Application of Circadian Rhythm-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Severe Pneumonia-A Feasibility Study With Convenience Sampling.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program based on circadian rhythm principles for critically ill patients with severe pneumonia and evaluate its efficacy. DESIGN: A feasibility study with convenience sampling. SETTING: A grade A tertiary hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-three (N=93) patients with severe pneumonia. A total of 47 patients admitted from January to March 2025 were assigned to the control group, and 46 patients admitted from April to June 2025 were allocated to the intervention group. INTERVENTIONS: The control group received routine pulmonary rehabilitation; the intervention group was given a circadian rhythm-based comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program in addition to routine care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, pulmonary rehabilitation compliance rate, pulmonary function indicators, sleep quality, and patient satisfaction with nursing care. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay (P<.05). Additionally, the intervention group showed a significantly higher pulmonary rehabilitation compliance rate, better pulmonary function indicators, higher sleep quality scores, and greater patient satisfaction with nursing care than the control group (all P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The circadian rhythm-based comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation intervention provides a rehabilitation model that aligns with the biological rhythms of critically ill patients with severe pneumonia. This approach may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay, improve pulmonary function and sleep quality, and enhance patient satisfaction with nursing care.