Functionality loss due to COVID-19 hospitalisation in older adults recovers with inpatient rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Older adults are more likely to acquire the severe manifestation of COVID-19 and the hospitalised survivors experience significant functionality loss. Thus, we aimed to identify the level of functionality in older adults hospitalised due to COVID-19, and the effect of inpatient rehabilitation upon functional recovery. METHODS: A search was performed on July 2024, across five databases to retrieve studies assessing functionality in patients during COVID-19 hospitalisation, with or without rehabilitation. RESULTS: At admission, higher functionality was significantly higher for survivors than non survivors (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.83 [0.56; 1.09]). The effect of inpatient rehabilitation on functionality was tested among 38 arms across studies. Inpatient rehabilitation improved functionality SMD across all indexes (1.47 [1.18; 1.77], P ≤ 0.001), with greatest effect in the patients >70 years (2.84 [1.74, 3.93], P = 0.006), compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Hospitalisation due to COVID-19 reduced functionality to a higher extent in older adults above 70 years. Inpatient rehabilitation was effective to improve functionality in both age groups. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021278619.