Addressing persistent symptoms in post-COVID condition: Through a multimodal intervention delivered in two technology-based formats

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dc.contributor.authorAriza, Mar
dc.contributor.authorCano, Neus
dc.contributor.authorCarnes Vendrell, Anna
dc.contributor.authorGelonch Rosinach, Olga
dc.contributor.authorPlana, Yemila
dc.contributor.authorPorras-Garcia, Bruno
dc.contributor.authorLópez-Soley, Elisabeth
dc.contributor.authorMoron, Silvia
dc.contributor.authorPiñol Ripoll, Gerard
dc.contributor.authorGarolera, Maite
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-01T10:54:11Z
dc.date.available2026-06-01T10:54:11Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.description.abstractBackground: Persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19, formally recognized as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), are prevalent and disabling. The World Health Organization has emphasized early, multidisciplinary rehabilitation using accessible and hybrid care models. However, no standard protocol currently exists, and few studies have evaluated digital formats in this context. Objective: To examine the effects of two digital rehabilitation formats-immersive virtual reality (IVR) and a self-guided online program-on cognitive and functional outcomes in individuals with PCC. Methods: The study used a nonrandomized, quasiexperimental pre-post design. We enrolled 172 adults with PCC into a 12-week multimodal program combining cognitive training, physical activity, and mindfulness; participants chose IVR or an online self-guided program, and usual-care controls were recruited at a separate site. Outcomes were assessed before and after across cognitive, psychological, lifestyle, functional, and quality-of-life domains. Results: Significant group-by-time interactions were observed across multiple domains. IVR was associated with improvements in global cognition, immediate recall, recognition memory, and response inhibition. The online intervention showed improvements in verbal recognition, mindfulness, and perceived health-related quality of life. Additional outcomes showed significant group-by-time interactions without postintervention differences, indicating differential trajectories over time rather than discrete between-group effects. Conclusions: Both IVR and online multimodal interventions were associated with domain-specific cognitive and functional benefits in individuals with PCC. These findings support the potential value of multicomponent rehabilitation approaches, while highlighting that some effects reflect differential trajectories rather than definitive postintervention group differences.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ Agencia Española de Investigación, cofunded by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR, through grants TED2021-130409B-C51 and JDC2022-048939-I.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261428205
dc.identifier.issn2055-2076
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/470382
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSAGE Publications
dc.relation.isformatofReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261428205
dc.relation.ispartofDigital Health, Vol. 12, 2026
dc.rightscc-by-nc (c)The Authors, 2026
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International*
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/*
dc.subjectPost-COVID-19 condition
dc.subjectCognitive rehabilitation
dc.subjectDigital intervention
dc.subjectEmotional well-being
dc.subjectFunctional outcomes
dc.subjectImmersive virtual reality
dc.subjectMultimodal rehabilitation
dc.titleAddressing persistent symptoms in post-COVID condition: Through a multimodal intervention delivered in two technology-based formats
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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