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Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes After Severe COVID-19 Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Benjamin A Abramoff1, Timothy R Dillingham, Franklin E Caldera
1From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania-Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (BAA, TRD, FEC); Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (MDR); Institute for Health and Equity, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (LEP); and Collaborative for Healthcare Delivery Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (LEP).
Objective:
The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics and functional outcomes of patients undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation after hospitalization for COVID-19.
Design:
Using a retrospective chart review, patients were identified who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation after COVID-19. Patient information collected included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, length of stay, discharge disposition, self-care, mobility, and cognitive functioning. These patients were compared with patients (controls) without COVID-19 with similar impairment codes treated at the same facility before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results:
There were 43 patients who were admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation hospital after COVID-19 infection and 247 controls. Patients who had COVID-19 were significantly more likely to be African American and to have been admitted to a long-term acute care hospital. They also had a longer length of rehabilitation stay. The groups did not differ by age, sex, or insurance. Functionally, although presenting with significantly worse mobility, self-care, and motor scores, the patients previously infected with COVID-19 had similar functional outcomes at time of discharge to the control group.
Conclusions:
Although patients with a history of COVID-19 had worse function at time of admission to acute rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation significantly improved their function to comparable levels as patients who did not have COVID-19.
To Claim Cme Credits:
Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.
Cme Objectives:
Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Identify how characteristics of patients with COVID-19 admitted to acute rehabilitation differ from those with similar admission codes but without COVID-19; (2) Describe changes in functional measures at admission and discharge of COVID-19 patients compared with patients without COVID-19; and (3) Recognize how inpatient rehabilitation may help reduce inequities in outcomes after severe COVID-19 infection.
Level:
Advanced.
Accreditation:
The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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