Dataset related to: "Home-based exercises with teleconsultation following hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomized controlled trial"

We provide the raw data used for the following article:

Paneroni M, Scalvini S, Perger E, Zampogna E, Govetto S, Oliva FM, Matrone A, Bernocchi P, Rosa D, Vitacca M. Home-based exercise program for people with residual disability following hospitalization for COVID-19: Randomized control trial. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2024 Mar;67(2):101815. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2023.101815. 

ABSTRACT

Background: In post-COVID-19 individuals with effort intolerance or hypoxia at rest and/ or during exercise, the best exercise program after in-hospital rehabilitation remains unknown.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a Home-based Exercise Program with teleconsultation (Intervention group) to improve effort tolerance.

Methods: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial. We included COVID-19 individuals after rehabilitation attempts with a) less than 70% of the predicted distance during the Six-Minute Walking test (6MWT) and/or b) oxygen desaturation all day long or during effort. Effort tolerance was evaluated by 6MWT (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes were dyspnea, fatigue, spirometry, respiratory muscle evaluations, and oxygenation. The Intervention group performed one month of a self-administered exercise program and bi-weekly physiotherapist video calls; the Control group was free to conduct physical activity as usual. Exercise intensity was set into 4 levels according to disability and oxygen desaturation, and progressively increased ranging from low (walking, free-body exercise, sit-to-stand, balance exercises), to higher (speed walking with a pedometer, cycle ergometer, strengthening exercises) intensity.

Results: We included 79 participants, 40 in the Intervention and 39 in the Control group [mean (SD) 67.1(10.3) years old, 72% male]. No difference in effort tolerance was found after the intervention between groups [Intervention 77.6 (75.4) vs Control 49.5 (73.3) m, p= 0.109]. Participants with 6MWT below the Lower Limit of Normality experienced a better improvement in effort tolerance [Intervention: mean (SD) 120.1 (75.8) vs Control 59.1 (75.6) m, p= 0.035]. After two months, the 6MWT distance in the two groups was similar (Intervention mean (SD) 475.9 (82.4) vs Control 469.2 (118.9) m, p= 0.807).

Conclusions: In post-COVID-19 individuals with a residual disability after a rehabilitation attempt, a home-based exercise program with teleconsultation leads to a significant benefit on effort tolerance only in participants with severe effort intolerance at baseline.

 Database Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04821934

 Keywords: COVID-19; exercise; teleconsultation, healthcare providers