Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation - Rapid Presentation Round
Abstract
Purpose: Post-COVID-19 symptoms vary widely and can be persistent without intervention. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 dyspnea is reported to range from 26%-41%. Radiologic evidence of lung fibrosis, pulmonary scarring, and interstitial changes have been associated in some individuals with persistent dyspnea in the post-COVID-19 population. Recent studies hypothesize that the COVID-19 infection may specifically cause damage and result in weakness to the respiratory musculature. Respiratory muscle strength training has been used to reduce persistent dyspnea in other respiratory diseases, thus, it may be a viable option for individuals with persistent dyspnea with post-COVID-19. The primary aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in post COVID-19 survivors who continue to experience dyspnea following COVID-19.
Methods: This is a longitudinal, single-group research design study in which twenty patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 and continue to experience persistent dyspnea will be recruited to receive a home-based inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training program over twelve weeks. The following outcomes will be measured at baseline, six, and twelve weeks: pulmonary symptoms (COPD Assessment Test), dyspnea (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale), quality of life (EuroQoL-5 Dimension-5 Level), functional performance (6-minute walk test), thoracic expansion, forced expiratory volume over one second, and peak inspiratory flow. Data analysis will include univariate descriptive statistics to describe the sample, as well as bivariate analyses to test the effect of the program on each outcome at both six and twelve weeks. The change in measurement from baseline to six weeks and twelve weeks will be evaluated using the Friedman test. Kendall’s W will be used to assess the effect size of the outcomes.
Results: Based upon evidence from the literature, and a recent pilot study, it is hypothesized that respiratory muscle strengthening exercises can reduce persistent dyspnea in individuals with post-COVID-19, as well as improve pulmonary function, physical capacity, quality of life and respiratory symptoms. Additionally, combining the use of both inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training may further improve participant outcomes.
Conclusions: A twelve-week, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program is an innovative and inexpensive strategy to support an unmet need for post COVID-19 survivors who continue to experience dyspnea.
Notes
Reference list included in slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Phi Kappa
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Home Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Dyspnea -- Prevention and Control, Dyspnea, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Recommended Citation
Morgan, Sandra P.; Visovsky, Constance; and Thomas, Bini, "Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Post-COVID-19 Persistent Dyspnea" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 36.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/36
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-02-13
Home-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Post-COVID-19 Persistent Dyspnea
Washington, DC, USA
Purpose: Post-COVID-19 symptoms vary widely and can be persistent without intervention. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 dyspnea is reported to range from 26%-41%. Radiologic evidence of lung fibrosis, pulmonary scarring, and interstitial changes have been associated in some individuals with persistent dyspnea in the post-COVID-19 population. Recent studies hypothesize that the COVID-19 infection may specifically cause damage and result in weakness to the respiratory musculature. Respiratory muscle strength training has been used to reduce persistent dyspnea in other respiratory diseases, thus, it may be a viable option for individuals with persistent dyspnea with post-COVID-19. The primary aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in post COVID-19 survivors who continue to experience dyspnea following COVID-19.
Methods: This is a longitudinal, single-group research design study in which twenty patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 and continue to experience persistent dyspnea will be recruited to receive a home-based inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training program over twelve weeks. The following outcomes will be measured at baseline, six, and twelve weeks: pulmonary symptoms (COPD Assessment Test), dyspnea (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale), quality of life (EuroQoL-5 Dimension-5 Level), functional performance (6-minute walk test), thoracic expansion, forced expiratory volume over one second, and peak inspiratory flow. Data analysis will include univariate descriptive statistics to describe the sample, as well as bivariate analyses to test the effect of the program on each outcome at both six and twelve weeks. The change in measurement from baseline to six weeks and twelve weeks will be evaluated using the Friedman test. Kendall’s W will be used to assess the effect size of the outcomes.
Results: Based upon evidence from the literature, and a recent pilot study, it is hypothesized that respiratory muscle strengthening exercises can reduce persistent dyspnea in individuals with post-COVID-19, as well as improve pulmonary function, physical capacity, quality of life and respiratory symptoms. Additionally, combining the use of both inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training may further improve participant outcomes.
Conclusions: A twelve-week, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program is an innovative and inexpensive strategy to support an unmet need for post COVID-19 survivors who continue to experience dyspnea.
Description
Recent studies hypothesize that the acute COVID-19 infection may specifically cause respiratory muscle weakness, resulting in persistent dyspnea. This research study is designed to assess the efficacy of a 12-week, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in post-COVID-19 survivors with persistent dyspnea.