Exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation for a post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patient: A case report.

RATIONALE: Pulmonary fibrosis is an infamous sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia leading to long-lasting respiratory problems and activity limitations. Pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial to improve the symptoms of lung fibrosis. We experienced a post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patient who received a structured exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation program. PATIENT CONCERNS: This article presents a case of successful pulmonary rehabilitation of a patient with post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. The patient could not cut off the oxygen supplement even after a successful recovery from COVID-19. DIAGNOSIS: Diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pulmonary fibrosis was diagnosed by patient's complaint, clinical appearance, and computed tomography (CT) on chest. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent ten sessions of exercise-based rehabilitation program according to Consensus Document on Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Korea, 2015. OUTCOME: On the 8th day, he could cut off the oxygen supplementation and complete the one-hour exercise without oxygen. He was discharged after completing the 10-session program without any activity limitations. LESSONS: Exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation will help the post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patients. This case suggested the importance of pulmonary rehabilitation program to the post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis patient.

A Potential Bioelectromagnetic Method to Slow Down the Progression and Prevent the Development of Ultimate Pulmonary Fibrosis by COVID-19.

Introduction: Right now, we are facing a global pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes the highly contagious human disease COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing at an alarming rate, more and more people suffer from it, and the death toll is on the rise since December 2019, when COVID-19 has presumably appeared. We need an urgent solution for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of the involved patients. Methods: Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is known as an immuno-supportive therapy in oncology. Our proposal is to apply this method to prevent the progression of the disease after its identification, to provide treatment when necessary, and deliver rehabilitation to diminish the fibrotic-often fatal-consequences of the infection. Hypothesis: The effects of mEHT, which are proven for oncological applications, could be utilized for the inactivation of the virus or for treating the fibrotic consequences. The hypothesized mEHT effects, which could have a role in the antiviral treatment, it could be applied for viral-specific immune-activation and for anti-fibrotic treatments.

[What can pulmonary rehabilitation accomplish?] / Was leistet die pneumologische Rehabilitation?

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has stated that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the most effective therapeutic intervention to reduce dyspnoea and to improve physical performance and quality of life for patients with obstructive lung disease.New innovative studies raised in the area of PR:1) Pulmonary fibrosis & asthma bronchiale - While PR is recommended for chronic respiratory diseases other than COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the respective disease-specific treatment guidelines, PR in some pathologies is underrated. For example, there is a growing body of evidence showing the effectiveness of structured and multidisciplinary PR programs in pulmonary fibrosis and asthma bronchial patients;2) Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 - There is preliminary evidence that COVID-19 patients can benefit from a PR program. The current COVID-19 position paper of the German Respiratory Society e. V. (DGP) regarding PR recommendations suggests that early rehabilitative therapies are already indicated during hospitalisation on the normal or intensive care unit and that rehabilitative interventions should be continued after discharge as a follow-up treatment in PR centres in order to reduce long-term consequences of COVID-19 disease;3) Telehealth meets PR - To further improve the effectiveness of PR in COPD patients using recent technologies, a supplementary "digital exercise program" can contribute to greater benefits compared to PR alone.