Management of persistent sinus tachycardia during post-acute rehabilitation in a critical patient with COVID-19: a single-case study

Background

Sinus tachycardia is a common arrhythmia in patients with COVID-19, and may pose challenges during rehabilitation.

Case description

This is a case report of a 39-year-old critically ill patient with COVID-19 with no premorbid conditions, who presented with intensive care unit-acquired weakness and persistent sinus tachycardia after their stay in an intensive care unit. The sinus tachycardia and exertional symptoms contributed to a severely limited exercise capacity (assessed through the 6-Minute Walk Test and 2-Minute Step Test), which impaired the progress of inpatient rehabilitation. This was addressed through the use of bisoprolol for heart rate control and a rehabilitation programme based on cardiac rehabilitation principles.

Results

The patient's intensive care unit-acquired weakness improved with exercise-based rehabilitation, and the Functional Independence Measure motor subscore improved from 54/91 to 91/91 on discharge after 6 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. After bisoprolol was started for sinus tachycardia, the patient's resting heart rate improved from 106 beats per minute to less than 90 beats per minute during this period of inpatient rehabilitation. During the same period, the patient exhibited concurrent improvement in exercise capacity on weekly 6-Minute Walk Test measurements. Improvements in the 2-Minute Step Test were also documented.

Conclusions

Patient assessment using submaximal exercise testing with serial 6-Minute Walk Tests and 2-Minute Step Tests, along with using beta-blockers and cardiac rehabilitation principles, can be useful in the post-acute rehabilitation of patients recovering from COVID-19 with persistent sinus tachycardia.