A recent study published in The BMJ suggests that an 8-week online rehabilitation program has helped people suffering from long-lasting symptoms of COVID-19, known as long-COVID, to enhance their quality of life.
The study, conducted in the UK between January 2021 and July 2022, compared the effects of the online REGAIN program with standard care. The REGAIN program involved participants attending group sessions online over eight weeks, focusing on exercises and psychological support.
The trial involved 585 adults with an average age of 56 years, all of whom had been hospitalized for COVID-19 at least 3 months earlier and were still experiencing significant symptoms. The majority of participants (88%) were overweight or obese, and about a third (34%) had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during their COVID-19 illness.
Before starting the program, many participants reported low health-related quality of life, with 43% also experiencing mental health disorders. Common pre-existing medical conditions included chest or breathing issues (76%) and musculoskeletal conditions (47%), with a significant proportion (38%) unable to work due to post-COVID-19 symptoms.
Half of the participants were randomly assigned to receive standard care, while the other half participated in the REGAIN program.
At the 3-month mark, those in the REGAIN group reported significant improvements compared to the standard care group, with 17% noting much better overall health. However, there were some adverse events related to the intervention, including fainting, vomiting, knee pain, and severe anxiety.
While there were no notable improvements at the 6-month mark, participants in the REGAIN group showed significant improvements in various aspects of their health by the 12-month follow-up.
Specifically, those in the REGAIN group were more physically active and experienced twice the improvement in post-traumatic stress disorder compared to the standard care group. This finding is particularly significant given the high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder observed in the long-COVID population.
The study also found no cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in the REGAIN group, indicating that the exercise program was safe for participants.
Overall, the study suggests that online rehabilitation programs like REGAIN can be beneficial for people suffering from long-COVID, offering hope for improved quality of life and symptom management.
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