COVID-19: Patient care after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit.

Abstract

IntroductionThe Ibn Rochd CHU is a tertiary care structure that provides care for the most severe cases of COVID‐19 requiring hospitalisation in intensive care. The objective of study is to describe the complementary medical and psychological care of patients with COVID‐19 in the endocrinology department after a stay in intensive care.Patients and MethodsThis is a descriptive observational study of patients transferred from the intensive care unit to the endocrinology service following a COVID‐19 infection during the period from 17 April 2020 to May 26, 2020. Clinical characteristics of the patients and complications related to COVID‐19 infection were studied; a nutritional assessment using the MNA nutritional status assessment questionnaire; psychological assessment using quality‐of‐life questionnaires (Hamilton depression and anxiety, HAD, SF36, PCLS); a treatment satisfaction questionnaire (TQCMII) and an assessment of patient autonomy by the ADL score.ResultOur study included 41 patients with an average age of 55 years (19‐85 years), a sex ratio M/F of 1.05, 43.9% were diabetic, 34.1% hypertensive, 4.9% asthmatic and 5% obese, and 51.2% were severe and critical cases. The average ICU stay is 8.42 days, requiring intubation in 12.2% of cases. All patients were treated with the Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, vitamin C, zinc and corticosteroid protocol, 14.6% had undernutrition and 65.9% had a risk of undernutrition. The average BMI was 25.34 kg/m2 (17‐42), 61% had experienced weight loss, which was greater than 8 kg in 26.1% of cases, 12.2% of patients were not autonomous, 12.2% had moderate depression, 2.4% severe depression, 14.6% mild to moderate anxiety, 12.2% severe anxiety and 29.3% suffered acute post‐traumatic stress disorder.ConclusionPatients with COVID‐19 are, in addition to the complications from coronavirus infection, vulnerable to undernutrition, psychological and motor complications. Additional care before discharge is essential for better integration of patients into their families.