Post-COVID Rehabilitation Service: COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C-19 YRS) and Health-Related Quality of Life EuroQol Five-Dimensional Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) Outcomes.

Abstract

Background: In the United Kingdom (UK) long COVID symptoms are defined as symptoms that are unexplained by an alternative diagnosis and persist for more than 12 weeks after acute COVID-19. Long COVID services have been commissioned in the UK to respond to patient needs. Purpose/Aim: To investigate whether a post-COVID rehabilitation service and its interventions have a positive impact on patients’ outcomes as measured by the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C-19 YRS) and the EuroQol five-dimensional, five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) health-related quality of life scale. Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted using routinely collected data (baseline and a 12-week follow-up) from service users of a post-COVID rehabilitation service. Twenty-one EQ-5D-5L and thirty C-19 YRS datasets were collected. Results: There was a significant improvement in symptom severity on the C-19 YRS score from baseline (M = 19.57, SD = 6.41) to 12-week follow-up (M = 17.13, SD = 7.60), with a medium effect size. There was a significant improvement in functional disability on the C-19 YRS score from baseline (M = 8.14, SD = 4.20) to 12-week follow-up (M = 7.17, SD = 4.38), with a small-medium effect size. There was an improvement in C-19 YRS “overall health”, but this was not statistically significant. The EQ-5D-5L dimension of “usual activities” improved, with a significant decrease in issues reported from baseline (M = 3.19, SD = 1.03) to follow-up (M = 2.86, SD = 1.24), with a small-moderate effect size. The EQ-5D-5L dimension “mobility issues” improved; participants reported mild to moderate issues (level 2) at baseline and no issues (level 1) at follow-up. Conclusion: The results show that a post-COVID rehabilitation service can have a significant positive impact on symptoms of long COVID and real-world functioning. It is essential that treating long COVID symptoms remains a healthcare priority. As there is a move away from specific long COVID services there is a need for effective services for tackling long-term conditions and symptoms that have occurred due to COVID-19.