The COVID-19 pandemic affects a large number of patients with a rapid progression of respiratory failure often requiring hospitalization or intensive care unit treatment in some patients. Survivors of severe COVID-19 suffer from persistent weakness and cardiorespiratory failure. Feasibility and potential benefit of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR) after COVID-19 remains unclear. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of COVID-19 patients in a single center inpatient rehabilitation clinic and describe performance and outcome during CR. Patients were referred from acute care hospitals for rehabilitation after severe COVID-19. The cohort (n=28) was divided in ventilated or not ventilated patients for further analysis. 50% were female, mean age was 66 years and patients stayed in the acute hospital for 19.3±10.7 days before referral for CR. 17 patients (61%) needed previous ICU treatment in the acute care hospital. Risk factors, assessments and questionnaires on admission were comparable in both groups. Significant enhancements were observed in 6-minute walking test and Feeling Thermometer which were independent of previous ventilation status. In conclusion, comprehensive CR following COVID-19 is safe, feasible and effective. Improvements in physical performance and subjective health status were independent of previous ventilation.

Acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer were less likely to receive guideline recommended treatment and had worse inhospital outcomes than non-cancer patients.