Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University for Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
Helse i Hardanger, Øystese, Norway.
Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 9;13(1):9423. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35991-y.
At least 65 million people suffer from long COVID. Treatment guidelines are unclear, especially pertaining to recommendations of increased activity. This longitudinal study evaluated safety, changes in functional level and sick leave following a concentrated rehabilitation program for patients with long COVID. Seventy-eight patients (19-67 years) participated in a 3-day micro-choice based rehabilitation program with 7-day and 3-month follow-up. Fatigue, functional levels, sick leave, dyspnea and exercise capacity were assessed. No adverse events were reported and 97.4% completed the rehabilitation. Fatigue measured with Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire decreased at 7-days [mean difference (MD = - 4.5, 95% CI - 5.5 to - 3.4) and 3-month (MD = - 5.5, 95% CI - 6.7 to - 4.3). Sick leave rates and dyspnea were reduced (p < 0.001) and exercise capacity and functional level increased (p < 0.001) at 3-month follow-up regardless of severity of fatigue at baseline. Micro-choice based concentrated rehabilitation for patients with long COVID was safe, highly acceptable and showed rapid improvements in fatigue and functional levels, sustaining over time. Even though this is a quasi-experimental study, the findings are of importance addressing the tremendous challenges of disability due to long COVID. Our results are also highly relevant for patients, as they provide the base for an optimistic outlook and evidence supported reason for hope.
至少有 6500 万人患有长新冠。治疗指南不明确，特别是关于增加活动量的建议。这项纵向研究评估了集中康复计划对长新冠患者的安全性、功能水平变化和病假情况。78 名患者（19-67 岁）参加了为期 3 天的基于微选择的康复计划，并进行了 7 天和 3 个月的随访。评估了疲劳、功能水平、病假、呼吸困难和运动能力。没有报告不良事件，97.4%的患者完成了康复。用 Chalder 疲劳问卷测量的疲劳在 7 天时[平均差异（MD）=-4.5，95%置信区间（CI）-5.5 至-3.4]和 3 个月时[MD=-5.5，95%CI-6.7 至-4.3]降低。病假率和呼吸困难减少（p<0.001），运动能力和功能水平在 3 个月随访时增加（p<0.001），无论基线时疲劳严重程度如何。针对长新冠患者的基于微选择的集中康复是安全的、高度可接受的，并且在短时间内迅速改善疲劳和功能水平，并持续改善。尽管这是一项准实验研究，但这些发现对于应对长新冠导致的残疾巨大挑战具有重要意义。我们的研究结果对于患者也具有高度相关性，因为它们为乐观前景和有证据支持的希望提供了基础。
