{
  "abstract": "Background Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves physical status and symptoms in patients with long COVID, but access to specialised hospital-based centres is challenging. This trial studied the effect of primary care PR on functional exercise capacity and symptoms in patients with long COVID.Methods In this pragmatic randomised controlled trial (PuRe-COVID), patients with long COVID were randomised to a 12-week stepwise PR programme in primary care, or to a control group without PR. The primary end point was change in 6 min walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to 12 weeks. Additional outcomes, measured at 6, 12, 24 and 36 weeks, included patient-reported outcomes, physical activity, maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures and hand grip strength.Results In total, 76 patients were randomised (PR/control group (n=39/37); mean age 49±13 years). The change in 6MWD at 12 weeks was estimated to be +39 m in the PR group compared with the control group (95% CI (18 to 59), p<0.001). Furthermore, a decrease in Checklist Individual Strength (CIS)-fatigue was found for the PR group (−6 points; 95% CI (−10 to –2), p=0.011). At 12 weeks, patients in the intervention group were more likely to have a clinically significant improvement in 6MWD (OR 5.7, 95% CI (2.0 to 16.1), p=0.001), CIS-fatigue (OR 3.8, 95% CI (1.2 to 12.0), p=0.020), MIP (OR 3.7, 95% CI (1.05 to 12.7), p=0.036) and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score (OR 5.2, 95% CI (1.6 to 16.4), p=0.003).Conclusions Primary care stepwise individual PR may improve functional exercise capacity, fatigue and dyspnoea in patients with long COVID. It therefore may be a promising treatment option in primary care for patients with long COVID experiencing fatigue and/or respiratory symptoms.Trial registration number NCT05244044.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI, Research Group MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium",
        "Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Tess Volckaerts"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital East-Limburg, Genk, Belgium",
        "Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "David Ruttens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsten Quadflieg"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Chris Burtin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Dries Cops"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Kevin De Soomer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Trial Center (CTC), University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Ella Roelant"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Trial Center (CTC), University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Iris Verhaegen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital East-Limburg, Genk, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Marc Daenen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital East-Limburg, Genk, Belgium",
        "Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Maarten Criel"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (REVAKI, Research Group MOVANT), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium",
        "Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Dirk Vissers"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium",
        "Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Therese Lapperre"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Improved functional exercise capacity after primary care pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with long COVID (PuRe-COVID): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial",
  "uid": "891758fc-1b0a-5009-99cf-dea3e0527ca3"
}