Assessment of Post COVID-19 Rehabilitation Programme using Post-Acute Lung Injury Functional Scale

Background: Since its outbreak in China in January 2020, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide and then, the World Health Organization declared that outbreak as a pandemic. The predominant pathological change is diffuse lung injury, most of the patients suffered from intra-alveolar fibrinous exudate and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, resulting in hypoxia, dyspnoea, and functional disabilities. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients is a nonpharmacological intervention which is still in evolving phase. Due to insufficient availability of data on functional assessment of any patient who has suffered a lung injury, this study has formulated a grading system for them. Also, we studied our patient data retrospectively to study the impact of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in recovery of these patients. Methods: This retrospective study was taken to do Functional assessment of patients with COVID-19 using PALIFS (Post-Acute Lung Injury Functional Scale). Along with formulating and executing individually tailored cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme this study also focused on change in hemodynamic parameters, exercise tolerance and musculoskeletal strength before and after cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Results: A statistically significant difference (p value <0.0001) was found in oxygen saturation level, heart rate at resting as well as post activity. Also, statistically significant difference in exercise tolerance and musculoskeletal strength post cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Significantly slower recovery with advanced age but not with gender change and presence or absence of comorbidities. Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation had a positive effect in recovery of COVID-19 patients. Also, the PALIFS was found to be an easy, effective, and appropriate tool for the functional assessment of COVID-19 patients.