In a new study from Michigan Medicine, researchers found that almost 50% of COVID-19 patients left the hospital with a worse physical condition.
They found 45% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 experienced significant functional decline after being discharged.
COVID-19 can systematically damage various organ systems, causing neurological and musculoskeletal impairments.
Michigan Medicine recently opened two clinics to address the growing population of “long COVID” patients.
However, the virus’ effect on daily functioning is not frequently described, which, given the magnitude of the current public health crisis, can’t be ignored any longer
In the study, the team reviewed charts of nearly 300 adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Michigan Medicine during the pandemic’s first wave between March and April 2020.
Of survivors who experienced a functional decline, 80% were referred for additional therapy after being discharged.
Nearly 20% of all patients lost so much ability, they were not able to live independently after their release.
The study period occurred in the pandemic’s infancy, as health care providers sought best practices to minimize exposures and manage patient overflow.
As a result, 40% of patients never had a rehabilitation evaluation while hospitalized. That likely means, that the number of patients losing ability is underreported.
These results help to highlight the true impact of the COVID-19 disease on our patients. They fill in that gap in knowledge about how patients with COVID recover and what kind of rehabilitation needs they have.
The team hopes for additional research examining the long-term effects COVID has on functionality.
However, health systems can use the current data to optimize rehabilitation evaluations and prepare resources for this underserved population.
If you care about COVID-19, please read studies about two root causes of severe COVID-19 and findings of why some people with COVID-19 develop severe inflammation.
For more information about COVID-19 and your health, please see recent studies about this drug can boost survival in people with COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes and results showing that these 2 common health problems may increase risk of COVID-19 brain damage.
The study is published in PM&R. One author of the study is Alecia K. Daunter, M.D.
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