Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes Following Severe COVID-19 Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abramoff, B. A.; Dillingham, T.; Caldera, F.; Ritchie, M. D.; Pezzin, L. E.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and functional outcomes of patients undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation following hospitalization for COVID-19. DESIGN: Using a retrospective chart review, patients were identified who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation following COVID-19. Patient information collected included socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, length of stay, discharge disposition, and self-care, mobility, and cognitive functioning. These patients were compared to patients (controls) without COVID-19 with similar impairment codes treated at the same facility before the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: There were 43 patients who were admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation hospital following COVID-19 infection and 247 controls. Patients who had COVID-19 were significantly more likely to be African American and to have been admitted to a long-term acute care hospital. They also had a longer length of rehabilitation stay. The groups did not differ by age, gender, or insurance. Functionally, although presenting with significantly worse mobility, self-care, and motor scores, the patients previously infected with COVID-19 had similar functional outcomes at time of discharge to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: While patients with a history of COVID-19 had worse function at time of admission to acute rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation significantly improved their function to comparable levels as patients who did not have COVID-19.