Postdischarge symptoms and rehabilitation needs in survivors of COVID-19 infection: A cross-sectional evaluation

Background There is currently very limited information on the nature and prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms after hospital discharge. Methods A purposive sample of 100 survivors discharged from a large University hospital were assessed 4 to 8 weeks after discharge by a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals using a specialist telephone screening tool designed to capture symptoms and impact on daily life. EQ-5D-5L telephone version was also completed. Results Participants were between 29 and 71 days (mean 48 days) postdischarge from hospital. Thirty-two participants required treatment in intensive care unit (ICU group) and 68 were managed in hospital wards without needing ICU care (ward group). New illness-related fatigue was the most common reported symptom by 72% participants in ICU group and 60.3% in ward group. The next most common symptoms were breathlessness (65.6% in ICU group and 42.6% in ward group) and psychological distress (46.9% in ICU group and 23.5% in ward group). There was a clinically significant drop in EQ5D in 68.8% in ICU group and in 45.6% in ward group. Conclusions This is the first study from the United Kingdom reporting on postdischarge symptoms. We recommend planning rehabilitation services to manage these symptoms appropriately and maximize the functional return of COVID-19 survivors.

Automated summary

This study is the first report from the United Kingdom on post-discharge symptoms in COVID-19 survivors, identifying fatigue, breathlessness, and psychological distress as common symptoms that require planning of rehabilitation services for appropriate management.