Post-COVID-19 patients in geriatric rehabilitation substantially recover in daily functioning and quality of life

Tol, L.S. van; Haaksma, M.L.; Cesari, M.; Dockery, F.; Everink, I.H.J.; Francis, B.N.; ... ; Chau, V. (2024)

Article / Letter to editor

Background

After an acute infection, older persons may benefit from geriatric rehabilitation (GR).

Objectives

This study describes the recovery trajectories of post-COVID-19 patients undergoing GR and explores whether frailty is associated with recovery.

Design

Multicentre prospective cohort study.

Setting

59 GR facilities in 10 European countries.

Participants

Post-COVID-19 patients admitted to GR between October 2020 and October 2021.

Methods

Patients’ characteristics, daily functioning (Barthel index; BI), quality of life (QoL; EQ-5D-5L) and frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale; CFS) were collected at admission, discharge, 6 weeks and 6 months after discharge. We used linear mixed models to examine the trajectories of daily functioning and QoL.

Results

723 participants were included with a mean age of 75 (SD: 9.91) years. Most participants were pre-frail to frail (median [interquartile range] CFS 6.0 [5.0–7.0]) at admission. After admission, the BI first steeply increased from 11.31 with 2.51 (SE 0.15, P < 0.001) points per month and stabilised around 17.0 (quadratic slope: −0.26, SE 0.02, P < 0.001). Similarly, EQ-5D-5L first steeply increased from 0.569 with 0.126 points per month (SE 0.008, P < 0.001) and stabilised around 0.8 (quadratic slope: −0.014, SE 0.001, P < 0.001). Functional recovery rates were independent of frailty level at admission. QoL was lower at admission for frailer participants, but increased faster, stabilising at almost equal QoL values for frail, pre-frail and fit patients.

Conclusions

Post-COVID-19 patients admitted to GR showed substantial recovery in daily functioning and QoL. Frailty at GR admission was not associated with recovery and should not be a reason to exclude patients from GR.

• geriatric rehabilitation
• COVID-19
• recovery
• older people

• All authors: Tol, L.S. van; Haaksma, M.L.; Cesari, M.; Dockery, F.; Everink, I.H.J.; Francis, B.N.; Gordon, A.L.; Grund, S.; Matchekhina, L.; Bazan, L.M.P.; Schols, J.M.G.A.; Topinkova, E.; Vassallo, M.A.; Caljouw, M.A.A.; Achterberg, W.P.; Bautzka, L.; Michaalkova, H.; Mross, T.; Feesche, L.; Leonhardt, R.; Becker, C.; Gerhardus, J.; Metz, B.R.; Franke-Chowdhury, D.; Galvin, R.; Mccarthy, A.; Mcloughlin, K.; Francis, B.; Valentini, A.; Vassallo, M.; Bonnici, M.; Tkacheva, O.N.; Eruslanova, K.; Fanlo, E.R.; Guiteras, A.R.; Canchucaja, L.A.; Pallardo, B.; Zujeros, S.M.; Vinuela, M.; Resina, O.M.; Dominguez, G.I.; Bragado, S.C.; Stasi, N.; Cepeda, J.G.; Arroyo-Huidobro, M.; Gonzalez, A.; Achterberg, W.; Caljouw, M.; Haaksma, M.; Tol, L. van; Drijver, S.; Vonk, P.; Sikken, L.; Baars, I.; Deden, N.; Nijgh, G.; Drift, S. van der; Wever, H. de; Calle, E.; Karramass, K.; Hendriks, J.; Ebbes, L.; Hartman, A.; Koc, H.; Vries, L. de; Bouwstra, H.; Langendoen-Wigman, L.; Oldenbeuving, B.; Noordam-Hemeltjen, S.; Lanting, L.; Andela, L.; Meerkerk, M.; Willemstein, L.; Krasznai, K.; Wolting, J.; Tazmi, J.; Keustermans, E.; Vries, J. de; Weers, S. van; Boogaard, L.; Been, S.; Termeer, D.; Pas, P. te; Lodewijks, E.; Berg, J. van den; Prent, S.; Boontje, M.; Harms, J.; Bakker, J.; Croon, C. de; Schieveen, C. van; Smit, E.; Berlo, P. van; Ruchtie, D.; Manson, J.; Espasandin, M.; Abbott, L.; Chadwick, S.; Watts, R.; Dani, M.; Mcnicholas, J.; Gordon, A.; Chau, V.
• Date: 2024-05-01
• Journal: Age and Ageing
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 5
• DOI: doi:10.1093/ageing/afae084
• Link: https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/53/5/afae084/7667811