INTRODUCTION: A subset of patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) can develop severe illness, resulting in significant functional and cognitive deficits that require acute inpatient rehabilitation. Guidelines following discharge from acute inpatient rehabilitation have not yet been established. This study seeks to establish outcomes of rehabilitation patients with COVID-19 and characterize their need for long-term care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the functional outcomes and utilization of follow-up medical care for patients with COVID-19 90 days following discharge from acute inpatient rehabilitation, as compared to rehabilitation impairment and age-matched controls. DESIGN: Prospective, single-center cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients were identified to answer survey questions following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The cohort consisted of 64 patients recovering from COVID-19 and 64 age and impairment group category controls. A total of 36 patients participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Functional outcomes at discharge, hospital readmissions, and follow-up care sought by patients. RESULTS: The COVID-19 patient group had similar improvements in functional outcomes as compared to controls. Patients with COVID-19 required fewer readmissions than their matched controls in the 30-to 90-day periods and required fewer follow-up visits with specialists after discharge from the IRF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 had similar improvements in functional outcomes as compared to controls. Patients with COVID-19 reported fewer readmissions than their matched controls in the 30- to 90-day periods and required fewer follow-up visits with specialists after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
Functional outcomes and post-discharge care sought by patients with COVID-19 compared to matched controls after completing inpatient acute rehabilitation