Pulmonary telerehabilitation for respiratory sequelae post-COVID: RCT preliminary analysis

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Post-COVID respiratory sequelae are common. <bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) for people with persistent respiratory symptoms post-COVID. <bold>Methods:</bold> Participants were recruited from a Post-COVID Respiratory Clinic and randomised to an intervention group (IG) (4-week, twice-weekly supervised PTR, or a usual care control group (CG) who could crossover to the IG post control period. Exercise intensity in the IG was titrated to ensure post-exercise fatigue <3 out of 10. Remote assessments pre/post the intervention and control periods included: 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1minSTST); 5 repetition sit-to-stand test (5STST); Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BLIND); COPD Assessment Test (CAT); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Analysis used repeated measures ANOVA. <bold>Results:</bold> Participants completed the IG (n=27) and CG (n=25). Mean(SD) age was 55(16) years, body mass index 31(8)kg/m2, 60% female, and 75% were not hospitalised for their COVID infection. Baseline values for the IG included mean(SD) 1minSTST 20(7)reps, 5STST 14(8)sec, MoCA-Blind 19(3), all within normal range. There were no significant between-group differences for any outcomes, mean difference(95%CI) 1minSTST 1.1(−1.7 to 3.9); 5STST 0.6(−1.9 to 3.1); MoCA-BLIND -0.2(−1.6 to 1.1); CAT-2.2(−5.9 to 1.4); Anxiety 0.6(−0.9 to 2.1); Depression 0.7(−0.7 to 2.2); FSS -0.9(−6.6 to 4.7). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> At study completion, there was no significant difference between short-term PTR and usual care. The lack of difference may have been due to normal baseline physical and cognitive function in the IG group, participant fatigue guiding exercise intensity, and a short intervention.