Digital Interventions for Treating Post-COVID or Long-COVID Symptoms: Scoping Review

Abstract

Background Patients with post-COVID/long-COVID symptoms need support, and health care professionals need to be able to provide evidence-based patient care. Digital interventions can meet these requirements, especially if personal contact is limited. Objective We reviewed evidence-based digital interventions that are currently available to help manage physical and mental health in patients with post-COVID/long-COVID symptoms. Methods A scoping review was carried out summarizing novel digital health interventions for treating post-COVID/long-COVID patients. Using the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) scheme, original studies were summarized, in which patients with post-COVID/long-COVID symptoms used digital interventions to help aid recovery. Results From all scanned articles, 8 original studies matched the inclusion criteria. Of the 8 studies, 3 were “pretest” studies, 3 described the implementation of a telerehabilitation program, 1 was a post-COVID/long-COVID program, and 1 described the results of qualitative interviews with patients who used an online peer-support group. Following the PICO scheme, we summarized previous studies. Studies varied in terms of participants (P), ranging from adults in different countries, such as former hospitalized patients with COVID-19, to individuals in disadvantaged communities in the United Kingdom, as well as health care workers. In addition, the studies included patients who had previously been infected with COVID-19 and who had ongoing symptoms. Some studies focused on individuals with specific symptoms, including those with either post–COVID-19 or long-term symptoms, while other studies included patients based on participation in online peer-support groups. The interventions (I) also varied. Most interventions used a combination of psychological and physical exercises, but they varied in duration, frequency, and social dimensions. The reviewed studies investigated the physical and mental health conditions of patients with post-COVID/long-COVID symptoms. Most studies had no control (C) group, and most studies reported outcomes (O) or improvements in physiological health perception, some physical conditions, fatigue, and some psychological aspects such as depression. However, some studies found no improvements in bowel or bladder problems, concentration, short-term memory, unpleasant dreams, physical ailments, perceived bodily pain, emotional ailments, and perceived mental health. Conclusions More systematic research with larger sample sizes is required to overcome sampling bias and include health care professionals’ perspectives, as well as help patients mobilize support from health care professionals and social network partners. The evidence so far suggests that patients should be provided with digital interventions to manage symptoms and reintegrate into everyday life, including work.

The pulmonary rehabilitation effect on long covid‐19 syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Different studies have demonstrated that FPR and TR improve health status in patients with lung diseases, including COVID‐19 (Cox et al., 2021; Puhan et al., 2016; Reina‐Gutiérrez et al., 2021; Rinn et al., 2023). Additionally, a recent meta‐meta‐analysis found that telerehabilitation offers positive clinical results compared to face‐to‐face interventions regarding physical function when treating patients with cardiorespiratory or musculoskeletal diseases (Suso‐Martí et al., 2021).…”

“…Different studies have demonstrated that FPR and TR improve health status in patients with lung diseases, including COVID-19 (Cox et al, 2021;Puhan et al, 2016;Reina-Gutiérrez et al, 2021;Rinn et al, 2023). Additionally, a recent meta-meta-analysis found that Although this is the first study to compare FPR with TR in patients with LC, Ahmed et al (2022), analyzed but did not compare the effectiveness of PR in patients with acute and LC.…”

Die Bedeutung der Chronischen Fatigue in der Post-COVID-Sprechstunde und ihre Konsequenzen für die ambulante Rehabilitation im Kontext der gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung

“…Des Weiteren kann die ambulante Reha dazu genutzt werden, die personbezogenen Kontextfaktoren berücksichtigend, passgenaue und realistische Nachsorgestrategien aufzubauen wie z. B. die Einbindung des Berufsförderungswerks zur Unterstützung von Aktivitäten zur Erreichung der sozialen und beruflichen Teilhabe [43], den Aufbau einer Reha-Nachsorgegruppe unter psychoedukativen und gesundheitspädagogischen Aspekten [44], die Anbindung an eine Selbsthilfegruppe [45] oder den Rehabilitationssport [46], die Planung hin-sichtlich der Weiterführung von Einzeltherapien (Physio-oder Psychotherapie) oder auch das Kennenlernen und Nutzen digitaler Nachsorgemöglichkeiten [47,48].…”

Effectiveness of ReCOVery APP to improve the quality of life of Long COVID patients: a 6-month follow-up randomized clinical trial

“…In this line, the recent systematic review by Burnett et al (2023) show promise for exercise interventions in Long COVID patients for improving functional exercise capacity, dyspnea, and fatigue (60). The scoping review by Rinn et al (2023) believe that digital interventions have the potential to help control some persistent symptoms, both physical and psychological (61).…”

“…Thus, the use of digital interventions, such as telerehabilitation, is being progressively implemented for a multitude of pathologies, and reported research suggests that this is also the case for Long COVID (61). Current evidence demonstrates the potential of digital interventions to help control some physical and psychological symptoms.…”