Evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in patients with post-COVID syndrome

Subjects and methods. In August 2021 to March 2022, a prospective cohort study involving 113 patients with PCS. According to the rehabilitation method, the patients were divided into 4 study group (n=25) that used a rehabilitation program developed in terms of the respiratory rehabilitation principles; comparison group 2 (n=25), the patients of which refused to undergo rehabilitation; comparison group 2 (n=29) that had undergone methods of oriental medicine; Comparison group 3 (n=34) that had balneotherapy and physiotherapy. The groups were matched for sex, age, and rehabilitation routing scale. During the follow-up period, the hospitalization rates were recorded in the groups due to an exacerbation of PCS, death, or disability, as well as the need for for other types of care.

Results. The patients of comparison groups 1-3 are more likely to seek treatment for the symptoms of PCS (χ²=6.635; p=0.001; χ²=13.463; p=0,001; χ²=10.949, p=0.001, respectively), and also more often hospitalized (χ²=5.357; p=0.021; χ²=0.125; p=0.724; χ²=0.856; p=0.355, respectively) than those of the study group. The relative risk (RR) of hospitalizations in the study group compared to the comparison groups was 0.143 (confidence interval [CI] – 0.1–1.0), 0.580 (CI – 0.1–6.0), 0.340 (CI – 0.1–2,9), respectively. The reduction in the RR of hospitalizations in the study group compared to the comparison groups was 85.7; 42.0, and 66.0%, respectively.

Conclusion. The program developed in terms of the respiratory rehabilitation principles showed the highest effectiveness in patients with PCS after 6 months of application.