The incidence and characteristics of chronic pain and fatigue after 12 months later admitting with COVID-19; The Post- COVID 19 syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate chronic pain and fatigue in patients 12 months after hospitalization for Covid-19. METHODS: We studied the COVID-19 patients discharged from Hospital, March 10 and April 20, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were included in this study. Forty-three patients (27.4%) complained of chronic fatigue and muscle weakness in the last six months. The visual analog fatigue scale (VAFS) score of 3.84 ± 1.48 was obtained. Forty patients (25.5%) were suspected of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).Twenty-four patients (15.3%) had severe chronic pain or exacerbation of previous chronic pain, most of which were reported in the lower back (70.8%) and lower extremities (66.7%). Pain intensity had a mean score of 2.33 ± 0.87 and was mainly described as "muscle cramps," "persistent dull pain," and "boring and numbing." In women, chronic pain and fatigue, extended hospital stays, ICU admission, and depressed mood were common than in men.For these pain and fatigue, 37% used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 16.3% used antidepressants. Only one person had applied for physiotherapy, and none of the patients had received psychotherapy. CONCLUSION: Fatigue and chronic pain in patients recovering from COVID-19 are common complications, even after 12 months of illness.

Reports from spinal cord injury patients: eight months after the 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The World Health Organization defines disaster as a sudden ecologic phenomenon of sufficient magnitude to require external assistance. On December 26, 2003, the Bam earthquake left more than 200 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Our study of these SCI patients and the rehabilitation of disabled persons in Bam may assist in the organization of rehabilitation programs during future disasters. DESIGN: Eight months after the disaster, we planned to visit the SCI patients in Bam. We visited 61 patients in Bam, Baravat, and surrounding villages. We completed a questionnaire during our visit. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 31.9 +/- 9.6 yrs. Twenty-nine (53.7%) patients were female, and 25 (46.3%) were male. Fifty-two (96.3%) patients had pain syndromes, which had started from 3 days to 8 mos after injury. Thirty-three (61%) patients used clean intermittent catheterization, and 29 (53.7%) did not have bowel programs. Nineteen (35.2%) patients had pressure sores. CONCLUSIONS: All aspects of disasters should be considered seriously by all countries. The special needs of people with disabilities during and long after any disaster are important. The impact of disasters on disabled people is magnified because of their condition, so special attention must be paid to this group.

Integrating physical medicine and rehabilitation into the curriculum of Iranian medical students.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the attitude of interns toward Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and design a PM&R curriculum for medical students with continued medical education programmes and workshops based on the needs and interest of Iranian medical community. METHOD: Eighty questionnaires were distributed to the medical interns on the last day after attendance in the PM&R ward after participating in a one-month outpatient and inpatient course including 12 lectures. RESULTS: Out of 80 participants, 34 (42.5%) were female and 46 (57.5%) were male. All the participants believed participating in a rehabilitation course was necessary; 52 (65%) believed that participating in a separate course of PM&R was necessary, and 28 (35%) believed that rehabilitation of each field of medicine should be presented in its course. A significant percentage (31.4%) of the participants were interested in continuing their education in PM&R specialty. CONCLUSION: The enthusiasm of the medical students towards PM&R is a promising sign toward progress of PM&R in Iran which must be directed through a strong effort of physiatrists through setting up appropriate educational programmes for medical students and continued medical education programme s in the universities.