight placed on the anterior abdominal wall. (4) Stretching exercise of extremities and the back. The psychological support consists of 1 session to make the psychological history of the participant, and 6 sessions of emotion-centered problem-solving therapy, with cognitive-behavioral components and psychological management of emergencies and crises. These sessions have a 1-hour duration and are telephone-provided once a week by psychologists following the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian and Disaster Emergencies.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 75 years * Be discharged from hospitalization with a COVID-19 confirmed diagnosis * Be able of understanding study procedures * Be able to give informed consent * Required oxygen flow greater than 6lt/min or through a high flow device at any time during hospitalization * Have been evaluated by the rehabilitation service at least once during the hospitalization Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to six-minute walk test * Contraindications to spirometry * Complications during the baseline six-minute walk test * Have neurological pathology, neuropathy, limb dysfunction, or other underlying physical disability that makes physical exercise impossible * Be pregnant or breastfeeding * Do not have access to the Internet or a telephone line * Have previous lung diseases like asthma, COPD, fibrosis, or tuberculosis * Moderate or severe heart disease (Grade III or IV, New York Heart Association) * Have had another severe disease in the last six months * Severe depression or suicidal intention * Be taking any medication for depression, anxiety, or other medication prescribed by a psychiatrist prior to the onset of a COVID-19 condition * Have cognitive impairment or sensory disturbance

Locations (1)

Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia

Lima, Peru