REHABILITATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire healthcare system, from emergency care, intensive care units, internal medicine wards, outpatient care to home care. The pandemic continues and brings a large number of patients with COVID-19-associated postintensive care syndrome suffering from physical, mental and cognitive impairments that threaten their return to normal life. The complexity and severity of illness in patients recovering from severe COVID-19 requires a coordinated and systematic approach to be applied as early as possible during the recovery phase. Considering the multiorgan dysfunction, debility, pulmonary, neurological, neuromuscular and cognitive complications, rehabilitation professionals can play an important role in the recovery process for individuals with COVID-19. Complications of COVID-19 can be reduced by 1) multidisciplinary rehabilitation, which begins early and continues throughout the hospital stay, 2) providing patient/family education for self-care after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and 3) continuing rehabilitation care in the outpatient setting, and at home either in person or with the help of telerehabilitation.

[Current issues in the rehabilitation of stroke patients against the background of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Resolution of the Council of Experts]

The pandemic of the new coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has forced to reconsider the methods of rehabilitation of patients with emergency conditions, including neurology. The Council of Experts of Neurologists and Rehabilitation Therapists gathered to develop unified approaches to manage stroke patients based on a discussion of practical experience and, taking into account the scientific information on COVID-19 that was available by the time of the meeting. Stroke is a serious disabling condition that requires maximum rehabilitation efforts at all stages of medical care. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic, the process of medical rehabilitation and the routing of patients with stroke is undergoing major changes. Combining COVID-19 and stroke requires new approaches to rehabilitation and patient management. During the meeting, a resolution was developed in which the experts formulated the tactics of medical rehabilitation of patients with stroke and COVID-19 at the first and second stages. The arguments of the importance and practicability of carrying out measures of medical rehabilitation at the third stage is given and the need to continue consultations on the indicated topic is revealed.