Covid-19 and Rehabilitation Outcomes: A Case-Control Study

Objective Does the rehab process of acutely ill Covid-19 patients differ from recovered Covid-19 patients and other rehab patients? Comparison of the reha-course between acutely ill Covid-19 patients, recovered patients and rehab patients without Covid-19. Design: case-control study. Material and Methods Patients assigned to rehab in the period from 01.04 to 30.06.2020 with active Covid-19 disease (IG), recovered Covid-19 patients (PCG) and simultaneously rehabilitated persons matched by age, gender and comorbidity (Ko) were included. The primary endpoint was ADL- independence (FIM), secondary endpoints were quality of life (EQ5D-VAS), physical and mental health (PROMIS10) and mobility (TUG and 6MWT). Results 101 patients were included: IG=15; PCG=22; Ko=64. At entry, ADL-independence and quality of life were significantly highest in the IG (FIM IG 95.3 vs. PCG 78.3, vs. Ko 79.6; ANOVA p=0.029; EQ5D-VAS IG 56.1 vs. PCG 36.6 vs. Ko 51.0; ANOVA p=0.010). There were no differences in PROMIS10 and mobility. All three groups improved significantly from entry to discharge. The IG performed best in the FIM (IG 109.7 vs. PCG 97.2 vs. Ko 93.6; ANOVA p=0.039). The control group achieved the worst results with regard to mobility at discharge (TUG Ko 19.3 sec vs. 9.6 sec IG and 8.3 sec PCG). In the 6MWT, the PCG showed the best result (471 m vs. IG 416 m and Ko 389 m; difference n.s.). Conclusion All three patient groups benefited well from the rehab program. In addition, rehab measures bring a benefit also for isolated Covid-19 patients. In particular, recovered Covid-19 patients benefit greatly from the rehab program.