COVID-19: patient characteristics in the first phase of post-intensive care rehabilitation

Wiertz, Carolina M.H.; Vints, Wouter A.J.; Maas, Geert. J.C.M.; Rasquin, Sascha M.C.; van Horn, Yvette Y.; Dremmen, Martijn P.M.; Hemmen, Bena; Verbunt, Jeanine A.

Objective To describe clinical characteristics of post-ICU COVID-19 patients, admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. Design A cross-sectional design Setting Inpatient rehabilitation care in the Netherlands Participants All post-ICU COVID-19 patients admitted to the rehabilitation centre between April 2 and May 13, 2020 were invited to participate in the study. Included were patients above 18 years old, needing inpatient rehabilitation after ICU treatment for COVID-19. Intervention Not applicable Main outcomes measures The following information was collected in the first week of inpatient rehabilitation care: 1. Demographics, 2. ICU-stay parameters, 3. Medical, physical and functional characteristics, 4. Self-reported symptoms. Results Sixty patients participated with the mean age of 59.9 and the majority being men(75%). Most important findings for rehabilitation: in the first week after discharge to the rehabilitation centre 38.3% of all patients experienced exercise-induced oxygen desaturation, in 72.7% muscle weakness was present in all major muscle groups and 21.7% had a reduced mobility in one or both shoulders. Furthermore 40% suffered from dysphagia and 39.2% reported symptoms of anxiety. Conclusion Post-ICU COVID-19 patients, display physical and anxiety symptoms as reported in other post-ICU patient groups. However this study showed some remarkable clinical characteristics of post-ICU COVID-19 patients. Rehabilitation programs need to anticipate on this. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary.