Improving Quality of Life for Long COVID Patients: The Benefits of Rehabilitation

Introduction. The aim of this study was to determine the benefits of a brief inpatient rehabilitation program for patients with long COVID-19. Methods. A Pilot study Intervention study was conducted; chart review of patients admitted to a newly created specialized rehabilitation unit. Participants (N=22) were patients with long COVID-19. The primary outcome measure was the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), measured at admission, discharge, and prior to COVID-19 infection. Comorbidities, clinical signs, and cardiorespiratory parameters were also explored. Results. At admission, 54.54% of patients were male, with a mean age of 60.54 years. The mean time from symptom onset was 20.4 ± 10 days. The Barthel Index significantly improved from admission to discharge (60.7 ± 23.7 to 92.5 ± 20.5, P<0.001), although it did not return to baseline values (95.4 ± 16.2, P<0.001). Respiratory rate decreased by 13% post-intervention (30.7 ± 12.6 to 26.6 ± 6.1). The Barthel Index correlated with the 6- minute walk test at both admission and discharge. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that the addition of inpatient rehabilitation for patients with long COVID19 was associated with substantial improvements in motor, respiratory, and functional capacity, particularly in severe cases. However, a slight persistent loss of autonomy was observed at discharge. Future research should focus on the long-term impact of rehabilitation, particularly in reducing adverse cardiovascular events and enhancing patient self-management.