Radiofrequency Intervention in Neurological Pathologies Post COVID-19

The new post-pandemic era has left sequelae in patients who presented the signs and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently faced a positive for COVID-19. Such sequelae will be evident at various systemic levels of the affected patienta in the short, medium and long term future. One of these levels is neurological complications and injuries that have been documented throughout all scientific research since the beginning of massive infections worldwide.

SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by penetrating the respiratory route (mostly), by fluid contact, and to a lesser extent, through the ocular pathway. In the field of neurology system, different forms of RF, nerve infiltrations, lymph node injuries, plantar fasciitis, spinal (peripheral) nerve disorders, etc. have been documented.

If the investigators focus on one of the most prevalent symptoms (those that affect the respiratory system), the bibliography that endorses that the RFMCR could improve has been referenced.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combined manual therapy and 448 kHz radiofrequency treatment in the recovery of persistent anosmia and ageusia in patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. The work proposed here aims to demonstrate the advantages of establishing RF as an excellent treatment for post-COVID-19 sequelae, due to its ability to reinforce immune action, modulate the inflammatory response and activate cellular and tissue regeneration.

The specific objectives of this research work are:

1. To analyze the evolution of olfactory function using the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT) in patients treated with the combined protocol.
2. To evaluate the improvement in taste perception.
3. To determine the impact of treatment on quality of life.
4. To compare the results of taste and smell assessments between the different stages of treatment.
5. To examine the tolerance, safety and possible side effects of the combined treatment in post-COVID-19 patients.

REGULATIONS

1. This clinical study will be carried out in accordance with the protocol, the principles established in the current revised version of the Declaration of Helsinki (Fortaleza, 2013) and in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements.
2. The researcher is aware, when signing the protocol, of the obligation to adhere to the instructions and procedures described in it, and will ensure that the established provisions are strictly adhered to.
3. The study will not begin until the approval of the Research Ethics Committee has been obtained.
4. The principal investigator is responsible for ensuring that this protocol, the informed consent document, and any other information that is presented or facilitated to the possible subjects is reviewed and approved by the CEI. The Researcher agrees to allow direct access to the REC to all relevant documents. INFORMED CONSENT.
5. In this case, patients must give their consent prior to being included in the study. The content and the procedure for obtaining it must be in accordance with all applicable legal requirements.
6. The investigator is responsible for obtaining the written informed consent of each patient participating in this study, after having explained in an understandable way, the nature, objectives, methods, expected benefits and possible risks of the study. The investigator must also explain to them that patients are completely free to refuse to participate in the study or to withdraw from it at any time, for whatever reason.
7. The study patients will give their consent, signing the corresponding model. For this purpose, each informed consent must be signed by both the investigator and the patient. CONFIDENTIALITY.
8. All information related to the study is considered confidential in compliance with the confidentiality and custody of the data collected, in accordance with the 3/2018 Law on the protection of personal data (LOPDGDD), (article 5). Article 5.1 .f) of the RGPD states that personal data will be treated in such a way as to guarantee confidentiality and integrity
9. In order to guarantee the confidentiality of the study data, only the main researcher and her team of collaborators will have access to it, the CEI and the pertinent health authorities.

FINANCING

1. The financing is assumed by the Gema León Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic. There is no direct economic consideration for this, although there is a dedication of time and work by the team of physiotherapists (social security, payroll, personal income tax, etc.) that is not economically remunerated and is assumed or absorbed this way. In addition, the RFMCR technology (equipment and accessories) will be provided by the company INDIBA S.A., through a temporary assignment without any financial compensation either from the Gema León Physiotherapy Clinic, or from any patient. The treatment of these is completely free for them.
2. The patient must travel to the clinic facilities and it is the researcher who will be responsible for the treatment in it.
3. No difficulties are foreseen in its performance since it will be carried out using a schedule adapted to the patient that allows the study to be monitored.

It is intended to carry out a longitudinal study with the participation of 10 patients with olfactory and gustatory alterations, who confirmed a positive test for COVID-19. The sample size for our study is large enough to detect a clinically important difference in the primary outcome (s). For this, the investigators reviewed references at the bibliographic level, in which paired studies obtained a statistically significant value, being able to support our study. If the sample size was insufficient but statistically significant, the investigators would resort to expanding the sample.

They will be evaluated at the beginning, a second evaluation after 3 weeks and a third final control after 12 sessions. A fourth evaluation will be carried out after the last and final evaluation, 6 weeks after finishing the treatment. Each of the participants will be informed of the study, the objective, its possible benefits and the side effects that could arise. A) Therefore, each patient must give their free and confirmed consent through signature. Among the items in the methodology, the following stand out:

Primary outcome: The assessment of smell was based on the short version of the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). The short BSIT is a validated noninvasive 12-item test that uses odor strips of different characteristics to assess olfactory function.(15) A score of 0 (does not identify) or 1 (identifies odor but not as before) or 2 (identifies) is given for each item depending on whether the patient is able to identify the odor presented or not. Thus, any score below 16 out of 24 is considered to be altered smell.

Secondary outcome: Taste assessment was performed using the validated scale used in the article by Luigi Angelo Vaira et al. Four solutions of different tastes were provided: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Taste scores ranged from 0 to 4, allowing patients to be classified into four categories: normal (score 4), mild hypogeusia (score 3), moderate hypogeusia (score 2), severe hypogeusia (score 1), and ageusia (score 0).

Tertiary outcome: To determine the social impact of loss of smell, the olfactory disorders questionnaire (sQOD-NS) was administered. The scores for the different questions range from 0 to 3, with 0 being none, 1 being a little, 2 being average and 3 being a lot. The total score for the questionnaire ranges from 0 (no impact on quality of life) to 21 (serious impact on quality of life).

The therapeutic protocol will be executed in the facilities of the Gema León Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic (Cordoba, Spain). Such RF therapeutic protocol will be implemented by application with an INDIBA® Activ device, whose function is to reduce inflammation, stimulate immunity and promote tissue regeneration. This will consist of a 45-minute treatment, composed by 15 minutes of treatment with the capacitive electrode and 30 minutes of the resistive electrode. A total of 12 sessions will be scheduled (two per week), and all processes will be documented from the beginning of therapy (the resources used will be provided by INDIBA and the Gema León Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, whose supervision will be carried out by the direction of both).

Another variables which theyare gonna be take into accoont are sex, age, vaccination, number of days with symptoms and type of symptom.

The statistical analysis is based on variables of nominal type mostly, which are suitable for the Chi square test with a significance value of 95% for the results (p <0.05). However, if there are numerical data that must be compared between groups, the analysis will be used for ANOVA test with the same significance value for the comparison between results.