Association of hematological indices with neurological symptoms in COVID 19 patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the neurological involvement in Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) patients with laboratory findings with these cost-free, practical tests. Materials and Methods: Of the 170 patients diagnosed COVID-19, 103 patients could be reached by phone, and neurological symptoms were recorded as three categories. Laboratory tests of the patients and 103 controls whose real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test negative without any chronic disease history and drug use were obtained from the hospital software. Results: White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil, platelet were lower, monocyte to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio higher in patients than controls. In the group with central nervous system findings, red blood cell and hematocrit counts, in the group with peripheral nervous system findings, lymphocyte and platelet counts and with sleep disturbances and muscle pain group eosinophil counts were lower in patients than those without. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms have some hematological abnormalities. The presence of certain hematological findings may be a clue to the emergence of neurological symptoms, and early detection and correction of these hematological abnormalities may be the solution to prevent the development of neurological symptoms in COVID-19.

Exercise Program for Covid-19 Survivors: A Telerehabilitation Framework

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious acute respiratory syndrome that has been recognized as a pandemic disease caused by Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The complications related to coronavirus itself, physically inactive period due to symptoms of disease and lockdown may also influence the functional capacities of COVID-19 survivors negatively. It may lead to obstructions in engaging with previous activities of daily living. As a physiotherapy intervention, exercise treatment is one of the novel approaches to support these individuals after the COVID-19 treatment. However, there is limited access to physiotherapy and rehabilitation services during pandemic conditions because of lockdown, especially for infected patients. For increasing accessibility to physiotherapy and rehabilitation care, the World Confederation of Physical Therapy has published a report advising the home-based exercise interventions via Telerehabilitation. Up to date, there is no published framework for structured exercise programs for this population, yet. Since the individual differences in functional levels and possible differences in the severity of coronavirus infection, the physiotherapy, and rehabilitation exercise program should be structured individually for COVID-19 survivors. This document suggests a framework for physical therapists to put into practice an exercise training via telerehabilitation in COVID-19 survivors. The proposed framework has consisted of determination of eligible and risky COVID-19 patients for intervention, physiotherapy assessment tools, 6-week exercise prescription based on FIIT-VP principle (frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and progression) and criteria for ending exercise.