ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 presents with acute symptoms of cough, phlegm and pyrexia and can cause severe acute respiratory distress. Little is known about the symptoms patients face following an acute admission for COVID-19 and there is no validated questionnaire to assess patients. This cross sectional study aims to explore the symptoms patients display following an admission with COVID-19 using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Methods: This was an observational cohort study following patients who recovered from COVID-19. Participants were called after discharge to assess their ongoing symptoms including the CAT and their rehabilitation needs. Correlations between characteristics and CAT scores were performed using Spearman's rank test. Results: 131 patients were assessed following their admission (77 (59%) male, mean [SD] age 60[14]). 31% had a pre-existing (Table presented) respiratory condition. Their mean [SD] hospital stay was 10[12] days and 21 (16%) participants required mechanical ventilation. The mean[SD] time to follow up call was 32 [18] days post-discharge. Total CAT scores ranged from 0 to 34 with mean of 11.4[7.8]. 52% of patients had a CAT score ≥10 with scores highest for the breathlessness, activities, sleep, confidence and energy items. Of the patients without a preexisting respiratory condition 42% had a score of ≥10 and in patients with a pre-existing respiratory condition this proportion was 75%. Breathlessness, activity limitations and energy and were the highest reported symptoms for both groups. There were no statistically significant correlations for the CAT with length of stay, number of days ventilated, self-reported physical activity or time from discharge. Conclusion: The CAT total and item scores can provide insight into the severity of symptom burden for patients following a hospitalisation from COVID-19. This may be a useful tool to identify rehabilitation needs.