Clinical changes in dyspnea after rehabilitation treatment in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

Authors

Keywords:

dyspnea; physical medicine and rehabilitation; post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Respiratory rehabilitation programs are considered the primary non-pharmacological intervention for the sequelae of COVID-19.

Objective: To determine if rehabilitation treatment is associated with a clinical improvement in dyspnea in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, explanatory study without an equivalent control group was conducted between May 2021 and May 2023 in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the “Orlando Pantoja Tamayo” General Teaching Hospital in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba. Qualitative variables were expressed as absolute frequencies and percentages. To determine whether there was a clinical improvement in dyspnea, the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale was applied before and after the intervention. The comparison of pre- and post-treatment proportions was performed using the marginal homogeneity test, with a significance level of α = 0.05.

Results: A clinical improvement in patients was determined after the therapeutic intervention with a statistically significant difference in the distribution of degrees of dyspnea (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Rehabilitation treatment is associated with a relevant clinical improvement in dyspnea in patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

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References

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Published

2026-10-16

How to Cite

1.
Sánchez Licea FA, Pérez López D, Fong Pantoja L, Dieguez Matamoros EB. Clinical changes in dyspnea after rehabilitation treatment in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Rev. cuba. med. mil [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 16 [cited 2026 Oct. 18];55(3):e026077256. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/77256

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 3 (2026): July - September (in Progress)

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Francisco Alberto Sánchez Licea, Dayana Pérez López, Luis Fong Pantoja, Elizabeth Bárbara Dieguez Matamoros

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