Predictors of Low Physical Function in Patients With COVID-19 With Acute Respiratory Failure Admitted to a Subacute Unit.
Mara Paneroni, Ioannis Vogiatzis, Laura Bertacchini and 2 others
PMID 33529611WHAT IT FOUND
Most adults recovering from COVID-19 respiratory failure in a subacute unit had severe physical function disability.
Older age, previous walking disability, and invasive or noninvasive ventilation were linked to worse scores.
Key findings
0164% of patients had severe physical function disability on the Short Physical Performance Battery.
02Age, previous disability, and invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation were associated with worse physical function.
03Patients with comorbidities had lower physical function scores than patients without comorbidities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was retrospective and came from a single subacute rehabilitation unit, so the patients may not represent all people recovering from COVID-19 respiratory failure. It included only patients who needed an intermediate care setting, so it does not describe people who remained in acute care or people with mild illness who went home. The analysis used only baseline variables available in the records, and it did not include drug therapy or social status. The emergency situation may have affected hospital capacity, resources, and patient autonomy. Because this was an observational study, it can show associations but cannot prove that age, ventilation, comorbidities, or previous disability caused the low physical function.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that ventilation, age, comorbidities, or previous disability caused the low physical function. This retrospective study measured associations at admission and did not test a rehabilitation intervention.