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

Abstract

Introduction and objectives Long-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 methods This 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). Results A 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 cmH2O, 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. Conclusions Post-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 worsefatigue levels.