Some patients with COVID-19 have sequelae after the acute phase of infection. These sequelae can be physical (dyspnea, exercise intolerance, abnormal fatigue) but also psychic (anxiety, depression). Systemic sequelae have also been observed in pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic, renal, nervous or immune systems. Respiratory rehabilitation (RR) is indicated in these patients to help their complete recovery without sequelae. These patients' arrival and sanitary constraints imposed by COVID-19 changed the organization of Health Care Centers (HCC). Risk of contagiousness after the acute phase of infection still exists. Consequently, patients must respect a quarantine time on their arrival in HCC and then have no contact with other HCC patients to respect the barrier rules and social distancing measures. HCC accommodation capacities are reduced and this is to the detriment of patients with chronic diseases for whom RR is essential. Certain HCCs saturation can also be responsible for a non-proposal of RR in the care pathway of patients after COVID-19. To cope with the new constraints imposed by Covid-19 pandemic, telemedicine is being developed in the affected industrial countries. Some SRH physicians are starting to offer post-COVID-19 patients the possibility of carrying out a tele-rehabilitation program (TRR). Such a telemedicine program has been validated for people with respiratory failure. It allows the patient to follow his care program without leaving his home and it does not require the visit from a health professional. In addition to reducing the inflow of post COVID-19 patients in HCC, it allows fragile patients to respect social distancing. It could also contain virus spread virus on the territory by reducing patient movements. When choosing between RR and TRR, the clinician must ask himself two questions. Is TRR as efficient as RR for post-COVID-19 patients? Is there a profile of patients for whom either method gives better results? This study proposes to evaluate both methods: a 4-week TRR program vs a conventional RR program in post COVID-19 patients with sequelae. If the hypothesis that both methods have similar effects is verified, this would allow the generalization of the prescription of TRR. The benefits will be individual with greater access to respiratory rehabilitation for post COVID-19 patients. There will also be collective public health benefits by maintaining sufficient access to HCC for patients with chronic diseases.
Some COVID-19 patients have sequelae after infection acute phase. These sequelae can be
physical (dyspnea, exercise intolerance, abnormal fatigue) but also psychic (anxiety,
depression). Systemic sequelae have also been observed in pulmonary, cardiac, hepatic, renal,
nervous or immune systems. Respiratory rehabilitation (RR) is indicated in these patients to
help their complete recovery. Regional Health Agencies (ARS) have listed Health Care Centers
(HCCs) that can welcome these patients. Their arrival and sanitary constraints imposed by
COVID-19 changed these HCC organization. Risk of contagiousness after infection acute phase
still exists. Consequently, patients must first respect a quarantine time and then have no
contact with other HCC patients to respect barrier rules. HCC accommodation capacities are
reduced to the detriment of patients with chronic diseases for whom RR is essential. Certain
SSRs saturation can also be responsible for a non-proposal of RR to COVID-19 patients. To
cope with the new constraints imposed by COVID-19, telemedicine is being developed in
affected industrial countries. Some SRH physicians are starting to offer post-COVID-19
patients a tele-rehabilitation program (TRR). Such a program has been validated for people
with respiratory failure. It allows a patient to follow his care program without leaving home
and it does not require health professional visits. In addition to reducing post COVID-19
patient inflow in HCC, it allows fragile patients to respect social distancing and could
contain virus spread on the territory by reducing patient movements. When choosing between RR
and TRR, a clinician must ask himself two questions. Is TRR as efficient as RR for
post-COVID-19 patients? Is there a profile of patients for whom either method gives better
results? This study evaluates both methods: a 4-week TRR program vs a conventional RR
program. If the hypothesis that both methods have similar effects is verified, this would
allow TRR prescription generalization. Benefits will be individual with greater access to
respiratory rehabilitation for post COVID-19 patients. There will also be collective benefits
by maintaining sufficient SSR access for patients with chronic diseases.
This study could also help clinicians to choose the best therapeutic methods to combat post
COVID-19 sequelae. Indeed, effectiveness study of rehabilitation programs according to
medical, physical and psychological patient profile will define what is the most suitable
post COVID-19 care method (TRR or RR) for each patient. Thus, it could help to determine the
characteristics of the patients for whom a tele-rehabilitation program is indicated.
Sessions carried out in RR and TRR programs are similar. Session number is the same in both
programs. They have the same goal and the same intensity. In RR program, sessions are carried
out at Renée Sabran Hospital, supervised by medical staff. In TRR program, sessions are
carried out at patient's home, supervised by medical staff by video-conference. Additionally,
aerobic and walking sessions are carried out outside home. The intensity of each session will
be controlled by heart rate monitor.
The same outcome measurements are carried out before and after both respiratory
rehabilitation programs. To verify that both respiratory rehabilitation programs have similar
efficiency, outcome measures will be analyzed using a 2-factor analysis of variance:
- group (TRR vs RR)
- time (before vs after respiratory rehabilitation program)
Relationship between effectiveness of both respiratory rehabilitation programs and the
different characteristics of patients when programs start will be analyzed using multiple
linear regression.
Other: Respiratory rehabilitation program (RR).
Patients in the RR group will follow the respiratory rehabilitation program during a 4-week hospitalization in the respiratory diseases department of Renée Sabran hospital (Hyères, France).
The program includes for each week:
One medical consultation Four 40-min sessions of aerobic exercises on an ergocycle Four 1-hour sessions of walking in Renée Sabran Hospital's park Three 1-hour sessions of muscle strengthening exercises One 1-hour session of sophrology One 1-hour session of occupational therapy One 1-hour session of psychomotricity
Other: Respiratory tele-rehabilitation program (TRR).
Patients in the TRR group will realize the 4-week respiratory tele-rehabilitation program at home. The TRR program for each week includes the same sessions as RR program. But, medical consultation, sophrology, occupational therapy, psychomotricity and muscle strengthening sessions are carried out through live videoconferences. Additionally, aerobic and walking sessions are carried out outside home. The intensity of each session will be controlled by heart rate monitor.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects over 18 years old.
- Subjects having contracted COVID-19 as evidenced by a positive RT-PCR test and / or
the presence of antibodies.
- Subjects having had a medical prescription for respiratory rehabilitation.
- Subject having the hardware and network coverage necessary to achieve a
videoconference.
- Subjects with at least one of the following post-COVID-19 sequelae:
- Dyspnea at rest or during exercise objectified by the mMRC (modified Medical
Research Council) scale with a score greater than or equal to 2. (Vestbo et al,
2013)
- Dysfunction of ventilation objectified by the Nijmegen questionnaire with a score
greater than or equal to 23/64 (Van Dixhoorn and Duivenvoordent, 1985)
- Exercise intolerance objectified by the 1min-STS according to the standards by
age and sex established by Strassmann et al (2013).
- Abnormal fatigue objectified by the MFI-20 (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory)
validated in French by Gentile et al (2003) according to the age and sex
standards established by Schwarz et al (2003).
- State of anxiety or depression objectified by the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and
Depression scale) validated in French by Roberge et al (2013) according to the
standards by age and sex established by Bocéréan and Ducret (2014)
- Patients covered by social security or equivalent regimen
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects infected again by SARS-CoV-2 during the study as evidenced by a positive
RT-PCR test
- Every deterioration of patient physical or psychological state (linked for example to
injury or disease) requiring rehabilitation program arrest or incapacity to perform
functional tests or to answer questionnaires
- Cardio-vascular contraindications to exercise
- Instability of the respiratory state
- Neuromuscular, osteoarticular or psychiatric disease making exercise impossible
- Person presenting severe depression according to DSM-5 criteria
- Person being in the exclusion period of another research protocol at the moment of
inclusion
- Person not mastering enough French language reading and understanding to be able to
consent in writing to participate in the study
- Every condition which, according to investigator, might increase or compromise the
person security in case of study participation
- Patient with medical history which, according to investigator, might interfere with
objective assessment and study results
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Patient deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision
- Patient under legal protection measure or not able to express his consent
- Patient not able to follow study procedures and to respect the visits during all study
Hôpital Nord (AP-HM)
Marseille, Bouches Du Rhône, France
Hôpital Renée Sabran
Hyères, Var, France
HIA Sainte Anne
Toulon, Var, France
Jean-Marc Vallier, MD, Study Director
Toulon University