Benefits of Acute Rehabilitation in COVID Recovered Patients and Changes in the Current Treatment Guidelines Related to COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: Over the past year, clinical focus worldwide has centered on the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The prevalence of this disease continues unabated; consequently, COVID-19 treatment modalities continue to improve. As a result, there are now more survivors of COVID-19. The expansion of this COVID-19 survivor demographic necessitates attention, specifically regarding patient rehabilitation. The benefits that rehabilitation offers to COVID-19 survivors must be examined, especially as this disease has begun to affect individuals with complex comorbidities.

Design: Observational Prospective Study that followed 60 patients from admission into the Acute Medical Rehabilitation Hospital from the beginning of the pandemic up until March 2021. Data collected were analyzed to determine the benefit of acute rehabilitation in COVID-19 recovered patients in addition to the changes of the current treatment related to COVID-19.

Results: Overall, acute rehabilitation significantly improved patients’ Self-Care and Mobility Section GG (GG) outcomes in their overall functional assessment.
The average increase in GG overall was 29.45. Patients that only required 10 days or fewer of rehabilitation had an average GG increase of 34.1. Those that required 11-20 days of rehabilitation had an increase in GG of 26.5.

Conclusions: Acute rehabilitation plays a primarily positive role in the outcome of patients with COVID-19. This increase in the GG scores can be attributed to the different therapies provided during their acute inpatient rehabilitation.