Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation
2
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Severity Classification of Functional Impairment Based on ICF Qualifiers: A New Proposal for Assessing Individuals With Pulmonary Hypertension Jonathan Dalavina, Ivan Peres Costa, Etiene FarahTeixeira de Carvalho, Jonathan Luiz Silva, Soraia Micaela Silva, Luciana Maria Malosá Sampaio Physiotherapy Research International, 2025 BackgroundPulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a chronic condition that leads to progressive functional limitations, making the assessment of functional capacity essential for clinical management. This study aimed to classify PH patients based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) qualifiers using the Six‐Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and compare this classification with the World Health Organization Functional Classification (WHO‐FC).MethodsThis observational study included 33 individuals with PH. Demographic data, pulmonary function, and 6MWT results were collected. Participants were classified according to ICF qualifiers (ranging from no impairment to complete impairment) and WHO‐FC. The association between classifications was tested using Fisher's exact test, considering the conceptual differences between them.ResultsMost participants presented moderate functional impairment, with an average 6MWT distance of 431.5 ± 110 m, equivalent to 68% of the predicted value. Based on ICF qualifiers, 39% of patients had mild impairment, 42% moderate, and 18% severe impairment. However, no significant association was found between ICF qualifiers and WHO‐FC, reflecting the distinct conceptual frameworks of these classifications. Unlike WHO‐FC, which applies fixed cutoffs, the ICF‐based classification provides a more individualized assessment by incorporating the contrast between expected and actual performance in the 6MWT.DiscussionThe use of ICF qualifiers enabled a more specific evaluation of functional capacity in PH patients, complementing rather than replacing WHO‐FC. This approach allows for a more individualized assessment, supporting targeted rehabilitation strategies and improving clinical decision‐making in PH management.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in post-COVID-19 patients: Case series Cláudia Tozato, Bruno Fernandes Costa Ferreira, Jonathan Pereira Dalavina, Camila Vitelli Molinari, Vera Lúcia dos Santos Alves Revista Brasileira De Terapia Intensiva, 2021 The natural history of the disease, and the treatment of post-COVID-19 patients, are still being built. Symptoms are persistent, even in mild cases, and the infection consequences include fatigue, dyspnea, tachycardia, muscle loss, and reduced functional capacity. Regarding cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, there seems to be an improvement in functional capacity, quality of life, and prognosis with the 6-Minute Walk Test used as a prognostic and therapeutic evaluator. Therefore, this case series report aims to present our experience with four cases of different severity levels, involved in a post-COVID-19 cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. These patients were assessed with the 6-Minute Walk Test, peripheral muscle strength, and double product at rest, to assess the results after a three-month rehabilitation protocol of at least 300 minutes per week. The four patients had their distance covered during the walk test increased between 16% and 94%. Peripheral muscle strength was improved by 20% to six times the baseline values, and double product at rest was reduced by 8% to 42%. The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program had a positive impact on these cases, improving functional capacity despite the different severity levels in these post-COVID-19 cases.
