A review of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with covid-19

Coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus disease-2, is the first pandemic that has been caused by a coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has already led to a marked increase in burdens including disease, disability, and health-care system costs. Patients with COVID-19 may present with a broad spectrum of clinical features such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, myalgia, fatigue, sore throat, hemoptysis, and diarrhea. To our knowledge, no specific antiviral or vaccine is available for COVID-19 treatment and prevention. Present-day management includes supportive care, oxygen supplementation, and mechanical ventilatory support when indicated, along with infection control measures. Apart from physical symptoms, patients usually face various so-cial or psychological problems; hence, comprehensive health status assessment is essential. During the first year following acute respiratory distress syndrome of any cause, more than two-thirds of survivors reported clinically significant fatigue symptoms. This proves the need for appropriate rehabilitation for COVID-19 survivors. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims to improve respiratory function and quality of life in patients with various disorders. Studies are re-quired to define those patients with impaired health conditions after COVID-19 infection during follow-up. However, an easy method for prescribing pulmonary rehabilitation is according to disease severity. Rehabilitation must start at admission and continue after discharge. At the time of discharge from a COVID care center, patients must be educated for home-based rehabilitation.