Post-discharge symptoms and rehabilitation needs in survivors of COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional evaluation.

Halpin, Stephen J; McIvor, Claire; Whyatt, Gemma; Adams, Anastasia; Harvey, Olivia; McLean, Lyndsay; Walshaw, Christopher; Kemp, Steven; Corrado, Joanna; Singh, Rajinder; Collins, Tamsin; O'Connor, Rory J; Sivan, Manoj

BACKGROUND There is currently very limited information on the nature and prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms after hospital discharge. METHODS A purposive sample of 100 survivors discharged from a large University hospital were assessed 4- 8 weeks after discharge by a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals using a specialist telephone screening tool designed to capture symptoms and impact on daily life. EQ-5D-5L telephone version was also completed. RESULTS Participants were between 29 and 71 days (mean 48 days) post-discharge from hospital. Thirty-two participants required treatment in intensive care (ICU group) and 68 were managed in hospital wards without needing ICU care (ward group). New illness-related fatigue was the most common reported symptom by 72% participants in ICU group and 60.3% in ward group. The next most common symptoms were breathlessness (65.6% in ICU group; 42.6% in ward group) and psychological distress (46.9% in ICU group; 23.5% in ward group). There was a clinically significant drop in EQ5D in 68.8% in ICU group and in 45.6% in ward group. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study from the United Kingdom (UK) reporting on post-discharge symptoms. We recommend planning rehabilitation services to manage these symptoms appropriately and maximise the functional return of COVID-19 survivors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.