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Knowledge on the sequelae of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains limited due to the relatively recent onset of this pathology. However, the literature on other types of coronavirus infections prior to COVID-19 reports that patients may experience persistent symptoms after discharge. To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in survivors of hospital admission after COVID-19 infection. A living systematic review of five databases was performed in order to identify studies which reported the persistence of respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 patients after discharge. Two independent researchers reviewed and analysed the available literature, and then extracted and assessed the quality of those articles. Of the 1,154 reports returned by the initial search nine articles were found, in which 1,816 patients were included in the data synthesis. In the pooled analysis, we found a prevalence of 0.52 (CI 0.38–0.66, p < 0.01, I 2 = 97%), 0.37 (CI 0.28–0.48, p < 0.01, I 2 = 93%), 0.16 (CI 0.10–0.23, p < 0.01, I 2 = 90%) and 0.14 (CI 0.06–0.24, p < 0.01, I 2 = 96%) for fatigue, dyspnoea, chest pain, and cough, respectively. Fatigue, dyspnoea, chest pain, and cough were the most prevalent respiratory symptoms found in 52%, 37%, 16% and 14% of patients between 3 weeks and 3 months, after discharge in survivors of hospital admission by COVID-19, respectively.

Background Coronavirus disease has provoked much discussion since its first appearance. Despite it being widely studied all over the world, little is known about the impact of the disease on functional ability related to performing activities of daily living (ADL) in patients post COVID-19 infection. Objectives To understand the impact of COVID-19 on ADL performance of adult patients and to describe the common scales used to assess performance of ADL on patients post-COVID-19. Methods A systematic review was conducted. We included studies that applied a physical capacity test in COVID-19 patients, post-infection. Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the evidence. Results A total of 1,228 studies were included, after removing duplicates, 1,005 abstracts were screened and of those 983 were excluded. A final number of nine studies which met the eligibility criteria were included. The findings revealed worsening of physical function and ADL performance in all patients post COVID-19 infection. Conclusion All included studies found a reduction of ADL beyond the test or scale used, revealing a vital worsening of functional ability in ADL performance and consequently loss of independence in COVID-19 patients after the acute phase of infection. Functional ability status previous to COVID-19 is crucial for predicting the severity of the disease and mortality. Barthel Index and ADL score were the most used assessment tools across subjects with different intrinsic capacity and context levels.

BackgroundPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent complication in patients with COPD.ObjectiveTo determine if, in patients with COPD, the presence of PH decreases exercise tolerance.MethodsWe included studies that analysed exercise tolerance using a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in patients with COPD with PH (COPD-PH) and without PH (COPD-nonPH). Two independent reviewers analysed the studies, extracted the data and assessed the quality of the evidence.ResultsOf the 4915 articles initially identified, seven reported 257 patients with COPD-PH and 404 patients with COPD-nonPH. The COPD-PH group showed differences in peak oxygen consumption (V′O2peak), −3.09 mL·kg−1·min−1 (95% CI −4.74 to −1.43, p=0.0003); maximum workload (Wmax), −20.5 W (95% CI −34.4 to −6.5, p=0.004); and oxygen pulse (O2 pulse), −1.24 mL·beat−1 (95% CI −2.40 to −0.09, p=0.03), in comparison to the group with COPD-nonPH. If we excluded studies with lung transplant candidates, the sensitivity analyses showed even bigger differences: V′O2, −4.26 mL·min−1·kg−1 (95% CI −5.50 to −3.02 mL·kg−1·min−1, p<0.00001); Wmax, −26.6 W (95% CI −32.1 to −21.1 W, p<0.00001); and O2 pulse, −2.04 mL·beat−1 (95% CI −2.92 to −1.15 mL·beat−1, p<0.0001).ConclusionExercise tolerance was significantly lower in patients with COPD-PH than in patients with COPD-nonPH, particularly in nontransplant candidates.

Introduction Exercise capacity has been established as a protective factor against joint impairment in people with haemophilia (PWH). However, little is known about how exercise capacity is affected in PWH. Aim To analyse exercise capacity, as assessed by standardised laboratory or field tests in PWH. Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify manuscripts investigating physical capacity in PWH. An electronic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL and CINAHL was conducted from inception to 13 April, 2022. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed study quality using the critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results Nineteen studies with 825 patients were included. Most studies used the six‐min walk test (6MWT) or peak/maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). In children, the distance walked ranged from 274 ± 36.02 to 680 ± 100 m. In adults, the distance walked ranged from 457.5 ± 96.9 to 650.9 ± 180.3 m. VO2max ranged from 37 ± 8 to 47.42 ± 8.29 ml kg–1 min–1. Most studies reported lower values of exercise capacity compared to standardised values. Overall, the quality of the studies was moderate. Conclusion Most of the studies showed that PWH have lower exercise capacity compared to reference values of 6MWT or VO2max. Based on these results, it is necessary to emphasise in both the promotion and the prescription of physical exercise in PWH.

Background: Exercise and physical activity (PA) are essential components of the care of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Lower PA levels have been associated with worse pulmonary function, aerobic fitness, glycemic control, and bone mineral density. Most people with CF do not engage in the recommended amounts of PA. Objective: To determine the level of PA in children and adolescents with CF. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted without language restrictions in five databases. Were included studies that analyzed PA measured by objective and subjective instruments in children and adolescents with CF. Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of evidence. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's risk-of-bias tool. Results: Of the 1535 reports returned by the initial search, 20 articles reporting on 785 patients were included in the data synthesis. The forest plot showed that the CF group had a similar moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (mean difference, −7.79; 95% CI, −15.65 to 0.08 min/d; P = .05) and sedentary time (mean difference, −50.81; 95% CI, −109.96 to 8.35 min/d; P = .09) to the control group. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with CF have a similar MVPA and sedentary time compared to controls. There are many options, subjective and objective, for assessing PA in this population. Optimal tool selection should guarantee more valid results.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) constitutes a public health problem, with various systemic consequences that can increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as well as increase healthcare expenditure. This review discusses the rationale and effects of using general physical exercise, oropharyngeal exercises, and respiratory muscle training as an adjunctive treatment for patients with sleep apnoea. The recommended treatment for OSA is the use of continuous positive airway pressure, which is a therapy that prevents apnoea events by keeping the airways open. In the last decade, coadjuvant treatments that aim to support weight loss (including diet and physical exercise) and oropharyngeal exercises have been proposed to lower the apnoea/hypopnoea index among patients with OSA. Based on the available evidence, health professionals could decide to incorporate these therapeutic strategies to manage patients with sleep apnoea.

Background: Women treated for breast cancer are facing a lifetime risk of developing lymphedema, which occurs in up to 40% of this population. There is a lack of evidence and limited knowledge regarding the treatment of breast cancer–related lymphedema (BCRL). The aim of this study was to identify, describe, and organize the currently available evidence in the treatment of BCRL. Methods: We conducted an evidence mapping review study according to the methodology proposed by Global Evidence Mapping. We performed a systematic search in Medline, Embase, Central (Cochrane), and Epistemonikos, from 2000–2020. We included studies about all treatment types for BCRL, including surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Results were summarized in narrative and tabular forms. Results: A total of 240 studies were included in this mapping review, distributed as follows: 147 experimental studies [102 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and 45 quasi-experimental clinical trials], 48 observational studies (34 prospective and 14 retrospective studies), and 45 systematic reviews (17 of them with metanalysis). Most of the RCTs were on nonsurgical interventions. Only two RCTs addressed surgical intervention. Conclusions: In the last 20 years, there were an average of 12 publications per year on the treatment of BCRL. Recently this lack of attention has been partially corrected, as the majority were published in the past 5 years. However, most of them were on nonsurgical interventions. Well-designed RCTs on surgery are needed to measure the effectiveness of the applied interventions.