After a year and a half, Theo still needs day and night care: the impact of an IC admission with corona is great, research shows

Three quarters of the corona patients who have been in IC still have complaints a year after admission. This is apparent from research by Radboudumc. Theo van der Hulst is such a person. Almost 2 years later, he still experiences the consequences of corona every day.

Unsuspectingly, the then 69-year-old Theo and his wife Rina went on holiday, a bus trip through Switzerland. Unfortunately, the smiley truck driver got home once so sick because of the coronavirus that he had to spend almost 7 months in intensive care. Theo has been back home for a year and a half, but there is hardly any progress.

Nursing home or home

“We had a very nice life, were sporty, traveled a lot. Unfortunately, all that is no longer possible. I have thrown out the tennis and ski equipment,” says Rina van der Hulst. Her husband is sleeping upstairs. When asked if he’s doing better since he’s home, she answers no.

“After the hospital stay, the choice was: either to go home or to a nursing home, Theo still needs day and night care.” But a nursing home that can provide this care is far away from Hilversum, where the couple lives. So they decided that Rina would take care of Theo at home.

‘Doctors have no idea’

At night, Theo is on a ventilator and when he wakes up, electrodes have to be attached to his body to activate his muscles. In addition, they visit a rehabilitation doctor every day who supports them in breathing techniques, among other things.

“I honestly don’t think it gets any better,” Rina says. “We’ve given up that hope a bit. The only thing that could help is a lung transplant. But they don’t do that anymore when you’re over 70 and Theo is now.” Rina feels that she and Theo are left to their own devices. “Doctors also seem to have no idea what to do with him.”

Theo got corona, was on IC for 7 months and has not yet recovered – video

Half have long-term complaints

The Radboudumc study shows that 75 percent of the 246 ex-covid patients surveyed still have complaints a year after their IC admission. These are mainly physical complaints, such as fatigue. But also a reduced condition, pain, muscle weakness and shortness of breath.

In addition to physical complaints, mental complaints are also common. One in five COVID-19 patients experiences feelings of anxiety or post-traumatic stress. In addition, one in six people suffer from cognitive complaints, such as memory or concentration problems.

‘No excess’

The severity of the complaints within the Radboud study differs per person, says lead researcher Marieke Zegers. But Theo is certainly not the only one who still experiences major consequences every day from his corona infection at the start of the pandemic.

“The complaints vary from permanent loss of smell and taste to severe fatigue and barely being able to walk and breathe. Unfortunately, the latter is not an excess,” says Zegers. “This study shows what an incredible impact an IC recording has on the lives of former Covid patients.”

Good aftercare

Zegers understands all too well that Theo and Rina have the feeling that they are falling between two stools. “They are certainly not the only ones, the mailbox of our secretariat is currently full of reactions from patients who do not know how to proceed, who do not feel heard.”

So little is known about the long-term consequences of an IC admission due to corona, she continues. “With this study, we hope to provide healthcare providers, such as general practitioners, with further information so that they can provide good aftercare to people like Theo, and refer them to the right portal. But that takes time.”

Don’t look ahead anymore

Partly with the help of the so-called MONITOR-IC study led by Radboudumc, there should ultimately be a clear picture of how former Covid patients who have been in IC can receive the right help and what that help looks like.

How the Hilversum couple continues? “We no longer look ahead, we see what the day brings us. We have no choice in that,” says Rina. In her voice there is despair, but also determination. They hold their own, just the two of them.

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