Telemedicine in pulmonary rehabilitation - benefits of a telerehabilitation program in post-COVID-19 patients: a controlled quasi-experimental study.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the results of a Respiratory Telerehabilitation Program implemented to patients post-COVID-19 in postacute phase of mild to critical course of COVID-19 who had persistent respiratory symptoms and had not received any vaccination. The intervention was performed during confinement. METHODS: A quasi-experimental nonrandomized study was conducted in Spain during confinement. Respiratory Telerehabilitation Program was guided by a specialized physical therapist through a web platform (Zoom by Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA, USA). Participants were recruited through social webs. Outcome measures included respiratory rate, heart rate, percutaneous oxygen saturation, Mahler's Dyspnea Index, anxiety status, and quality of life [EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 (EQ-5D)]. RESULTS: A total number of 148 participants were recruited, with a final number of 100 participants completing the protocol (50 experimental group (EG)/50 control group (CG)). A total of 500 telerehabilitation sessions were performed for this study. In the EG, pre-post intervention comparative analysis showed significative changes in Mahler's functional dyspnea (p < 0.001), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (p < 0.001), oxygen saturation (p < 0.001), heart rate (p < 0.001), quality-of-life questionnaire (p < 0.001), and respiratory rate (p < 0.001). Participants in the CG showed an improvement in all the variables, but the differences were not statistically significant except in Mahler's functional dyspnea (p = 0.001) and in the quality-of-life questionnaire (p = 0.043). Percentage changes in pre-post intervention were calculated and compared between EG and CG. There were statistically significative differences in all the outcomes in favor of the EG. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a pulmonary telerehabilitation program for COVID-19 not vaccinated survivors in postacute phase with mild to critical course of COVID-19 with respiratory sequelae has proven its benefits in cardiorespiratory variables and dyspnea-related anxiety.

Association between RNAm-Based COVID-19 Vaccines and Permanency of Menstrual Cycle Alterations in Spanish Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to delve more deeply into the medium and long-term relation between mRNA-based vaccines and changes in menstrual pain, cycle length, and amount of bleeding in Spanish women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 746 women (63% between 18-30 and 37% between 31-45 years old) participated in the study. A numerical rating scale was used for recording pain intensity, a pictorial chart for menstrual bleeding, and data from menstrual cycle duration, type of vaccine, number of doses and time from vaccination. RESULTS: Sixty-five per cent of the women perceived changes in their menstrual cycle after receiving the vaccines, irrespective of type of vaccine or number of doses; all p values were >0.05. Most of them (n = 316 out of 484) reported more than one alteration in their menstrual cycle. Almost half of the participants had been vaccinated over 5 months (45%), 3-4 months (15%) 2-3 months (26%), and one month or less (13%) before. The percentage of women that reported alterations remained strongly constant across time, p > 0.05, ranging from 64 to 65%. CONCLUSIONS: Reported alterations in Spanish women after COVID vaccination remained more than 5 months after the last dose.