The Effects of a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program Involving Traditional Chinese Medicine in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients: a Clinical Study

Abstract

Background: A year ago, a new type of coronavirus emerged. Once treated for severe and critical COVID-19 infections, patients are discharged from the hospital for further treatment and rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a newly developed comprehensive rehabilitation program based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the rehabilitation of patients with severe and critical COVID-19.Methods: We recruited a total of 72 patients who had suffered from severe and critical COVID-19 infections and were undergoing rehabilitation in Chongqing, China. A comprehensive rehabilitation program was formulated according to the TCM syndromes of these patients. Specific treatments included oral TCM, Baduanjin, Moxibustion, Acupoint application, and foot baths. Prior to the initiation of treatment, and four weeks after the initiation of treatment, we carried out a range of assessments, including the TCM Syndrome curative effect score, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, the Short Form (SF)-36 Quality of Life Scale, and the 6-minute walking test. We also carried out CT scans, serology tests. Statistical analysis was also conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM on severe and critical COVID-19 patients.Results: Analysis showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) when compared before and after four weeks of TCM treatment, in terms of the TCM syndrome curative effect score, mMRC dyspnea score, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale score, and the 6-minute walking test. We also identified significant differences (P < 0.05) between these two timepoints, with regards to the neutrophil ratio, lymphoid cell ratio, lymphocytes, platelets, red blood cells, and hemoglobin. There were no significant differences when compared between the two timepoints with regards to white blood cells and neutrophils (P > 0.05). The efficacy of chest CT scans was 83.9%. Logistic regression showed that the CT scans of patients who did not take the TCM decoction did not improve significantly. The higher a patient’s score on the 6-minute walking test, the higher the probability of no significant improvement on the CT scan.Conclusions: A comprehensive rehabilitation program based on TCM improved a number of clinical parameters in patients suffering from severe and critical COVID-19 infections, including quality of life, clinical symptoms, exercise endurance, and respiratory function. TCM also enhanced lymphocytes, lymphocyte ratio, platelet, red blood cell (RBC) count, and hemoglobin content. TCM also appeared to contribute to the absorption of lung lesions.

Evaluating the Efficiency of Breathing Exercises via Telemedicine in Post-Covid-19 Patients: Randomized Controlled Study

“…In a study on 72 individuals with severe-critical stage Covid-19 conducted 4 weeks after their discharge, comprehensive rehabilitation treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine was applied. It was reported that the 6MWT values of the individuals increased significantly at the end of 4 weeks, indicating that their exercise endurance improved (Ren et al, 2021). In another study evaluating the effectiveness of a nurse-led, 6-month comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program in stage IV COPD patients, walking distance of the individuals increased at the end of the program (Moriyama et al, 2015).…”

Correlación entre el Cuestionario Respiratorio de Saint George, la Escala de Severidad de la Fatiga y la Escala de Actividades de la Vida Diaria London Chest en pacientes que se recuperaron de COVID-19 e ingresaron a un programa de rehabilitación pulmonar

“…Para la validez de constructo de la versión turca de la escala de estado funcional posterior a COVID-19 (PCFS) se utilizó la escala LCADL, encontrando una correlación débil con los componentes autocuidado (r=0,311, p=0,002), doméstico (r=0,277, p=0,005), actividad física (r=0,342, p<0,001) y ocio (r=0,434, p<0,001) y con el puntaje total (r=0,399, p<0,001) 5 . Dentro de la propuesta de protocolo para la evaluación inicial del síndrome post cuidados intensivos por COVID-19 se incluye la escala LCADL 6,12,25 .…”