Effect of Pulmonary Telerehabilitation Program in COVID-19 Survivors: Assessment of Functional Status with 30-Second-Sit-To-Stand Test

Abstract

Introduction: Long COVID is a persistent symptom among COVID-19 survivors. Fatigue and other symptoms related to respiratory or non-respiratory cause disturbance of patient functional status. Pulmonary telerehabilitation program after hospitalization was needed to optimize patients’ functional status. Assessment of functional status using 30-Second Sit-To-Stand Test (30s-STST) was easily to apply. The aim of this study was to know the changes of functional status in COVID-19 survivors after pulmonary telerehabilitation program.
Method: This study was analytic experimental with one group pre-test and post-test design, conducted in Persahabatan Hospital from August to September 2020. The COVID-19 patient’s discharge records were recruited consecutively, 24 patients were eligible for this study to get pulmonary telerehabilitation program for four weeks. The patients were evaluated with 30s-STST twice, at discharge (baseline) and four weeks after discharge.
Result: Participants consist of 19 men (79,2%) and 5 women (20,8%). The result of thirty second-STST before and after four weeks pulmonary telerehabilitation program result was 7,75 ± 2,19 dan 13,70 ± 4,23 times. There was a strong positive correlation (significant) between 30s STST result before and after program (r = 0,757, p less than 0,01).
Conclusion: There was functional status improvement in COVID-19 survivors after pulmonary telerehabilitation for four weeks, evaluated with 30s-STST.