Introduction

Current studies confirmed positive effects of rehabilitation on physical and neuropsychological symptoms in patients with post-COVID after rehabilitation. But less is known about the midterm-impact of rehabilitation in post-COVID patients.

Aims and objectives

The current study investigates the midterm-impact of rehabilitation on physical capacity and fatigue in post-COVID patients. We assumed that changes in physical capacity and fatigue after inpatient rehabilitation will be maintained 6 months later.

Methods

127 patients (male n=30, age: M=50.6 years), who acquired COVID-19 in the workplace, were recruited within a longitudinal study. At the beginning of (T1), the end of (T2) and 6 months after (T3) an inpatient rehabilitation (duration: 3-5 weeks) in the German BG Hospital Bad Reichenhall, the following measurements were conducted: 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD), One-Minute-Sit-to-Stand-Test (1MSTST), Quadriceps-strength and the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). Wilcoxon tests were used for analysis.

Results

At T2 all parameters improved significantly. Between T1 and T3 patients showed significant improvements in 6MWD (? Mdn=76, IQR: 22?118, p<0.001), 1MSTST (? Mdn=1, IQR: -1-4, p<0.01), and quadriceps strength (? Mdn= 11.41 kg, IQR: 0.60?30.54, p<0.001). The BFI-Score did not change significantly at T3 compared to T1 (p>0.05).

Conclusions

The results indicated that improvements in physical capacity in post COVID patients at T2 maintained 6 months after rehabilitation. Changes in fatigue were not confirmed at T3. For long-term results, measurements will be repeated 12 months after T1.

Funding: German Social Accident Insurance (No.: FF-FB0326).