Enhanced external counterpulsation for management of symptoms associated with long COVID

ABSTRACT

Study objective Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) as a possible therapy for Long COVID. Design Retrospective analysis of a contemporary, consecutive patient cohort. Setting 7 outpatient treatment centers. Participants Long COVID patients. Intervention 15–35 EECP treatments. Main outcome measures The change from baseline in 1) Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue;2) Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ-7);3) Duke Activity Status Index (DASI);4) 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT);5) Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Angina Grade;6) Rose Dyspnea Scale (RDS);and 7) Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results Compared to baseline, the PROMIS Fatigue, SAQ7, DASI, and 6MWT improved by 4.63 ± 3.42 (p < 0.001), 21.44 ± 16.54 (p < 0.001), 18.08 ± 13.82 (p < 0.001), and 200.00 ± 180.14 (p = 0.002), respectively. CCS and RDS improved in 63% and 44% of patients, respectively. All patients unable to work prior to EECP were able to return post-therapy. Conclusions and relevance EECP significantly improved validated fatigue and cardiovascular-related markers in patients with Long COVID.