Open AccessRecovering of oxygenation, physical function and disability in patients with COVID-19
Author(s) -
Laura Bertacchini,
Mara Paneroni,
Laura Comini,
Simonetta Scalvini,
Michele Vitacca
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
monaldi archives for chest disease. pulmonary series/monaldi archives for chest disease/monaldi archives for chest disease. cardiac series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.196
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2465-101X
pISSN - 1122-0643
DOI - 10.4081/monaldi.2021.1817
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , medicine , covid-19 , oxygenation , physical therapy , intensive care unit , physical medicine and rehabilitation , intensive care medicine , anesthesia , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The present cases report describes middle-time course of respiratory and physical variables in eight COVID-19 patients who were transferred from ICU of COVID Hub in our subacute COVID-19 unit. Secondly, they were admitted in a pulmonary rehabilitation unit and, at discharge, a tele-rehabilitation program was provided as a continuum of care at home. Time course of oxygenation, physical function and disability were recorded. As expected, the acute event produced in these patients a dramatic worsening in oxygenation and physical activities, with a substantial improvement in oxygenation and mild disability after the sub-acute stay. After rehabilitation program, the patients showed additional improvement in particular in physical function. Anyway, this recover was not complete for all patients. The majority of COVID-19 survivors experienced ARF recovered oxygenation, physical function and disability within a median time of 137 days. A minority needs further follow up and rehabilitation maintenance due to incomplete recovery.