Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brasil: information to physical therapists

Pegado, Rodrigo; Silva-Filho, Edson; Lima, Illia Nadinne D. F; Gualdi, Lucien

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.66.4.498

SUMMARY

The emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic shows a rapid increase in cases and deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that more than 200.000 confirmed cases have been identified in more than 166 countries/territories. Public health authorities in Brasil have reported 532 confirmed cases by March 19. Approximately 5% of the patients will require intensive care unit treatment with oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. Limited data are available about rehabilitation protocols for severe illness and intensive care treatment of COVID-19 increase. Thus, we aim to show current information about COVID-19, describing symptoms and the respiratory management for critical patients and preventive care. Physical therapists and all health care professionals need to recognize the challenges they will face in the coming months.

Coronavirus infections; Respiratory distress syndrome, adult; Respiratory therapy

RESUMO

O surgimento da pandemia do Coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19) tem demonstrado rápido aumento dos casos e das mortes. A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) apontou que mais de 200.000 casos confirmados foram identificados em mais de 166 países/territórios. As autoridades de saúde pública no Brasil relataram 532 casos confirmados até 19 de março. Aproximadamente 5% dos pacientes necessitarão de tratamento em unidade de terapia intensiva com oxigenoterapia e ventilação mecânica. Temos disponíveis dados limitados sobre protocolos de reabilitação para doenças graves e tratamento em unidade de terapia intensiva de pacientes com COVID-19. Assim, nosso objetivo é mostrar informações atuais sobre o COVID-19, descrevendo sintomas e controle respiratório de pacientes críticos e cuidados preventivos. Fisioterapeutas e todos os profissionais de saúde precisam reconhecer os desafios que enfrentaremos nos próximos meses.

Infecções por Coronavirus; Síndrome do desconforto respiratório do adulto; Terapia respiratória

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus (COVID-19 or 2019-CoV) infection became a critical illness and is considered a pandemic infectious disease with high transmissibility¹ . In December 2019, a series of pneumonia cases of unknown cause emerged in Wuhan. In less than 4 months, several countries, including Brasil, identified the pathogen of COVID-19² . Confirmed cases in Brasil are increasing and the COVID-19 outbreak challenges both healthcare personnel and the medical supply system. Physical therapists are directly involved in the treatment of suspect and confirmed cases with an important role in Intensive Care Units (ICU). At the moment, no specific consensus or guidelines have been published regarding ICU protocols, and only a few articles reporting several cases from China and other Asian countries have supported the management of infected patients with respiratory disorders.

Thus, we have described key information according to clinical features pandemic infectious disease for physical therapists describing the main symptoms and respiratory treatments for patients with COVID-19.

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

To differentiate COVID-19 from other circulating respiratory viruses is extremely important to epidemiologic studies and clinical management³ . Confirmed cases of COVID-19 result in clinical priority and lead to the implementation of efficient infection control practices. Initial data estimate that 50–70% of cases are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis⁴ . It has been estimated that 86% of all infections were undocumented and these individuals may have infected up to 79% of documented cases⁴ . The current estimated mean incubation period is 6.4 days, ranging from 2.1 days to 11.1 days and even asymptomatic patients can transmit COVID-19⁵ .

The most common symptoms at illness onset are fever and cough⁵ . Other common symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), myalgia or fatigue, sputum production, chest tightness, headache, hemoptysis, and diarrhea⁵ . Disease onset may result in pneumonia, progressive respiratory failure due to alveolar damage, hyperthermia, decreased lymphocytes and white blood cells count, and new pulmonary infiltrates⁶ . Clinical symptoms of COVID-19 according to disease severity are shown in figure 1 . Studies performed in China with severe cases of COVID-19 suggest that the mean number of days from the appearance of the first symptom to death was 14 days⁵ .

FIGURE 1
CLINICAL SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.5

GENERAL CARE FOR COVID-19 INFECTION

Most people with COVID-19 develop mild or uncomplicated illness (81%); however, 14% develop severe symptoms that require hospitalization and oxygen support, and 5% will require ICU treatment ( figure 1 )⁵ .

Patients with mild disease may not require hospital interventions unless there is concern about rapid deterioration; however, home isolation is necessary to avoid transmission² . All health professionals, including respiratory therapists, must consider the suitability for home care. Moreover, the patient and other household members must have access to appropriate minimum personal protective equipment (gloves and facemasks) and be capable of adhering to recommended precautions (respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, as well as adequate hand hygiene)⁵ . Such patients must also be advised about the signs and symptoms of disease complications.

High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) and Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) are part of the clinical practice of respiratory therapists and may be used in case of limited access to mechanical ventilation and in selected patients prior to the development of severe hypoxemic respiratory failure³ . It is important to highlight that systems with good interface fitting do not create widespread dispersion of exhaled air, and their use can be considered at low risk of airborne transmission³ . Although there is no consensus regarding the use of NIV in patients with COVID-19, limited data suggest a high failure rate in other viral infections such as MERS-CoV³ . Evidence-based guidelines on HFNO do not exist, and reports on HFNO in patients infected with other coronaviruses are limited⁷ . Respiratory therapists must also consider, along with other health professionals, that all hospitalized patients in use of HFNO or NIV need regular monitoring of vital signs and clinical deterioration as supportive care interventions may be necessary⁷ .

Until now, no consensus or guidelines have been previously published about ICU protocols for mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19. Some recommendations are frequently based on the clinical characteristics presented by patients of other countries who have been exposed to the virus for a longer time⁵ . Approximately 5% will require intensive care unit treatment, and respiratory failure is the main reason for early endotracheal intubation⁵ . The aim of invasive ventilation support is to reverse the severe hypoxemia installed⁸ . Lung protection ventilation is the main strategy, with volume-controlled or pressure support ventilation models, tidal volume around 4-8 ml/Kg of Predicted Body Weight (PBW) and lower inspiratory pressures (plateau pressure < 30 cmH2O), aiming at a driving pressure of 10 cm H2O, or the lowest possible⁸ . It is possible that targeting driving pressure may improve safety strategies⁹ .

This recommendation is very similar to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), (PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 100 mmHg with PEEP ≥ 10 cmH2O, or non-ventilated) which recommends supplemental oxygen therapy delivered via a face mask with reservoir bag (flow rates of 10–15 L/min) immediately to patients with respiratory distress, hypoxemia or shock, targeting SpO2 > 94%. However, some cases have presented little or no changes in lung compliance⁵ . Prone positioning has proved to be a primary strategy, and it is recommended for 12–16 hours per day¹⁰ . Prone position significantly reduces mortality in patients with moderate to severe ARDS when used early and for over 16 hours per day in patients receiving protective lung ventilation¹⁰ . Additionally, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be considered, although there are no reports of its benefits³ .

PREVENTIVE CARE, INTENSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Physical therapists have been inserted in the Primary Care of the Brazilian Unified Health System aiming to expand the roles of professionals from Primary Care. Among the strategies that physical therapists develop in this context, preventive and educational actions stand out¹¹ . It is important to highlight the role of physical therapists as agents of prevention and health promotion who can act directly in helping to control virus dispersion in our country. Physical therapists’ performance through health education services with the community, risk factors surveillance, and matrix support favor the containment and early treatment of possible cases in the community¹¹ .

With regard to health education, physical therapists who have direct contact with the population in spaces such as hospital waiting rooms, health clinics, schools, and other community environments can provide information and guidance on ways to prevent the virus spread, in addition to preparing materials such as informative folders, videos, booklets, and posters to expand the dissemination of information¹¹ . Therefore, the relevance of physical therapists’ work in the Brazilian Unified Health System is highlighted to fight COVID-19, especially in terms of population awareness, surveillance of risk factors, and involvement in collective planning strategies to protect the health of the Brazilian population.

CONCLUSION

Possibly, Brasil will show an epidemiological trend similar to that of European and Asian countries. All health professionals must be up-to-date and committed to the prevention and treatment of patients with COVID-19. This is an ongoing disease, and little is known about the standard treatment parameters, but it is possible to treat and rehabilitate patients with severe symptoms from COVID-19.

REFERENCES

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⁵ World Health Organization. Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) when COVID-19 disease is suspected. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. [cited 2020 Apr 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/clinical-management-of-novel-cov.pdf
» https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/clinical-management-of-novel-cov.pdf
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