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Virtual post-intensive-care rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19: A service evaluation
Howroyd, Fiona Earle, Natacha Weblin, Jonathan McWilliams, David Williams, Jennifer Storrie, Claire Brennan, Rose Gautam, Nandan Snelson, Catherine
Howroyd, Fiona
Earle, Natacha
Weblin, Jonathan
McWilliams, David
Williams, Jennifer
Storrie, Claire
Brennan, Rose
Gautam, Nandan
Snelson, Catherine
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Epub Date
Issue Date
2023-05-03
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Abstract
Aim: The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, utilisation, and effectiveness of a novel, virtual rehabilitation programme for survivors of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection (COVID-19) and intensive care admission.
Methods: A service evaluation was performed. Adults admitted to a United Kingdom intensive care unit with COVID-19-induced respiratory failure and surviving hospital discharge were invited to an eight-week rehabilitation programme. The programme consisted of virtually delivered exercise classes and support groups led by critical care physiotherapists and follow-up nurses.
Results: Thirty-eight of 76 eligible patients (50%) agreed to participate, of which 28 (74%) completed the rehabilitation programme. On completion of the rehabilitation programme, there were significant improvements in exercise capacity (one-minute sit-to-stand test; 20 stands vs. 25 stands, p < 0.001), perceived breathlessness (Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale; 3 vs. 2 p < 0.001), shoulder disability (Quick Dash; 43 vs. 19 p = 0.001), anxiety (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; 4 vs. 3 p = 0.021), depression (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; 4 vs. 2.5 p = 0.010), and psychological distress (Intensive Care Psychological Assessment Tool; 3 vs. 2 p = 0.002). No adverse events or injuries were recorded during the programme.
Conclusion: It is feasible to recruit and retain survivors of COVID-19-induced respiratory failure for virtual post-intensive-care rehabilitation. It appears that the virtual rehabilitation programme is safe and improves physical and psychological morbidity.
Citation
Howroyd F, Earle N, Weblin J, et al. (May 03, 2023) Virtual Post-Intensive-Care Rehabilitation for Survivors of COVID-19: A Service Evaluation. Cureus 15 (5): e38473. doi:10.7759/cureus.38473
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Research Unit
PubMed ID
37273405 (pubmed)
PubMed Central ID
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Journal article
Language
en
Description
© 2023 The Authors. Published by SpringerNature. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: doi.org/10.7759/cureus.38473
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ISSN
2168-8184
EISSN
2168-8184
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Licence for published version: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International