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 severity. Pre and post training assessments of symptoms using COVID-19 Yorshire 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.
Result & Outcome :
During the period of 13th April 2022 – 29th December 2022, 88 patients were referred. 65 of them agreed to join the rehabilitation programme. 23 patients completed the training and assessments. The mean age of this group of patients was 65.89+/-13.99. 13 were females (56.5%). The C19-YRS symptoms severity score (pre mean 44.87+/-17.32, post mean 34.87+/-20.78; p=0.00), functional disability score (pre mean 18.74+/-11.10, post mean 12.78+/-11.87; p=0.00) and the change in global perceived health score (pre mean 3.09+/-1.93, post mean 1.91+/-1.35; p=0.02) showed significant improvements. Functional reach test (pre mean 25.76+/-8.47cm, post mean 31.82+/-6.78cm; p=0.00), 30-second chair stand test (pre mean 10.22+/-2.56, post mean 12.65+/-2.77; p=0.00) and 6-minute walk test (pre mean 310.39+/-124m, post mean 320.57+/-125.61m; p=0.00) improved significantly. Lawton IADL scale (pre mean 23.65+/-4.58, post mean 25.3+/-2.42; p=0.01), Self-perceived Health score (pre mean 2.41+/-0.91, post mean 3.27+/-0.98; p=0.00) and WHO 5 wellbeing index (pre mean 14.7+/- 4.69, post mean 17.43+/-4.45; p=0.00) significantly improved. Subjective dyspnoea, as reflected by COPD Assessment Test score, showed remarkable reduction (pre mean 12.48+/-7.17, post mean 8.74+/-5.86; p=0.03). Fatigue, as assessed by FACIT-fatigue score showed improvement (pre mean 28.26+/-9.33, post mean 37.83+/-7.69; p=0.00). Reduced fall risk, as indicated by a decrease in the Fall Efficacy Scale (pre mean 18.22+/-15.59, post mean 13.26+/-6.15; p=0.03), was observed.
