Physiotherapy as a Complimentary Treatment in Reducing Viral-Load, Complications, Death, Expedite Discharge and Improve Quality of Life, Exercise Endurance and Capacity in Stroke Survivors With CoViD-19: A Clinical-Controlled Study
Physiotherapy as a Complimentary Treatment in Reducing Viral-Load, Complications, Death, Expedite Discharge and Improve Quality of Life, Exercise Endurance and Capacity in Stroke Survivors With CoViD-19: A Clinical-Controlled Study
Background: Coronavirus (CoViD-19) positive stroke survivors (SSv) with comorbidities faces
 possibility for mortality. Study reports success of physiotherapy in CoViD-19 positive SSv
 with multiple comorbidities.

 Methods: This clinical controlled study involve a minimum of 30 SSv and 30 age and
 sex-matched non-stroke individuals with multiple comorbidities with CoViD-19 status confirmed
 using Real-Time Quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction. The Cycle Threshold (CT) and nucleic
 acid content in the test sample (NA) will be recorded from the virology test results. Their
 exercise endurance, exercise capacities and quality of life will be assessed using 3-minutes'
 walk test and 3-meters test and Stroke Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire. Measurements
 will be taken at every three days intervals from admission to discharge from
 hospital-isolation. They will receive their normal treatments for CoViD-19 in addition to
 daily Physiotherapy for the SSv delivered through E-Platform. the Zoom and the WhatsApp video
 platforms will be used for the interactions between the physiotherapists and the
 participants. A pre-tested exercise protocol for stroke patients developed by the Stroke and
 Nervous System Disorders research group of the University of Lagos, Nigeria will be used for
 the E-exercises. The exercise package will be loaded into the phones of the participants at
 hospital admission. The Physiotherapists will lead in the exercises through video interaction
 will the participants watches the video programme. Their risks for respiratory complications
 (RC), ventilation (RV) and death (RD) will be analysed. Data will be analysed using
 independent t-test, Analysis of Co-Variance, and multivariate retrogression, survival
 analyses, Friedman Analysis of Variance and MannWithney U test (95% Confident Interval).

 Anticipated Outcomes: It is anticipated that the outcome of this study will provide evidence
 for inclusion of Physiotherapy in the acute management of individuals tested positive for
 CoViD-19 most important for the stroke survivors tested positive for CoViD-19 at acute stage
 to reduce the odds of developing complications expedite discharge and reduce odd of death.
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) is a new pathogen that is highly contagious,
 can spread quickly, and it is capable of causing enormous health, economic and societal
 impacts in any setting (WHO-China joint mission on CoViD-19). Although COVID 19 belongs to
 coronavirinae sub-family and coronaviridae family and different from other previous
 coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and influenza Virus with its unique characteristics. Hence,
 building scenarios and strategies only on the basis of well-known pathogens risks failing to
 exploit all possible measures to slow transmission of the COVID-19 virus, reduce disease and
 save lives.

 The COVID-19 virus is unique among human coronaviruses in its combination of high
 transmissibility, substantial fatal outcomes in some high-risk groups, and ability to cause
 huge societal and economic disruption. The current CoViD-19 pandemic arises from Severe Acute
 Respiratory Syndrome Voronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) which was first detected as pneumonia of
 unknown cause in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. It was declared as public health emergency
 of international concern in January, 2020 and global pandemic in February of the same year.
 Therefore, with the novel nature, and the continuously evolving understanding, of this
 coronavirus demands a tremendous agility in the capacity to rapidly adapt and change
 readiness and response planning both for containment and for treatment of the disease and its
 emerging sequels.

 Before the advent of CoViD-19, different types of coronavirus known in human history include
 the alpha coronaviruses HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63; the beta coronaviruses HCoV-OC43 and
 HCoV-HKU1; SARS-CoV, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); MERS-CoV, which
 causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The definitive diagnosis of CoViD-19 is made
 by analysing respiratory samples (collected by aspiration of the airways or sputum induction)
 through laboratory tests to identify the virus involved using Real-Time Polymerase Chain
 Reaction (RT-PCR) techniques.

 Although the American and Europe are mostly affected with Africa being the least affected,
 almost all the African countries have had their fair share of the pandemic both in incidence
 and in fatality. Although the first fatality was recorded in China, the fatality is now
 global. There is no gender variation in the global epidemiology of CoViD-19 but the males are
 experiencing higher fatality rate when controlled for age and the presence of comorbid health
 problem. However, in Nigeria, the mortality rate is 3.1% with male preponderance (2.2:1 male
 to female ratio) and affects more people between 31 years and 40 years.

 Between 2 days to 14 days post-exposure, individuals with CoViD-19 can have symptoms ranging
 from mild to severe including but not limited to fever, cough, difficulty in
 breathing/shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle pain, chills, new loss of taste or smell,
 nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Although the disease is fast spreading across the globe, yet
 there is no known standard cure for it neither is vaccine available against the new virus.
 However, as the disease manifest its clinical features, various case management/treatment
 guidelines are being developed and updated periodically by all national and international
 health organisations and the WHO.

 Because CoViD-19 is a novel pathogen, the existence of innate immunity in human being cannot
 be ascertained. Based on the epidemiologic characteristics observed in China, although there
 may be risk factors increasing susceptibility to infection, everyone is assumed to be
 susceptible. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, there have been extensive attempts to
 better understand the virus and the disease globally. However, key knowledge gaps in the
 source of infection, pathogenesis and virulence of the virus, transmissibility, risk factors
 for infection and disease progression, surveillance, diagnostics, clinical management of
 severe and critically ill patients, and the effectiveness of prevention and control measures
 remain. The remarkable speed with which health experts isolated the causative virus,
 established diagnostic tools, and determined key transmission parameters, such as the route
 of spread and incubation period, provided the vital evidence for gaining invaluable time for
 the response.

 Although the radiological evidence (Lima, 2020) and laboratory tests are been used as
 complimentary approaches to objectify the diagnosis and progression of CoViD-19, the
 molecular test of choice for the etiologic diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the real
 -time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test method similar to that
 developed for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV. Within 5 to 6 days of the onset of symptoms,
 patients with COVID-19 infections have demonstrated high viral loads in their upper and lower
 respiratory tract. A nasopharyngeal swab and/or an oropharyngeal swab are often recommended
 for screening or diagnosis of early infection. In RT-PCR assay a positive reaction is
 detected by accumulation of a fluorescent signal and quantified by the cycle threshold (CT)
 values. The CT is the number of cycles required for the fluorescent signal to cross the
 threshold (exceeds background level). Cycle threshold levels are inversely proportional to
 the amount of target nucleic acid in the sample (the lower the CT level the greater the
 amount of target nucleic acid in the sample). Wisconsin Veterinary and Diagnostic Laboratory
 (WVDL) real time assays undergo 40 cycles of amplification. Cycle thresholds (CTs) less than
 29 are strong positive reactions indicative of abundant target nucleic acid in the sample,
 CTs of between 30 and 37 are positive reactions indicative of moderate amounts of target
 nucleic acid while CTs of between 38 and 40 are weak reactions indicative of minimal amounts
 of target nucleic acid which could represent an infection state or environmental
 contamination.

 Previous studies had opined that increased age, pre-existing concurrent cardiovascular or
 cerebrovascular diseases, the presence of secondary infection and elevated inflammatory
 indicators in the blood, CD3+CD8+ T-cells ≤75 cells·μL-1 and cardiac troponin I ≥0.05 ng·mL-1
 are predictors of increase in risk of mortality from CoViD-19. With stroke being a leading
 cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide (Bay, 2001), a stroke patient with
 CoVid-19 may be said to be in pathway to death. Individuals who have experienced stroke are
 faced with a multitude of challenges to restore their quality of life within the limitation
 of residual impairment. A stroke patient with clotting disorder is in continuous dynamics of
 working against the development of deep vein thrombosis. It is even a great dilemma when a
 stroke survivor with clotting disorders has chronic respiratory problem. Much
 multi-disciplinary approaches and expertise will be needed for the recovery and
 rehabilitation of the patient. Hence, a CoViD-19 patient who ordinarily is susceptible to
 developing respiratory complications usually require experts' management especially when the
 individual has the high odd ratio of death through the presence of comorbid health such as
 restrictive respiratory disorders, diabetes, hypertension and other comorbidities. A stroke
 patient with haematological disorders especially of clotting factor disorders. If personal
 protective equipment (PPEs) are provided, a physiotherapist should be involved in the acute
 care of individuals with CoViD-19 especially when clinical manifestations of CoViD-19
 indicated how Physiotherapy can be of great help to CoViD-19 patients. There are also
 appropriate Physiotherapy management guidelines for the management of such a patient.

 Despite the success of the involvement of physiotherapy in the management of individuals
 admitted for SARS-CoV. which has similar clinical features as the novel SARS-CoV2 (CoViD-19),
 Physiotherapy are rarely involved in its management especially in low resource countries. The
 major targeted aspects for Physiotherapy in critically ill patients include deconditioning,
 muscle weakness, joint stiffness, retained airway secretions, atelectasis and avoidance of
 intubation and weaning failure. Physiotherapy is helpful in managing patients with severe
 acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS). Physiotherapy focus is to increase mobility,
 enhance oxygenation and reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. In managing SARS
 or Acute Respiratory Disorders' patients, Physiotherapy employed various treatment techniques
 such as the use of various chest Physiotherapy procedures, positioning/mobilization,
 breathing exercises techniques, coughing techniques, spirometry and Massage/manual techniques
 among others. Apart from the fact that physiotherapists have the expertise in management of
 CoViD-19 patient, a patient undergoing physiotherapy can also be infected with CoViD-19 as no
 one is immune. In order to prevent secondary complication of both the clinical manifestations
 of CoViD-19 in one hand and that of their other health problems, patients with CoViD-19
 should be treated by physiotherapists from the acute case and even in the intensive care
 units/centres. Hence, this study intends to explore success of involvement of physiotherapy
 in the acute management of stroke survivors with multiple comorbidities who are diagnosed of
 CoViD-19 in reducing odds of developing complications, reduce the odd of death and expedite
 discharge.

 Rationale/ justification of study Because the novel CoViD-19 can affect anyone including
 stroke patients who are receiving physiotherapy, it is highly imperative for a programme that
 will incorporate physiotherapy into their treatment to both prevent the possibility of
 developing complications as well as death during the isolation treatment. It will also
 address their needs for stroke recovery thereby preventing disability and dependency in
 activity of daily living due to stroke which will linger during the isolation treatment.

 Previous studies had opined that increased age, pre-existing concurrent cardiovascular or
 cerebrovascular diseases, the presence of secondary infection and elevated inflammatory
 indicators in the blood, CD3+CD8+ T-cells ≤75 cells·μL-1 and cardiac troponin I ≥0.05 ng·mL-1
 are predictors of increase in risk of mortality from CoViD-19. Since these factors are either
 predisposing factors to stroke or precipitate mortality in stroke patients, a stroke
 patient/survivor tested positive for CoViD-19 is in serious dilemma for the likelihood of
 developing complications or dying during CoViD-19 isolation treatment. With stroke being a
 leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide, a stroke patient with
 CoVid-19 may be said to be in pathway to death. Individuals who have experienced stroke are
 faced with a multitude of challenges to restore their quality of life within the limitation
 of residual impairment. A stroke patient with clotting disorder is in continuous dynamics of
 working against the development of deep vein thrombosis. It is even a great dilemma when a
 stroke survivor with clotting disorders has chronic respiratory problem. Much
 multi-disciplinary approaches and expertise will be needed for the recovery and
 rehabilitation of the patient. Hence, a CoViD-19 patient who ordinarily is susceptible to
 developing respiratory complications usually require experts' management especially when the
 individual has the high odd ratio of death through the presence of comorbid health such as
 restrictive respiratory disorders, diabetes, hypertension and other comorbidities. A stroke
 patient with haematological disorders especially of clotting factor disorders. If personal
 protective equipment (PPEs) are provided, a physiotherapist should be involved in the acute
 care of individuals with CoViD-19 especially when clinical manifestations of CoViD-19
 indicated how Physiotherapy can be of great help to CoViD-19 patients. There are also
 appropriate Physiotherapy management guidelines for the management of such a patient .

 Despite the success of the involvement of physiotherapy in the management of individuals
 admitted for SARS-CoV. which has similar clinical features as the novel SARS-CoV2 (CoViD-19),
 and the fact that some individuals undergoing physiotherapy do contract CoViD-19,
 Physiotherapy are rarely involved in its management especially in low resource countries. The
 major targeted aspects for Physiotherapy in critically ill patients include deconditioning,
 muscle weakness, joint stiffness, retained airway secretions, atelectasis and avoidance of
 intubation and weaning failure. Physiotherapy is helpful in managing patients with severe
 acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS). Physiotherapy focus is to increase mobility,
 enhance oxygenation and reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. In managing SARS
 or Acute Respiratory Disorders' patients, Physiotherapy employed various treatment techniques
 such as the use of various chest Physiotherapy procedures, positioning/mobilization,
 breathing exercises techniques, coughing techniques, spirometry and Massage/manual techniques
 among others. Apart from the fact that physiotherapists have the expertise in management of
 CoViD-19 patient, a patient undergoing physiotherapy can also be infected with CoViD-19 as no
 one is immune. In order to prevent secondary complication of both the clinical manifestations
 of CoViD-19 in one hand and that of their other health problems, patients with CoViD-19
 should be treated by physiotherapists from the acute case and even in the intensive care
 units/centres. Hence, this study intends to explore success of involvement of physiotherapy
 in the acute management of stroke survivors with multiple comorbidities who were diagnosed of
 CoViD-19 in reducing odds of developing complications and death.

 Study objectives

 1. To explore effect of physiotherapy on of viral load as measured by Cycle Threshold (CT)
 and amount of Nucleic Acid (NA) in the sample of stroke survivors positive for CoViD-19
 and their sex age and comorbid heath-status non-stroke individuals positive for
 CoViD-19.

 2. To explore effect of physiotherapy on development of respiratory complications in the
 management of stroke survivors positive for CoViD-19 and their sex age and comorbid
 heath-status non-stroke individuals positive for CoViD-19.

 3. To explore effect of physiotherapy on use of ventilator in management of stroke
 survivors positive for CoViD-19 and their sex age and comorbid heath-status non-stroke
 individuals positive for CoViD-19.

 4. To explore effect of physiotherapy on death in management of stroke survivors positive
 for CoViD-19 and their sex age and comorbid heath-status non-stroke individuals positive
 for CoViD-19.

 5. To explore effect of physiotherapy on discharge in management of stroke survivors
 positive for CoViD-19 and their sex age and comorbid heath-status non-stroke individuals
 positive for CoViD-19.

 6. To explore effect of physiotherapy on quality of life of stroke survivors positive for
 CoViD-19 and their sex age and comorbid heath-status non-stroke individuals positive for
 CoViD-19.

 7. To explore the effect of Physiotherapy on exercise endurance of stroke survivors
 positive for CoViD-19.

 8. To explore the effect of Physiotherapy on exercise capacity of stroke survivors positive
 for CoViD-19.

 Hypotheses

 1. There will be no significant difference in the viral-load as measured by CT and NA in
 stroke survivors with CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and
 co-morbid heath status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive
 physiotherapy during isolation treatment.

 2. There will be no significant difference in the development of respiratory complication
 in stroke survivors with CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and
 co-morbid heath status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive
 physiotherapy during isolation treatment.

 3. There will be no significant difference in the use ventilator in stroke survivors with
 CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and co-morbid heath
 status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive physiotherapy
 during isolation treatment.

 4. There will be no significant difference in the death recorded in stroke survivors with
 CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and co-morbid heath
 status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive physiotherapy
 during isolation treatment.

 5. There will be no significant difference in the rate of discharge in stroke survivors
 with CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and co-morbid heath
 status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive physiotherapy
 during isolation treatment.

 6. There will be no significant difference in the quality of life in stroke survivors with
 CoViD-19 who received physiotherapy and their age, sex and co-morbid heath
 status-matched non-stroke individuals with CoViD-19 who did not receive physiotherapy
 during isolation treatment.

 7. Physiotherapy will not have significant effect on the exercise endurance of stroke
 survivors positive for CoViD-19.

 8. Physiotherapy will not have significant effect on the exercise capacity of stroke
 survivors positive for CoViD-19.

 Data Analysis Data will be summarized using frequency, percentage, mean and standard
 deviation. Both groups will be analysed for risk for respiratory complications (RC),
 likelihood of ventilation (LV) and risk of death (RD) at hospital-isolation admission. The
 two groups and difference dichotomies will be compared using independent t-test comparing the
 Cycle Threshold Values and the amount of Nucleic Acid in the sample. Analysis of Co-Variance
 will be used to compare the Cycle Threshold, Nucleic Acid, Exercise endurance and exercise
 capacity across the test periods in the stroke survivors while multivariate regression
 analysis will be used to predict odds of complication and survival analysis will be used to
 predict death in both groups. Their quality of life will be compared using MannWithney U test
 while Friedman Analysis of Variance will be used to compare the quality of life within the
 group across the test periods (p<0.05).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Stroke survivors with COVID19

 -  Non-stroke individuals with COVID19

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Stroke survivors still in inpatient hospital care