Innovations in Chronic Patient Management: Monitoring, Evaluation and Rehabilitation

Dear Colleagues,

In the healthcare field, the management of chronic patients is a growing concern due to the increase in chronic diseases worldwide. Monitoring plays a key role, with the advent of advanced medical devices and mobile applications that enable real-time tracking of patients' conditions, facilitating early detection of problems and personalized care. Chronic patient assessment has benefited from advances in artificial intelligence and data analytics, allowing for more accurate and predictive assessment of disease progression and response to treatment. In addition, rehabilitation has evolved with innovative therapies, such as tele-rehabilitation and virtual reality, which make recovery more effective and accessible.

This Special Issue aims to collect the latest innovations that are revolutionizing the way these patients are managed. It brings together research and case studies that highlight these innovations and their impact on chronic patients' quality of life. From early detection to effective rehabilitation, emerging technologies and approaches are transforming the way healthcare professionals approach chronic disease. This compilation of knowledge promises to enrich clinical practice and improve the management of chronic patients worldwide.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) interventions, evaluations, or monitoring for the management of chronic patients.

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Araceli Ortiz-Rubio
Dr. Alejandro Heredia-Ciuro
Dr. Andrés Calvache-Mateo
Guest Editors

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• chronic disease
• chronic patient management
• rehabilitation
• monitoring
• evaluation
• healthcare

Title: Severity matters: how COVID-19 severity impacts long-term symptoms, physical activity and functionality. An observational study.
Authors: Laura Pérez-Gisbert; Concepción Morales-García; José Antonio Sánchez-Martínez; María Victoria González-Gutiérrez; Marie Carmen Valenza; Irene Torres-Sánchez
Affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Avenida de la Ilustración nº 60. 18016. Granada, Spain.
Abstract: Background/Objectives: Existing literature has described the common symptoms and long-term effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, there is a lack of detailed information on how different degrees of disease severity affect survivors differently. This study aims to fill that gap by evaluating the symptoms, physical activity and functionality of COVID-19 survivors across a spectrum of severity levels, and comparing them with those of healthy individuals. Methods: An observational study was carried out following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria and checklist. Participants were di-vided into 5 groups based on the COVID-19 severity: healthy, mild, moderate, severe and critical. Descriptive variables, symptoms, physical activity and functionality were measured. Results: The impact of COVID-19 on surviving patients varies significantly with the severity of the disease. As the severity increases, so do hospitalisation time, patient age, and the presence of comorbidities. Patients with more severe COVID-19 also experience greater frailty, dysphagia, fatigue, dyspnea and pain. Additionally, those with severe cases have poorer overall health, reduced physical ac-tivity, and diminished functionality. Interestingly, this study found no evidence of post-COVID-19 anxiety or depression in the sample. Conclusions: The impact of COVID-19 on surviving patients varies significantly with the severity of the disease. Patients with more severe COVID-19 also experience greater symptoms. Additionally, those with severe cases have poorer overall health, reduced physical activity and diminished functionality.