Outcomes of patients with COVID‐19 after inpatient rehabilitation. Issue 2 (29th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Groah, Suzanne L.; Pham, Cynthia T.; Rounds, Amanda K.; Semel, Jennifer J.
• Other Names: Bunnell Aaron E. guestEditor.; DiTommaso Craig guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: PM&R. Volume 14:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 209
• Publication Date: 2021-07-29
• Subjects: Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy Modalities -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.12645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-1482

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Rehabilitation outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) are unknown. Objective: To describe patients with COVID‐19 who are undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and their rehabilitation outcomes. Design: Retrospective observational cohort study of all inpatients from a rehabilitation hospital between March 1 and September 30, 2020. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Patients: Among all inpatients, inclusion criteria are: ≥18 years of age and admission and discharge within the study time frame. The initial search yielded 920 patients; 896 met the inclusion criteria. Subjects were stratified by COVID‐19 status and rehabilitation impairment. Main Outcome Measures: Data included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), length of stay (LOS), discharge location, and functional ability in self‐care and mobility (FA‐SC, FA‐Mob). One‐sample t ‐tests were used to assess the difference of age, BMI, LOS, FA‐SC, FA‐Mob, and FA efficiency between COVID‐19+ and COVID‐19− patients. Results: COVID‐19+ patients were younger (59.4 years vs 62.9 years; t[894] = −2.05, p = .04) with a higher mean BMI (32 vs 28; t[894] = 3.51, p < .01) than COVID‐19− patients. COVID‐19+ patients had equivalent or superior improvements in FA‐SC and FA‐Mob, functional change efficiency, and LOS relative to COVID‐19− patients. When medically complex patients were compared, those with COVID‐19 had greater FA‐SC and FA‐Mob efficiencies than COVID‐19− patients. COVID‐19+ patients had similar rates of return to the community. Conclusions: Patients with COVID‐19 who meet the admission criteria for inpatient rehabilitation can benefit from inpatient rehabilitation similarly to their non‐COVID‐19 counterparts with similar rehabilitation‐specific diagnoses.