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.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.
Overview publication
| Title | Post-COVID-19 patients in geriatric rehabilitation substantially recover in daily functioning and quality of life. |
| Date | May 1st, 2024 |
| Issue name | Age and ageing |
| Issue number | v53.5 |
| DOI | 10.1093/ageing/afae084 |
| PubMed | 38725361 |
| Authors | |
| Info | EU-COGER consortium, Topinková E, Bautzká L, Michaálková H, Grund S, Mross T, Feesche L, Leonhardt R, Becker C, Gerhardus J, Metz BR, Franke-Chowdhury D, Galvin R, McCarthy A, Dockery F, McLoughlin K, Francis B, Cesari M, Valentini A, Vassallo M, Bonnici M, Tkacheva ON, Eruslanova K, Matchekhina L, Perez Bazan LM, Fanlo ER, Guiteras AR, Canchucaja LA, Pallardo B, Zujeros SM, Viñuela M, Miralles Resina O, Dominguez GI, Bragado SC, Stasi N, Cepeda JG, Arroyo-Huidobro M, Gonzalez A, Achterberg W, Caljouw M, Haaksma M, van Tol L, Drijver S, Vonk P, Sikken L, Baars I, Deden N, Nijgh G, van der Drift S, de Wever H, Calle E, Karramass K, Hendriks J, Ebbes L, Hartman A, Koc H, de Vries L, 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, de Vries J, van Weers S, Boogaard L, Been S, Termeer D, Te Pas P, Lodewijks E, van den Berg J, Prent S, Boontje M, Harms J, Bakker J, de Croon C, van Schieveen C, Smit E, van Berlo P, Ruchtie D, Manson J, Espasandin M, Abbott L, Chadwick S, Watts R, Dani M, McNicholas J, Gordon A, Chau V |
| Keywords | COVID-19, geriatric rehabilitation, older people, recovery |
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