Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-Positive Individuals Admitted for Inpatient Rehabilitation in Toronto, Canada

W Shane Journeay; Lawrence R Robinson; Rebecca Titman; Shannon L Macdonald

doi:10.2340/20030711-1000053

Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-Positive Individuals Admitted for Inpatient Rehabilitation in Toronto, Canada

J Rehabil Med Clin Commun. 2021 Mar 29:4:1000053. doi: 10.2340/20030711-1000053. eCollection 2021.

Authors

W Shane Journeay^{1

2}, Lawrence R Robinson^{3

2}, Rebecca Titman², Shannon L Macdonald^{4

2}

Affiliations

¹ Providence Healthcare, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
² Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
³ St John's Rehabilitation, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.
⁴ Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Sinai Health, Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic features, impairments, and functional changes of COVID-19-positive individuals who underwent inpatient rehabilitation at three rehabilitation hospitals in Toronto, Canada.

Design: Retrospective chart review of patients admitted to three COVID-19 rehabilitation units between 20 April 2020 and 3 June 2020. Sociodemographic factors, impairments, length of stay, and Functional Independence Measure data were reported.

Results: A total of 41 patients were included in this study, including 22 males and 19 females. The median age was 75 years. Thirty-six percent of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit during their acute stay. The most commonly affected body functions were: neuromusculoskeletal (73.2%); combined cardiovascular, haematological, immunological, and respiratory (65.9%); and mental functions (29.3%). Median total Functional Independence Measure score was 85 at admission and 108.5 at discharge.

Conclusion: This study represents some of the first data on the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-positive individuals admitted to inpatient rehabilitation in Toronto, Canada early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; impairment; inpatient rehabilitation; pandemic; physiatry.