Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on the Health-Related Quality of Life (Hqol), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and mental health among COVID-19 patients; A systematic review

Objective: It is a systematic review on the COVID-19 and its post complication by using pulmonary rehabilitation as an intervention. This review paper aims at collecting, focusing, and presenting the current evidence and information on pulmonary rehabilitation to patients with COVID-19 and also its effect upon the HRQoL, ADL and mental health. Design: It is a systematic review, where 3756 studies were searched on the web of science, Scopus, PubMed, PEDro, and google scholar. published from 18th Jan 2020-19th Sep 2020. We searched the reference lists of selected studies, registries, international clinical trials, and respiratory conference abstracts to look for qualifying studies. Selection criteria; Randomised controlled trial, case reports, cohort and cross-sectional studies in which pulmonary rehabilitation as an intervention in COVID-19 patients and its effect on the HRQoL, ADL and mental anxiety depression health were included. Result: Eleven, out of 3765 studies were included, consisting of 4 RCTs, 4, cross-sectional, 2 case reports, and one cohort the studies evaluated effects of PR on HQoL, ADL, mental health, anxiety, and depression. In COVID-19 patients. The 11 studies included evaluated HQoL, ADL and mental health. among these Four studies reported using SF-36, IE (impact of the event) scale, and VAS. Three studies evaluated ADL through the FIM scale and Barthel index. Five studies evaluated mental health, depression, and anxiety using SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale), SAS (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Scale), PHQ-9 (physical health questionnaire), MHLS(Mental Health Lifestyle Scale) and HADS(hospital anxiety and depression scale). Conclusion: The studies included in this systematic review showed that PR is an effective treatment option for patients with COVID-19, its post complications, and the effects upon HQoL, ADL, mental health, depression, and anxiety. There is a future need for more studies of a high methodological quality addressing PR effects on COVID-19 patients. Trial registration number: PROSPERO CRD42020209619.