Effects of Exercise-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

IF 4.5 Q3 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Advances in respiratory medicine Pub Date : 2026-04-10 DOI:10.3390/arm94020025

Janne Marques Silveira, Ana Paula Midori Nakaishi, Marcos Gontijo da Silva, Daniele Oliveira Dos Santos, Ada Clarice Gastaldi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background/Objective: A substantial proportion of infected individuals develop persistent symptoms after the acute phase of COVID-19, regardless of initial disease severity. Long COVID (LC) remains a public health challenge characterized by impaired functional exercise capacity (FEC) and quality of life (QoL). We systematically synthesized evidence on the effects of in-person outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (OPR) with individualized and supervised exercise in adults with LC. Methods: Following PROSPERO (CRD42023389365), this study reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies (OCSs) published between November 2019 and January 2026 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, and EMBASE. Results: Fifteen studies (n = 803) were included. OPR improved FEC (6MWT; MD: 53.72 m, 95% CI 43.69-63.75) and 30″SST (MD: 4.68, 95% CI 3.59-5.77) and reduced exertional dyspnea. RCTs showed benefits in physical (MD: 8.04, 95% CI 3.02-13.05) and mental QoL (MD: 6.60, 95% CI 2.01-11.18) and dyspnea impact, with inconsistent PF findings. Fatigue showed a trend toward improvement but was measured using heterogeneous patient-reported tools in RCTs and OCSs. Conclusions: Supervised PR improves FEC, QoL, and dyspnea in individuals with LC. In patients with fatigue/PEM, systematic assessment and continuous symptom monitoring are essential. High-quality controlled studies are needed to strengthen evidence and clinical guide.

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基于运动的肺部康复对长COVID患者的影响：系统综述和meta分析。

背景/目的：无论初始疾病严重程度如何，很大一部分感染者在COVID-19急性期后出现持续症状。长冠状病毒病（LC）仍然是一项以功能运动能力（FEC）和生活质量（QoL）受损为特征的公共卫生挑战。我们系统地综合了对成人LC患者进行个性化和有监督的运动的面对面门诊肺康复（OPR）效果的证据。方法：在PROSPERO （CRD42023389365）之后，本研究回顾了2019年11月至2026年1月在MEDLINE/PubMed、Web of Science、PEDro和EMBASE上发表的随机对照试验（RCTs）和观察性队列研究（ocs）。结果：纳入15项研究（n = 803）。OPR改善FEC （6MWT; MD: 53.72 m, 95% CI 43.69-63.75）和30″SST (MD: 4.68, 95% CI 3.59-5.77)，减轻了用力性呼吸困难。随机对照试验显示身体（MD: 8.04, 95% CI 3.02-13.05）和精神生活质量（MD: 6.60, 95% CI 2.01-11.18）和呼吸困难的影响有益处，但PF的发现不一致。疲劳表现出改善的趋势，但在随机对照试验和OCSs中使用异质患者报告的工具进行测量。结论：有监督的PR改善了LC患者的FEC、QoL和呼吸困难。对于疲劳/PEM患者，系统的评估和持续的症状监测是必不可少的。需要高质量的对照研究来加强证据和临床指导。

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来源期刊

Advances in respiratory medicine RESPIRATORY SYSTEM-

CiteScore

2.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： "Advances in Respiratory Medicine" is a new international title for "Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska", edited bimonthly and addressed to respiratory professionals. The Journal contains peer-reviewed original research papers, short communications, case-reports, recommendations of the Polish Respiratory Society concerning the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, editorials, postgraduate education articles, letters and book reviews in the field of pneumonology, allergology, oncology, immunology and infectious diseases. "Advances in Respiratory Medicine" is an open access, official journal of Polish Society of Lung Diseases, Polish Society of Allergology and National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.