Authors (including presenting author) :
Fan FSY(1), Ng CU(2), Siu EHK(2), Choi GWK (3), Siu DCH (3), Poon DWF(3), Lui GCY(1), Chow KM(1), Leung TWH(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital (2) Physiotherapy Department, Prince of Wales Hospital (3) Occupational Therapy Department, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
Long COVID Syndrome affects 20-30% of COVID survivors, causing significant physical and mental disabilities in patients. Tailor-made multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme can help to hasten and optimize recovery among patients suffering from Long COVID Syndrome.
Objectives :
To assess the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with Long COVID syndrome
Methodology :
Symptomatic patients were referred to a Long COVID Rehabilitation Clinic for baseline assessment and workup of alternative diagnosis. Patients were offered a 2-month rehabilitation programme based on symptoms profile and needs. Pre and post training assessments of symptoms using COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS) and functional outcomes by various measures were performed and compared. Specifically, based on the result of the normality test, Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted to compare the continuous assessment variables at baseline and follow-up. For dichotomous variables, McNemar's test was used. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.5 and SPSS version 27.
Result & Outcome :
During the period of 13th April 2022 – 31th December 2023, 134 patients were referred. 92 of them agreed to join the rehabilitation programme. 71 patients completed the training and assessments. The mean age of this group of patients was 64.46±13.49. 49 were females (69%). The C19-YRS symptoms severity score (pre mean 40.76±17.21, post mean 31.00+/-19.19; p<0.001), functional disability score (pre mean 14.07±10.90, post mean 9.00±10.12; p<0.001) and the change in global perceived health score (pre mean 3.20±2.09, post mean 1.61+/-1.46; p<0.001) showed significant improvements. Functional Reach Test (pre mean 26.85±9.00cm, post mean 31.37±7.23cm; p<0.001), Timed up-and-go Test (pre mean 12.43±5.96s, post mean 10.42±3.90s; p<0.001), 30-second Chair Stand Test (pre mean 11.31±4.20, post mean 12.90±3.82; p<0.001) and 6-minute Walk Test (pre mean 341.07±107.2m, post mean 364.54±123.22m; p<0.001) improved significantly. Lawton IADL Scale (pre mean 24.70±3.74, post mean 25.46±2.83; p=0.005), WHO-5 Wellbeing Index (pre mean 14.09±5.01, post mean 16.41±4.76; p<0.001) and cognition as reflected by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (pre mean 24.09±4.45, post mean 24.84±4.53; p=0.045) significantly improved. Subjective dyspnoea, as reflected by COPD Assessment Test score (pre mean 10.07±6.46, post mean 7.96±5.70; p=0.005), showed remarkable reduction. Fatigue and mood disturbances, as assessed by FACIT-fatigue Scale (pre mean 33.01±10.27, post mean 38.12±9.54; p<0.001) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (pre mean 17.51±13.73, post mean 14.43±12.77; p=0.025) respectively, showed improvements. Reduced fall risk, as indicated by a decrease in the Fall Efficacy Scale (pre mean 17.2±12.85, post mean 13.26±7.37; p=0.001) and an increase in the Short Physical Performance Battery (pre mean 9.69±2.45, post mean 10.85±1.85; p<0.001), was observed.
