Abstract Background Patients appear to maintain sequelae post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affecting daily life and physical health. We investigated the changes in and the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on exercise capacity and immunology six months after COVID-19 hospitalization. Methods This retrospective cohort reviewed 233 COVID-19 patients admitted from 17 January 2020 to 29 February 2020. Ninety-eight patients who completed 2-week and 6-month follow-ups and tests were included. Among 98 patients, 27 completed at least five sessions of PR at the First Hospital of Changsha, China, during the 6-month convalescence were allocated to the PR group; the reminder who had not performed any PR were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome was the change in six-minute walk distance (6-MWD) between the 2-week and 6-month follow-ups, which was assessed via analysis of covariance with a covariate of propensity score that adjusted for the potential confounders. Secondary outcomes were the changes in 6-MWD, SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins, T-lymphocytes and blood chemistry, which were evaluated via paired tests. Results Participants’ ages ranged from 19 to 84 years ( M = 47, standard deviation (SD)=15) 45.9% identified as male. During the 6-month convalescence, 6-MWD increased 27.0%, with a mean [95% CI] of 113 [92–134] m ( p < .001). SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM decreased 33.3% ( p = .002) and 43.8% ( p = .009), CD4+ T cells increased 7.9% ( p = .04), and the majority of blood chemistry significantly changed. The patients in the PR group acquired a greater increase in 6-MWD than those in control (unadjusted, 194 [167–221] m, p < .001; adjusted, 123 [68–181] m, p < .001), dose-responsiveness of PR on 6-MWD was observed ( p < .001). No differences in immunity variables and blood chemistry were observed between groups. Conclusions These findings suggest PR may be a strategy to promote the improvement of exercise capacity after COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, exercise, Biomarker, Immunity, rehabilitation, Respiration, 【초록키워드】 immunology, SARS-CoV-2, IgM, immunoglobulins, Exercise capacity, outcome, China, Health, male, Patient, COVID-19 hospitalization, age, Follow-up, pulmonary rehabilitation, blood chemistry, disease, patients, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, CD4+ T cell, Analysis, COVID-19 patient, T-lymphocyte, Standard deviation, Primary outcome, control group, confounders, covariate, retrospective cohort, variable, Effect, FIVE, physical, secondary, Result, greater, performed, significantly, investigated, evaluated, adjusted, majority, changes in, promote, increase in, maintain, changed, assigned, groups, affecting, ranged, 【제목키워드】 outcome, pulmonary rehabilitation, retrospective cohort study, patients hospitalized,