Assessment of the Need for Early Initiation of Rehabilitation Treatments in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

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Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, including risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to evaluate the need for rehabilitation to prevent pulmonary embolism.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review was conducted of patients admitted to the study hospital with COVID-19 between April 2 and April 23, 2020. The clinical characteristics and blood test results of patients with no history on admission of oral anticoagulant use were evaluated to assess the importance of inflammation and clotting function as risk factors for pulmonary embolism.

Results: A total of 51 patients with COVID-19 were admitted during the study period. Their median age was 54.0 years (range: 41–63 years) and 38 of 51 (74.5%) were men. The most common comorbidities in men were diabetes (9/38, 23.7%) and hypertension (13/38, 34.2%). On admission, white blood cell counts were normal in both sexes, whereas C-reactive protein and hemostatic marker levels, except for the activated partial thromboplastin time, were significantly higher in men. Moreover, C-reactive protein and hemostatic marker levels were significantly higher in patients that required invasive ventilation. Two patients were diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism, neither of whom required invasive ventilation.

Conclusions: Hypercoagulability and hyperinflammation were observed in COVID-19 patients, especially in men with high oxygen demand. We recommend anticoagulant therapy and early rehabilitation intervention to prevent pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients.