QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN AFTER CAESAREAN SECTION WHO HAD CORONAVIRUS DISEASE DURING PREGNANCY AS AN INDICATOR OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM
Authors: Vypasniak I.P. , Ostapyak Z.M. , Polatayko Yu.O. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract. Purpose: to determine the effectiveness of restoring the state of health of women with post-COVID-19 syndrome, who underwent cesarean section, based on the dynamics of parameters of quality of life.

Methods 44 women were examined at the beginning of the late postpartum period. The control group consisted of 15 women who gave birth vaginally and did not suffer from COVID-19 during pregnancy and observation. The comparison group consisted of 15 women after cesarean section who suffered from COVID-19 during pregnancy, recovered during pregnancy and the postpartum period according to general recommendations for the rehabilitation of patients with coronavirus infection. The main group consisted of 14 women after caesarean section, suffered from COVID-19 during pregnancy, performed a proven program of physical therapy for 2 months using breathing therapeutic exercises, therapeutic exercises with elements of yoga for the muscles of the back, abdomen, upper and lower limbs, taking into account movement limitations due to a scar of the anterior abdominal wall; massage of the chest, back, abdomen; aromatherapy sessions; autogenic training sessions. They tried to restore the state of women through the normalizing effect of the applied agents on the hormonal background and psycho-emotional state, reducing the feeling of bodily discomfort, general strengthening of the body, accelerating the recovery of the organs of the abdominal cavity and pelvis, accelerating adaptation to changes in habitual activity due to a violation daily routine and childcare needs. The condition of the women was assessed by the results of the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS.

Research results In all women, regardless of the method of delivery, at the beginning of the late postpartum period, a decrease in quality of life was noted in all sections of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Results in women after caesarean section compared to vaginal delivery were on average twice as bad (p<0.05) on all subscales – mobility, self-care, usual daily activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. According to the low assessment of individual subscales, women defined their general state of health quite low on a 100-point scale. At the same time, women who underwent caesarean section reported a statistically significantly worse level of health compared to women after vaginal delivery (p<0.05).

During re-examination, the best result in terms of all studied parameters was found by women of the control group, who demonstrated the dynamics of the normal course of the postpartum period after vaginal delivery.

The results of the women of the main group according to EQ-5D-5L subscales, EQ-VAS which were determined, were statistically significantly better than those of the women of the comparison group. This testifies to the advantages of the rehabilitation program for the correction of the symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome in women who underwent cesarean section, which was created taking into account their physical and psycho-emotional state, in comparison with the general rehabilitation program..

Conclusions Quality of life is a generalized indicator that takes into account various aspects of health; accordingly, its deterioration in the postpartum period is a justification for carrying out, and the positive dynamics is evidence of the effectiveness of the approved program of physical therapy of women with post-COVID-19 syndrome in the postpartum period after abdominal delivery.