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: Sixty-four patients recovering from COVID-19 and 64 age and impairment group category controls were identified to answer survey questions following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. A total of 36 patients participated in the study (18 patients with COVID-19 and 18 controls). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s): Functional outcomes at discharge (GG Self-Care and Mobility Activities items of the IRF-PAI Version 3.0), 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 0-90 day readmissions than their matched controls (22.2% vs 61.1%, P < .05), but there were no differences in 0-90 day urgent care/emergency department visits, clinic visits and use of outpatient therapies. Conclusions: Patients with functional deficits as a result of COVID-19 who require multiple therapy disciplines should be considered for acute inpatient rehabilitation as this study demonstrates their ability to participate in and benefit from IRF level care.

ObjectiveMany survivors of severe or critical COVID-19 have required rehabilitation during the pandemic. The primary objective was to compare characteristics and outcomes of survivors of severe or critical COVID-19 admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation facility during the first two waves of the pandemic. Our secondary objective was to identify the factors contributing to functional dependence on admission, discharge, and length of stay.DesignThis is a retrospective cohort study of 138 patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility in two waves after hospitalization for severe or critical COVID-19 illness between April 1, 2020, and May 3, 2021.ResultsInpatient rehabilitation facility patients in wave 2 had significantly greater functional independence (GG scores) on admission (52; interquartile range, 44–58 vs 41; interquartile range, 28–52), lower incidence of dysphagia and anemia. The patients in both waves experienced similar functional improvement efficiencies with a median GG score change of 3.6 per day and similar discharge GG scores. Neurological sequela (odds ratio, 0.12; P < 0.001) and anemia (odds ratio, 1.35; P < 0.002) were identified as independent predictors of functional independence on admission.ConclusionsPatients with functional deficits after COVID-19 should be considered for acute inpatient rehabilitation as both patient cohorts benefited from their inpatient rehabilitation facility stays with similar length of stays (11–12 days) and discharge to home rates (88%–90%).

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