Long COVID and quality of life: role of respiratory rehabilitation

<bold>Background:</bold> More than 30% of patients who suffered from COVID-19 remain in prolonged physical incapacity. This affects alteration their quality of life. It is therefore essential to establish early and targeted treatment to reduce persistent effects post-COVID-19. Thus, respiratory rehabilitation (RR), which has proven its effectiveness, could be a crucial phase of the long-term COVID care pathway. <bold>Aim:</bold> to evaluate the impact of RR on quality of life in long COVID. <bold>Methods:</bold> Prospective study, including 42 participants, divided into two groups: The intervention group (GI, n=21) which benefited from a rehabilitation program of 8 weeks, combining endurance and resistance training sessions, 5 sessions per week and a control group (CG, n=21). All patients presented with linked long COVID impairing of quality of life that was evaluated by using PICHOT fatigue scale, HAD scale and physical activity level assessment scale. Results: we noted a significant decrease in mean HAD scores from 11.9±4 to 9.2±3 in IG (p=0.04), a significant reduction in PICHOT score of IG (− 4.2 vs - 1.63; p<0.001). Regarding physical activity, we observed a notable improvement in both groups (p=0.01). In the IG, among four patients initially with light activity, two progressed to moderate activity, while the other two reached an intense activity level. For CG, one patient progressed to intense activity and four others adopted moderate activity. Our RR protocol also brought an improvement in the perception of dyspnea in GI (p<0.001). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> it is essential to screening for any alteration of quality of life in long COVID and, seting up a RR program and even integrate it the standard treatment process of recovering patients from COVID-19.