Inspiratory muscle training enhances recovery post-COVID-19: a randomised controlled trial.
Eur Respir J
; 60(4)2022 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1724400
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Many people recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience prolonged symptoms, particularly breathlessness. We urgently need to identify safe and effective COVID-19 rehabilitative strategies. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential rehabilitative role of inspiratory muscle training (IMT).METHODS:
281 adults (age 46.6±12.2â years; 88% female) recovering from self-reported COVID-19 (9.0±4.2â months post-acute infection) were randomised 41 to an 8-week IMT or a "usual care" waitlist control arm. Health-related quality-of-life and breathlessness questionnaires (King's Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (K-BILD) and Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI)), respiratory muscle strength, and fitness (Chester Step Test) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The primary end-point was K-BILD total score, with the K-BILD domains and TDI being key secondary outcomes.RESULTS:
According to intention to treat, there was no difference between groups in K-BILD total score post-intervention (control 59.5±12.4; IMT 58.2±12.3; p<0.05) but IMT elicited clinically meaningful improvements in the K-BILD domains for breathlessness (control 59.8±12.6; IMT 62.2±16.2; p<0.05) and chest symptoms (control 59.2±18.7; IMT 64.5±18.2; p<0.05), along with clinically meaningful improvements in breathlessness according to TDI (control 0.9±1.7 versus 2.0±2.0; p<0.05). IMT also improved respiratory muscle strength and estimated aerobic fitness.CONCLUSIONS:
IMT may represent an important home-based rehabilitation strategy for wider implementation as part of COVID-19 rehabilitative strategies. Given the diverse nature of long COVID, further research is warranted on the individual responses to rehabilitation; the withdrawal rate herein highlights that no one strategy is likely to be appropriate for all.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Lung Diseases, Interstitial
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
13993003.03101-2021
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