On 6 October 2021, WHO held its third webinar on post COVID-19 condition focused on rehabilitation. According to current data, approximately 10–20% of people experience persistent or new onset symptoms after 3 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection,
which occurs irrespective of initial disease severity. In people with persistent symptoms limitations in functioning are common and rehabilitation needs are high; people experience limitations in self-care, mobility, and return to work, among other.
People recovering from COVID-19 may require close monitoring of rehabilitation needs and adequate referral. Rehabilitation services should be developed as an integral part of the model of care for people with post COVID-19 condition, and aim at reducing
the physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of COVID-19.
This webinar presented the WHO clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition and the development of a core outcome set for clinical trials. This was followed by patient testimonials about rehabilitation needs, presentations on the disease burden
of COVID-19, and the best available indirect evidence for rehabilitation. The webinar closed by exploring interventions for rehabilitation and models of rehabilitation care.
Ten presenters from across the world shared interventions and experiences of rehabilitation care, bringing their expertise in identifying rehabilitation needs, referral pathways, and providing rehabilitation services for people experiencing fatigue, breathlessness, problems with memory and attention, and other needs.
Presentations:
Wouter De Groote
Dr Akmal Hafizah Zamli
Dr Janet V Diaz
Rehabilitation Program Development for Post COVID-19 Condition in Brazil and the Americas
Marta Imamura MD PhD
Rehabilitation management of autonomic dysregulation in Post COVID-19 Condition
Laura Tabacof, MD
Lessons Learnt from Rehabilitation Care Pathway Implementation: The Leeds Long COVID Community Rehabilitation
Rachel Tarrant & Jenny Davison