Godfrey Belinda, Shardha Jenna, Witton Sharon, Bodey Rochelle, Tarrant Rachel, Greenwood Darren C, Sivan Manoj
Leeds Long COVID Community Rehabilitation Service, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds LS11 0DL, UK.
Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
J Clin Med. 2024 Dec 27;14(1):97. doi: 10.3390/jcm14010097.
Post-COVID-19 Syndrome or long COVID (LC) is a novel public health crisis and, when persistent (>2 years), is a long-term condition. Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) is a characteristic symptom of LC and can be improved in a structured pacing rehabilitation programme. To evaluate the effect of an 8-week structured World Health Organisation (WHO) Borg CR-10 pacing protocol on PESE episodes, LC symptoms, and quality of life in a cohort of individuals with long-term LC. Participants received weekly telephone calls with a clinician to discuss their activity phase, considering their PESE symptoms that week. They completed the Leeds PESE questionnaire (LPQ), C19-YRS (Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale), and EQ-5D-5L at the beginning of the programme (0 weeks), the end of programme (8 weeks), and at final follow-up (12 weeks). Thirty-one participants (duration of LC symptoms: 29 months) completed the programme. The PESE episodes decreased in number each week (15% fewer each week, 95% CI: 11% to 20%, < 0.001) and were of shorter duration and milder severity each week. The changes in C19YRS symptom severity and functional disability (0-12 weeks) were statistically significant but not clinically significant. The EQ5D-5L index score change was not statistically significant. A structured pacing protocol effectively reduced PESE episode frequency, duration, and severity but did not produce clinically significant changes in LC symptoms, reflecting the long-term nature of the condition in this cohort.
新冠后综合征或长新冠（LC）是一场新出现的公共卫生危机，若持续存在（超过2年）则属于一种长期病症。运动后症状加重（PESE）是长新冠的一个典型症状，可通过结构化的节奏康复计划得到改善。为评估为期8周的结构化世界卫生组织（WHO）Borg CR-10节奏方案对一组长期长新冠患者的PESE发作、长新冠症状及生活质量的影响。参与者每周与一名临床医生进行电话沟通，讨论其活动阶段，并考虑其当周的PESE症状。他们在计划开始时（0周）、计划结束时（8周）及最终随访时（12周）完成利兹PESE问卷（LPQ）、C19-YRS（约克郡康复量表）及EQ-5D-5L。31名参与者（长新冠症状持续时间：29个月）完成了该计划。PESE发作次数每周减少（每周减少15%，95%置信区间：11%至20%，P<0.001），且每周发作持续时间更短、严重程度更低。C19YRS症状严重程度及功能残疾（0至12周）的变化具有统计学意义，但无临床意义。EQ5D-5L指数评分变化无统计学意义。结构化节奏方案有效降低了PESE发作频率、持续时间及严重程度，但未对长新冠症状产生临床显著变化，这反映了该队列中病症的长期性质。
