Geriatric rehabilitation during COVID-19: a lesson learned

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and is responsible for a deadly pandemic. The elderly population have a high risk to be infected by COVID-19 and tend to have worse outcomes compared to adult population. Elderly patients also have higher comorbidity than the whole population. Therefore, management of COVID-19 in the elderly needs special at-tention in terms of regarding drug doses, drug interactions, and side effects of the drugs given. Approach from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in elderly population known as Geriatric Rehabilitation is required for COVID-19 because PM&R will go through all phases of treatment during the acute, sub-acute, and long-term care phases. The targets are relieving symptoms, assisting in the mechanical ventilation weaning process, preventing decondition of the airway and other or-gan systems, and managing psychosocial aspects, especially in the vulnerable and high-risk elderly population. The geriatric rehabilitation approach to COVID-19 patients resulted in improved functional prog-nosis, optimized role of function, and improved Quality of Life.