Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) can improve outcomes in COVID-related dyspnea in hospitalized patients. This is the most common cause of death in novel coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2). Outcomes of OMT treatments for dyspnea during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been reported to date. A feasibility-oriented retrospective observational cohort study (a feasibility-oriented chart review study with matched controls) was conducted in a COVID-19 ward of a tertiary academic medical center. Hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and dyspnea received daily OMT treatments. Key techniques included rib raising, abdominal diaphragm doming, thoracic pump, and pedal pump. Primary outcomes were procedure acceptance, satisfaction, side effects, and adverse events.
Secondary outcomes were patient-reported clinical change after therapy, number of hospital days, need for high-flow oxygen, C-PAP/BiPAP or intensive care during hospitalization, need for supplemental oxygen at discharge, and discharge conditions. The OMT group (n=27) and the control group (n=152) showed similar demographic data and most laboratory findings. 90% of patients accepted OMT and reported high satisfaction (4.26±0.71 (maximum 5)), few negative effects, no adverse events, and positive clinical changes (5.07±0.96 (maximum 7)).
Although no significant differences were found in secondary outcomes, OMT patients tended to have fewer hospital days than the control group (p=0.053; Cohen’s d=0.22), with this association tending to correlate with the number of comorbidities (p=0.068). Conclusion: Hospitalized patients with dyspnea and COVID-19 reported acceptance, satisfaction, and easier breathing after a four-part OMT protocol and appear to have a shorter hospital stay. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
