Efficacy of Early Inpatient Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Survivors: Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

The aim of this study was to understand the demographic, clinical characteristics, and effectiveness of early inpatient rehabilitation of post-COVID survivors.

A single-center retrospective chart review analysis of 100 patients admitted to a newly created acute COVID rehabilitation unit (CORE+) from April to December 2020 was conducted.

The demographic and clinical characteristics and complications of 100 post-COVID patients were reviewed. Functional outcomes of GG Self-care and Mobility Activities Items (Section GG0130 and GG0170) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (Version 3.0) at admission and discharge, prevalence of oxygen requirement, the need for cognitive and neuropsychology support by discharge, and dispositions after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay were analyzed. The functional outcomes of 59 primary pulmonary manifestations of COVID patients were further analyzed based on the presence of intensive care unit stay before transfer to the COVID rehabilitation unit. Most patients demonstrated significant functional gains after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay; however, a considerable number of patients continued to require cognitive support by discharge.

The data suggested the benefit of early rehabilitation for hospitalized post-COVID patients. Services need to be geared to include patients' cognitive deficits.