Post-intensive Care Unit COVID-19 Survivors: Functional Status and Respiratory Function Three Months After an Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Abstract

Introduction and objectivesLong-term coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae have become an increasing concern, with persistent dyspnoea and fatigue being the most common and long-lasting symptoms reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional status and respiratory function three months after discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation program. Materials and methodsThis was a prospective study including post-ICU COVID-19 survivors consecutively admitted to an inpatient and multimodal rehabilitation program in a rehabilitation center. Evaluation of functional status (brief balance evaluation systems test (brief-BESTEST), timed up and go (TUG) test, 1 min sit to stand test (1STST), 6 min walking test (6MWT)); respiratory muscle strength (maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)); cough effectiveness (peak cough flow (PCF)); and fatigue (fatigue assessment scale (FAS)) were assessed at admission (T0), discharge (T1), and three months after discharge (T2). ResultsA total of 36 patients were included. Between T1 and T2, there was a significant improvement in MEP (84.47±20.89 vs 97.23±24.63 cmH 2 O, p<0.001), PCF (367.83±117.24 vs 441.33±132.90 L/min, p=0.003), functional capacity (1STST (19.90±6.37 vs 23.13±6.07, p=0.004), and 6MWT (459.25±153.70 vs 500.00±163.74 meters, p=0.003)). No differences were seen in MIP, brief-BESTEST, or TUG. Patients presented a higher median final FAS score at T2 compared to T1: 21.50±5 vs 18.60±2.65, p=0.002. ConclusionsPost-ICU COVID-19 survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation program maintained a good functional recovery at the three-month follow-up. Despite overall improvement, we found higher scores of FAS, suggesting worse fatigue levels.

Nutritional and Morphofunctional Assessment of Post-ICU Patients with COVID-19 at Hospital Discharge: NutriEcoMuscle Study

“…Functional decline is common after an ICU stay [ 37 ], which is also evident in COVID-19 patients [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. In our study, more than half of the analyzed population experienced functional decline at hospital discharge, according to the BI scores.…”