MedPath

Minimizing the Effects of COVID-19 Hospitalization With the COVID Rehabilitation Program for the Elderly

Completed
Conditions
Covid19
Interventions
Other: COVID Rehabilitation Program for the Elderly (CORE)
Registration Number
NCT04771052
Lead Sponsor
Université de Sherbrooke
Brief Summary

Although evidence from the management of other viral respiratory infections suggest that early multidisciplinary rehabilitation could mitigate the adverse effects of the severe form of the illness, and reduce the length of hospital stays (LOS), specific data for COVID-19 are lacking. Hence, in response to the current pandemic, we propose to implement and assess the impact of an early standardized multidisciplinary rehabilitation program tailored to frail older adults on 1) LOS, 2) post-discharge destination, 3) prognostic index and 4) functional capacity.

With a pragmatic multicenter controlled study, the COvid Rehabilitation Program for the Elderly (CORE) trial will allow to measure the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary program to minimize the effects of hospitalization and provide the required tools to rapidly implement an innovative strategy of care for older adults. Indeed, based on the results of this study, and with the support of scientific and professional organizations, a standardized program tailored to older adults with COVID-19 will be disseminated in Canada for all medical units dedicated to the management of the disease. Because of its pragmatic approach, this study will provide a sustainable multidisciplinary intervention that can be quickly implemented in any Canadian (or abroad) COVID-19 medical unit. Finally, given that COVID-19 is the third coronavirus infection in the last 20 years, the expected results will provide guidelines, with decision tree algorithms, for implementation should another coronavirus or for that matter, any other such type of infection that surface in the future.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
124
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with medical clearance (physical deconditioning; hemodynamically stable; oxygen therapy by nasal cannula < 4 L/min for saturation > 92%; resting respiratory rate < 24; and heart rate between 50 and 120 beats per minute). Controls were paired with those of the CORE program according to age, sex and pre-admission origin
Exclusion Criteria
  • None

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CORE programCOVID Rehabilitation Program for the Elderly (CORE)Patients admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 units (CHUS Hôtel-Dieu de Sherbrooke - CIUSSS de L'Estrie - CHUS) with medical clearance (physical deconditioning; hemodynamically stable; oxygen therapy by nasal cannula \< 4 L/min for saturation \> 92%; resting respiratory rate \< 24; and heart rate between 50 and 120 beats per minute).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Length of stay1 day after discharge

Length of stay in COVID and subacute unit (days)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Post-discharge destination1 day after discharge

(home; long-term care facilities; death) or transfer to a specialized subacute unit (e.g., rehabilitation geriatric unit)

Readmission rate 30 days after discharge30 days after discharge
Change in patient prognosisAt baseline (± 2 days after admission in the COVID-19 unit) and before discharge (± 3 days)

Evaluated using the COVID-19 vulnerability index (symptoms, medical history, and sociodemographic data)

Change in functional capacity (lower limb function)At baseline (± 2 days after admission in the COVID-19 unit) and before discharge (± 3 days)

Lower limb function is assessed using the 5-repetition sit-to-stand test (reported in seconds)

Change in functional capacity (handgrip strength)At baseline (± 2 days after admission in the COVID-19 unit) and before discharge (± 3 days)

Handgrip strength is measured using a handgrip dynamometer (reported in kg)

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional (CHAUR)

🇨🇦

Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada

CIUSSS de l'Estrie-Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS)

🇨🇦

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath