Effectiveness of Incentive Spirometry on Lung Function in Adult COVID-19 in the Acute and Post-COVID-19 Phase: Exploratory Review

Introduction Respiratory incentive, an instrumental technique used to increase transpulmonary pressure, is indicated when patients present decreased volumes and capacities, a condition presented by patients with acute phase coronavirus infection and patients with pulmonary sequelae post COVID-19. Some studies recommend including respiratory incentives in managing COVID-19 patients because of its benefits and limited risk. The objective of this exploratory review was to describe and present the current evidence of the effectiveness of IR in improving pulmonary function in adult patients with acute and post COVID-19.Methods An exploratory review was performed. An extensive search was made in databases such as BVS (MEDLINE-LILLACS-IBECS), PubMed, OVID, Scielo, PEDro, and EBSCO, the checklist recommended by PRISMA was used and was based on the Johanna Briggs method (JGB), initially conceived by Arksey and O "Malley. To assess the quality of the studies, we used the PEDro Scale, which evaluates the methodological quality of the clinical designs.Results In this exploratory review, 4 studies published between 2019 and 2022 were identified related to the use of the respiratory incentive in COVID-19 and post COVID-19. The evidence reviewed identified that the respiratory incentive was used in the acute phase of the disease and post COVID-19, improvements in lung function such as FVC and FEV1, clinical parameters such as oxygen saturation, dyspnea and anxiety were obtained.Conclusion The studies identified in this review describe that IR favors the increase of FVC and FEV1, with occasional benefits in improving dyspnea and oxygen saturation.