Multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation of physical and neurological sequelae and persistent symptoms of covid-19: a prospective, observational cohort study

Abstract

Purpose

This prospective, observational cohort study investigated the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation of post Covid-19 sequelae and persistent symptoms and their impact on patients’ functioning and quality of life.

Methods

From 58 patients referred for neurorehabilitation, 43 were eligible for and participated in the present study. Before and after 8 weeks of rehabilitation, patients underwent physical, neuropsychological and respiratory evaluations and assessment of functional independence, impact of fatigue and quality of life.

Results

Forty of 43 individuals (52 ± 11.4 years, 24 male) completed the rehabilitation program. Fatigue (87.5%), dyspnea and/or shortness of breath (62.5%), and cognitive impairment (37.5%) were reported by both previously hospitalized and home-confined patients. Neurological sequelae (35.5%) were present only in hospitalized patients. After 8 weeks of rehabilitation, patients reported significant improvements in motor functional independence, upper and lower limb functionality, impact of fatigue on daily activities, respiratory muscle strength, cognitive performance, and quality of life.

Conclusions

Post Covid-19 patients present with heterogeneous neurological, physical, and respiratory impairments requiring a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach to reduce disability and improve functionality and quality of life. A comprehensive assessment of clinical profiles and responses to rehabilitation may facilitate the identification of rehabilitation candidates and help to design effective rehabilitation interventions.

Implication for rehabilitation

• Post Covid-19 patients present multiple, heterogeneous neurological, physical and respiratory impairments that are observed in both previously hospitalized and home-confined patients.

• Eight weeks of multidisciplinary rehabilitation may significantly reduce disability and improve functionality and quality of life.

• A comprehensive assessment of their clinical profile and response to rehabilitation may facilitate the identification of rehabilitation candidates and help to design more effective rehabilitation interventions.

Keywords:

• Covid-19
• sequelae and persistent symptoms
• neurological impairment
• cognitive impairment
• rehabilitation
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

The authors thank our colleagues from Institute Guttmann-Covid-19 group: María Sainz Pelayo, Cristina Silvestre, María Mateo, Ivan Castro, Elisabeth Blanco, Mónica Salvador, Rocío Sánchez Carrión-Abascal, Antonia Enseñat Cantallops, Pablo Rodrígue-Rajo, and Miguel Espiña-Bou for their collaboration in the project.

Author contributions

SA, HK, CAFC, and NM conceived and designed the project. SA, HK, NRZ, NM, and AGM participated in data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. SA and HK drafter the manuscript. All authors revised the article critically for important intellectual content and approved the final version.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related with this publication.