Functional outcome after inpatient rehabilitation in postintensive care unit COVID-19 patients: findings and clinical implications from a real-practice retrospective study.

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is quickly spreading worldwide, with survivors that suffer functional impairments with a consequent key role of rehabilitation in this context. To date, there is a lack of findings on the role of rehabilitation in postacute COVID-19 patients.

AIM

Thus, we aimed at describing the role of a patient-tailored rehabilitation plan on functional outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

DESIGN

Real-practice retrospective study.

SETTING

Inpatients Rehabilitation Unit.

POPULATION

Postacute COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

Medical records of patients referred to an Italian COVID-19 Rehabilitation Unit from March 10

RESULTS

We included 41 postacute COVID-19 patients (25 male and 19 female), mean aged 72.15±11.07 years. Their mean LOS in the Rehabilitation Unit was 31.97±9.06 days, as 39 successfully completed the rehabilitation treatment and 2 deceased. We found statistically significant improvement in BI (84.87±15.56 vs. 43.37±26.00; P<0.0001), 6-MWT (303.37±112.18 vs. 240.0±81.31 meters; P=0.028), Borg RPE scale (12.23±2.51 vs. 16.03±2.28; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that postacute COVID-19 patients might beneficiate of a motor and respiratory rehabilitation treatment. However, further studies are advised to better understand long-term sequelae of the disease.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

This study provides evidence on the role of rehabilitation COVID-19 postacute inpatients through a patient-tailored treatment.