Hospital rehabilitation of post-COVID-19 patients and their quality of life

Background
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator that should be considered on par with medical indicators of health in order to better monitor a patient's overall condition. As a result of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, many people experienced invasive treatment. Deterioration of patients' quality of life (QoL) after COVID-19 under hospital rehabilitation can negatively affect physical, psychological, and social functioning.

Aims
This article aimed to analyze changes in the QoL of patients who underwent a rehabilitation program within six months after the onset of COVID-19.

Material and methods
The study was conducted at the Independent Public Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases [Pol. Samodzielny Publiczny Zespół Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc] in Olsztyn (Poland). The evaluation of the effects of rehabilitation among the 33 patients included the patients' QoL, which included physical, psychological, and social functioning. Thus, physical capacity, functional ability, risk of falls, mood, self-assessment in coping with activities of daily living, and risk of depression were examined. The study used the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale (RPE), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and a set of original self-reported survey questionnaires.

Results
The study showed a statistically significant improvement in patients' performance and reduced fatigue according to the Borg RPE scale. The quality of movement improved significantly, and the risk of falls decreased. After rehabilitation, patients rated their performance higher when performing activities of daily living that required moderate physical exertion. There was a statistically significant reduction in the risk of depression. Achieving these results after the improvement period represents a successful prognosis for the return to full functional capacity of the patients.

Conclusions
Hospital rehabilitation had a positive effect on improving comfort in performing activities of daily living. The inpatient rehabilitation program significantly changed the subjective assessment of psychological well-being, as revealed by lower tendencies to depression and greater readiness to participate in social life.