A planned exercise program after hospital stays for lung disease

It is widely established that a lack of adapted physical activity (APA) and sedentary behaviors increase the prevalence of frailty, which exacerbates chronic diseases. Hospital stays amplify this phenomenon, leading to physical deconditioning, often irreparable, especially in older patients if it is not detected and treated promptly. To date, there is no standard of care focused on APA to address frailty acquired during hospital stays. In this context, the SHAPE project (Hospital System for Physical Activity and Active Participation) aims to prevent dependency in older adults with chronic diseases by developing an innovative patient journey based on APA. The project seeks to reduce frailty acquired during hospital stays by establishing standards for APA prescription, based on early diagnosis and intervention. SHAPE ensures equal access to care through an accessible and user-friendly web platform, designed for older users and also including those in rural areas. It fosters the resilience of healthcare systems by integrating a preventive and multidisciplinary approach into hospital treatments and optimizes resources through a tiered care model that provides progressive and personalized care.

Although hospital stays have been shown to trigger physical deconditioning, there is no adapted physical activity program initiated by the hospital and followed at home after hospital discharge from a severe exacerbation in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The SHAPE Project offers a highly beneficial tool for patients with acute or exacerbated chronic respiratory disease requiring hospitalization, promoting better overall recovery after discharge. Furthermore, this project will foster healthy lifestyles and promote health from a sustainability and prevention perspective. Of particular interest is the opportunity to offer a lifestyle change program (physical activity and hygiene-dietary measures) focused on respiratory patients and adapted to their specific needs. Moreover, the project is considered innovative in implementing healthy clinical practices through telemedicine. In addition, it offers post-hospital discharge services that, to date, have not been considered in a generic way for respiratory patients except in selective subgroups (post-COVID, patients included in lung transplant program, etc.).

In respiratory patients who have required high-risk admission due to decompensation, the implementation of the SHAPE program after hospital discharge as a support program that combines an adapted physical activity plan and general hygiene and dietary advice will improve the health indicators (frailty, sarcopenia, dyspnea, exercise tolerance, quality of life) of these patients.