Rehabilitation therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

Objectives. We want to present the evolution of a lot of patients, previously diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, who last spring went through a difficult period due to infection with the new coronavirus. After healing from COVID-19, the patients had returned to the hospital after a period of 4-6 months, to follow a rehabilitation treatment, the majority of the accusations being those related to psoriatic arthritis, with close follow-up of these patients in connection with the treatment applied. Material and methods. The patients were evaluated at hospitalization (biological inflammatory markers like CRP and ESR), pain scale, DAPSA score, PASI and the quality of life score (DLQI and QOL scale), after which they followed different rehabilitation treatments for a period of 21 days. After 3 months of completing this treatment they were re-evaluated. Patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis who do not have documentation to suggest SARS-CoV-2 infection (antibodies/ previous RT-PCR positive tests) were not included in the study. Outcomes. There were some significant differences in terms of the initial score at hospitalization and that performed after rehabilitation treatment. Most of the indices performed had lower values at reassessment (pain scale score, DAPSA, PASI, DLQI and even lower values of CRP and ESR), thus resulting in an important step in terms of the beneficial effects of rehabilitation therapy, both for patients with psoriatic arthritis and for post-COVID-19 recovery. The most important change was observed in the score for quality of life. Conclusions. The inclusion of rehabilitation therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis should be a step that each patient should take. Its effects are long-term, with periods of pain decreasing in frequency and intensity, thus changing the quality of life of these patients. The mental, social and emotional impact of COVID-19 on people who have gone through the disease can be changed in a good way, also following a rehabilitation therapy.