Comprehensive Rehabilitation in Severely Ill Inpatients With COVID-19: A Cohort Study in a Tertiary Hospital

Characteristics Associated with Long-Term Outcomes in Severe COVID-19 Patients after a Post-Acute Care Hospitalization: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To describe characteristics associated with long-term outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients admitted to a post-acute care facility (PACF).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive severe COVID-19 admitted to a PACF from April 2020 to August 2021.

METHODS

Patients were followed for 180 days after discharge. Functional outcomes were measured by the modified Barthel index and further stratified into good outcome (for those independent, mildly dependent, or moderately dependent) and into bad outcome (for those severely dependent, completely dependent, or dead). Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to evaluate between patients' characteristics and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 186 patients admitted from 17 different acute hospitals were included. Median age was 67 years, 88% of patients were previously independent, 95% were admitted to the ICU, and 85% were mechanically ventilated during the acute hospitalization. Median (interquartile range) Barthel indexes at admission, discharge, and 180-day follow-up were 9 (1-23), 81 (45-92), and 100 (98-100) (P < .001), respectively. In addition, 180-day mortality was 17.2%. Baseline functional status, comorbidities, and functional status at admission to the PACF were associated with bad outcome at 180-day follow-up, after multivariate binary logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to a PACF had substantial functional improvements at PACF discharge and during 180-day follow-up. These findings may help prognosticate and manage post-acute severe COVID-19 patients.

Unveiling the detrimental vicious cycle linking skeletal muscle and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Skeletal muscle catabolism supports multiple organs and systems during severe trauma and infection, but its role in COVID-19 remains unclear. This study investigates the interactions between skeletal muscle and COVID-19.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMbase, and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from January 2020 to August 2023 for cohort studies focusing on the impact of skeletal muscle on COVID-19 prevalence and outcomes, and longitudinal studies examining skeletal muscle changes caused by COVID-19. Skeletal muscle quantity (SMQN) and quality (SMQL) were assessed separately. The random-effect model was predominantly utilized for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Seventy studies with moderate to high quality were included. Low SMQN/SMQL was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.62, p < 0.001). Both the low SMQN and SMQL predicted COVID-19-related mortality (OR = 1.53, p = 0.016; OR = 2.18, p = 0.001, respectively). Mortality risk decreased with increasing SMQN (OR = 0.979, p = 0.009) and SMQL (OR = 0.972, p = 0.034). Low SMQN and SMQL were also linked to the need for intensive care unit/mechanical ventilation, increased COVID-19 severity, and longer hospital stays. Significant skeletal muscle wasting, characterized by reduced volume and strength, was observed during COVID-19 infection and the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a detrimental vicious circle between skeletal muscle and COVID-19. Effective management of skeletal muscle could be beneficial for treating COVID-19 infections and addressing the broader pandemic. These findings have important implications for the management of future virus pandemics.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42023395476.

Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Interventions in Individuals With Emerging Virtual Respiratory Tract Infectious Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Assessing rehabilitation effectiveness for persistent symptoms post-infection with emerging viral respiratory diseases.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review of seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PEDro, MedRxiv, CNKI, Wanfang) until 30 December 2023.

REVIEW METHODS

Evaluated 101 studies (9593 participants) on respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies and non-RCTs, and the NIH Quality Assessment Tools for before-after studies.

RESULTS

The most common rehabilitation program combined breathing exercises with aerobic exercise or strength training. Rehabilitation interventions significantly enhanced respiratory function, as evidenced by improvements on the Borg Scale (MD, -1.85; 95% CI, -3.00 to -0.70, low certainty), the mMRC Dyspnea Scale (MD, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.72 to -0.18, low certainty), and the Multidimensional Dyspnoea-12 Scale (MD, -4.64; 95% CI, -6.54 to -2.74, moderate certainty). Exercise capacity also improved, demonstrated by results from the Six-Minute Walk Test (MD, 38.18; 95% CI, 25.33-51.03, moderate certainty) and the Sit-to-Stand Test (MD, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.07-5.01, low certainty).

CONCLUSION

Rehabilitation interventions are promising for survivors of viral respiratory diseases, yet gaps in research remain. Future investigations should focus on personalizing rehabilitation efforts, utilizing remote technology-assisted programs, improving research quality, and identifying specific subgroups for customized rehabilitation strategies to achieve the best outcomes for survivors.

Post-stroke rehabilitation in the peri-pandemic COVID-19 era

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which arose in late 2019, caused extensive destruction, impacting a substantial proportion of the worldwide population and leading to millions of deaths. Although COVID-19 is mainly linked to respiratory and pulmonary complications, it has the potential to affect neurologic structures as well. Neurological involvement may manifest as minimal and reversible; however, a notable proportion of cases have exhibited pronounced neurological consequences, such as strokes. Endothelial inflammation, hypercoagulation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system alterations, and cardiogenic embolism are the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke under COVID-19 circumstances. Physical activity and exercise have improved several aspects of post-stroke recovery, including cardiovascular health, walking capacity, and upper limb strength. They are commonly used to assist stroke survivors in overcoming their motor restrictions. Furthermore, stroke rehabilitation can incorporate a range of specific techniques, including body-weight-supported treadmill applications, constraint-induced movement therapy, robotic rehabilitation interventions, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and prism adaptation training. Under pandemic conditions, there were several barriers to neurological rehabilitation. The most significant of these were individual's fear of infection, which caused them to postpone their rehabilitation applications and rehabilitation areas being converted into COVID-19 units. The primary emphasis had turned to COVID-19 treatment. Several valuable data and views were gained in reorganizing rehabilitation during the pandemic, contributing to establishing future views in this regard.

Influence of socio-economic status on functional recovery after ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2: the multicentre, observational RECOVIDS study

PURPOSE

Survivors after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at high risk of developing respiratory sequelae and functional impairment. The healthcare crisis caused by the pandemic hit socially disadvantaged populations. We aimed to evaluate the influence of socio-economic status on respiratory sequelae after COVID-19 ARDS.

METHODS

We carried out a prospective multicenter study in 30 French intensive care units (ICUs), where ARDS survivors were pre-enrolled if they fulfilled the Berlin ARDS criteria. For patients receiving high flow oxygen therapy, a flow ≥ 50 l/min and an FiO2 ≥ 50% were required for enrollment. Socio-economic deprivation was defined by an EPICES (Evaluation de la Précarité et des Inégalités de santé dans les Centres d'Examens de Santé - Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centres) score ≥ 30.17 and patients were included if they performed the 6-month evaluation. The primary outcome was respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge, defined by at least one of the following criteria: forced vital capacity < 80% of theoretical value, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide < 80% of theoretical value, oxygen desaturation during a 6-min walk test and fibrotic-like findings on chest computed tomography.

RESULTS

Among 401 analyzable patients, 160 (40%) were socio-economically deprived and 241 (60%) non-deprived; 319 (80%) patients had respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge (81% vs 78%, deprived vs non-deprived, respectively). No significant effect of socio-economic status was identified on lung sequelae (odds ratio (OR), 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-1.97]), even after adjustment for age, sex, most invasive respiratory support, obesity, most severe P/F ratio (adjusted OR, 1.02 [95% CI 0.57-1.83]).

CONCLUSIONS

In COVID-19 ARDS survivors, socio-economic status had no significant influence on respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge.

Multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation for older adults with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and process outcomes

BACKGROUND

Older adults are at increased risk for disease severity and poorer prognosis following COVID-19 infection. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the acute or post-acute hospital setting for older adults with COVID-19.

METHODS

The Cochrane library, EMBASE, Cinahl and Medline (via EBSCO), PubMed, and Web of Science were systematically searched in June 2022 and a repeat search was completed in March 2023. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted independently by two reviewers. Studies reporting outcomes for older adults following multidisciplinary rehabilitation (provided by two or more Health and Social Care Professionals) were included. Both observational and experimental study designs were included. The primary outcome was functional ability. Secondary outcomes included discharge disposition, acute hospital and rehabilitation unit length of stay, mortality, primary and secondary healthcare utilisation, and long-term effects of COVID-19.

RESULTS

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 570 older adults. Where reported, older adults stayed in the acute hospital for a mean of 18 days (95%CI, 13.35- 23.13 days) and in rehabilitation units for 19 days (95%CI, 15.88-21.79 days). There was a significant improvement in functional ability among older adults with COVID-19 who received multidisciplinary rehabilitation (REM, SMD = 1.46, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.98). The proportion of older adults who were discharged directly home following rehabilitation ranged from 62 to 97%. Two studies reported a 2% inpatient mortality rate of older persons during rehabilitative care. No study followed up patients after the point of discharge and no study reported on long term effects of COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation may result in improved functional outcomes on discharge from rehabilitation units/centres for older adults with COVID-19. Findings also highlight the need for further research into the long-term effect of rehabilitation for older adults following COVID-19. Future research should comprehensively describe multidisciplinary rehabilitation in terms of disciplines involved and the intervention provided.