Long-term outcomes following a pulmonary telerehabilitation trial for people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID: a 12-month follow-up study

Authors

  • Jack M. Reeves Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, The University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Lisa M. Spencer Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Ling-Ling Tsai Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Andrew J. Baillie Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Professorial Unit, Allied Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Joshua Bishop Physiotherapy Department, Balmain Hospital, NSW, Australia
  • Amanda McAnulty Physiotherapy Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Yuna Han Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Canterbury Hospital, NSW, Australia
  • Regina Leung Physiotherapy Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Thoracic Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Jennifer A. Alison Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Professorial Unit, Allied Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.44828

Keywords:

post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC), respiratory symptoms, Telerehabilitation, cohort study

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether changes in physical and psychological outcomes occurred in the 12 months following completion of a randomized controlled trial comparing a 4-week pulmonary telerehabilitation programme with a control group of usual care in people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational, multi-site, assessor-blinded study. Primary outcome: 1-minute sit-to-stand test. Secondary outcomes: 5-repetition sit-to-stand test; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale; COPD Assessment Test; 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Fatigue Severity Scale; and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12 months following randomized controlled trial participation. All participants were analysed as a single group at 12 months, given there were no significant differences in the randomized controlled trial.

Results: Of 50 participants enrolled in the randomized controlled trial, 29 (58%) participated in the 12-month follow-up. Compared with baseline, at the 12-month follow-up there was no statistically significant improvement in the primary outcome of the 1-min sit-to-stand test (1.5 points, CI: –1.3 to 4.2), yet statistically significant differences in the 5-repetition sit-to-stand test (–1.4 seconds CI: –2.7 to –0.1), COPD Assessment Test (–4.1 points CI: –6.8 to –1.4), and some domains of SF-36 and COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that people reporting respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID experienced some recovery at 12 months, despite not improving initially during a 4-week pulmonary telerehabilitation programme or control period.

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Published

2026-02-26

How to Cite

Reeves, J. M., Spencer, L. M., Tsai, L.-L., Baillie, A. J., Bishop, J., McAnulty, A., … Alison, J. A. (2026). Long-term outcomes following a pulmonary telerehabilitation trial for people with respiratory post-acute sequelae of COVID: a 12-month follow-up study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 58, jrm44828. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.44828

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Vol. 58 (2026)

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Original Report

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Copyright (c) 2026 Jack M. Reeves, Lisa M. Spencer, Ling-Ling Tsai, Andrew J. Baillie, Joshua Bishop, Amanda McAnulty, Yuna Han, Regina Leung, Jennifer A. Alison

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