The Effects of Physiotherapy Management in Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease Based on Gender Differences

Aliaa Resan Al Abbas; Kazem Malmir; Sara Fereydounnia; Muslim Nahi Saeed; Khadijeh Otadi

doi:10.18502/jmr.v18i2.15972

Aliaa Resan Al Abbas Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kazem Malmir Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sara Fereydounnia Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Muslim Nahi Saeed Department of Family and Community Medicine, Thi-Qar Medical College, University of Thi-Qar, Nasiriyah, Iraq.
Khadijeh Otadi Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v18i2.15972

Keywords: Rehabilitation; Quality of life; COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2; Chest; Physical therapy

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 which is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus hurts patients’ respiratory health by necessitating oxygen therapy. The affected patients with COVID-19 experience anxiety and stress with quality of life (QoL) impacted due to frequent medication, hospitalizations, fear of dying, and isolation. In individuals with respiratory problems, physiotherapy is useful in improving oxygenation, stress reduction, and QoL. Therefore, our goal was to assess how physiotherapy management affected the oxygenation rates and QoL of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Materials and Methods: The study included 60 hospitalized cases of COVID-19 pneumonia (25–65 years) admitted to the RCU/Al-Hussein teaching hospital. The oxygenation rate was recorded by hospital monitoring. A physiotherapy management prepared according to the pulmonary rehabilitation recommendations for COVID-19 patients. QoL was assessed by the Arabian version of the short-form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) at baseline, at discharge, and 1 month after discharge.

Results: The mean baseline oxygenation percent was 86.10±12.93. The baseline QoL score was 29.14±18.52. A significant increase (P<0.0001) in oxygenation (by 10.22%) was observed at discharge as compared to the baseline values. The QoL was significantly higher (P<0.0001) at 1-month post-discharge as compared to the baseline and the values at discharge (by 157.76%). Similar effects were observed in males and females.

Conclusion: A short-term course of physiotherapy management was effective in increasing the oxygenation rates and QoL in hospitalized male and female COVID-19 patients. A combination of breathing exercises, early mobilization, and positioning can act as an adjuvant in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients.