Characteristics of patients with COVID-19 at the start and during outpatient rehab programme
| A. Demographics and history | |||
| Number of patients | 22 | ||
| Age, years | 54.5 (47–61) | ||
| Male, n (%) | 15 (68) | ||
| BMI at start rehab, kg/m2 | 28 (25–31) | ||
| History of pulmonary disease, n (%) | 5 (23) | ||
| B. Characteristics of hospitalisation | |||
| ICU stay, n (%) | 15 (68) | ||
| Length of hospital stay, days | 29 (12–39) | ||
| Mechanical ventilation*, days | 14 (11–24) | ||
| MRC sum at ICU discharge*, /60 | 45.5 (41–52) | ||
| Days after hospital discharge, days† | 47 (15–69) | ||
| Prior inpatient rehab, n (%)† | 5 (23) | ||
| C. Physical assessment | |||
| Baseline | 6 weeks | 3 months | |
| Number of patients | 22 | 21 | 16 |
| Oxygen need, n (%) | 2 (9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| FVC, % pred | 85 (70–97) | 90 (79–105)‡ | |
| FEV1, % pred | 89 (77–98) | 91 (82–103)‡ | |
| TLC, % pred | 86 (74–91) | 95 (76–101)‡ | |
| DLCO, % pred | 56 (50–66) | 75 (60–84)‡ | |
| 6MWD, m | 453 (342–529) | 549 (478–620)§ | 605 (497–655)‡ |
| 6MWD, % pred | 63 (53–73) | 77 (73–85)§ | 88 (76–91)‡ |
| 6MWD, ∆m | NA | 86 (53–175) | 149 (90–221) |
| HGF, % pred | 69 (61–81) | 90 (78–103)§ | 104 (96–112)‡ |
| QF, % pred | 61 (50–70) | 74 (71–87)‡ | |
| MIP, % pred | 89 (74–101) | 107 (83–123)‡ | |
| MEP, % pred | 80 (67–94) | 108 (86–126)‡ | |
| CPET, work load, % pred W | 65 (50–78) | 96 (83–114)‡ | |
| CPET, peak VO2, mL/min/kg | 16 (13–20) | 20 (16–30)‡ | |
| CPET, peak VO2, % pred | 66 (56–73) | 91 (82–108)‡ | |
| D. Mental and cognitive burden | |||
| Baseline | 3 months | ||
| HADS, anxiety score¶ | 5 (0–14) | 6 (0–11) | |
| HADS, anxiety score ≥8¶, n (%) | 5 (26) | 6 (35) | |
| HADS, depression score¶ | 3 (0–11) | 3 (0–13) | |
| HADS, depression score ≥8¶, n (%) | 4 (21) | 2 (12) | |
| Cognitive deficit reported by patient, n (%) | 15 (68) | 6 (27)‡‡ | |
| MoCA** | 25 (20.5–29) | 28 (25–29) | |
| MoCA <26 at discharge**, n (%) | 5 (50) | 2 (20) | |
| Resumed work††, n (%) | 2 (13) | 9 (60)‡‡ | |
Results are presented as number (%) or median (Q1–Q3).
*In ICU patients only.
†Five patients were discharged from the hospital to an inpatient rehabilitation facility where they stayed between 5 and 80 days before they started this outpatient programme.
‡Difference between baseline and 3 months significant with p<0.01 using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test.
§Difference between baseline and 6 weeks significant with p<0.001.
¶n=19.
**n=10 (all ICU).
††Fifteen patients were working before illness, some resumed work part-time.
‡‡Difference between baseline and 3 months significant with p<0.05 using Fisher’s exact test.
BMI, body mass index; CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise test; DLCO, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HGF, hand grip force; ICU, intensive care unit; MEP, maximal expiratory pressure; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MRC, Medical Research Council; 6MWD, 6-minute walking distance; NA, not available; QF, quadriceps force; TLC, total lung capacity; VO2, oxygen consumption.