What we do
About our project
Background
In the beginning of 2020 the world was overwhelmed by COVID-19, a new respiratory infectious disease that was first discovered in China at the end of 2019. Hospitalization, including Intensive Care Unit treatment, is frequently needed. Hospitalized patients have to deal with a broad range of mild to severe persisting symptoms.
The sudden pandemic forced a quick development of aftercare pathways for patients after hospitalization, which was mainly based on expert opinion. These aftercare pathways comprise community based rehabilitation, in- and outpatient medical rehabilitation, and rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities. Whether these newly developed care pathways provide patients with the right care in the right place is unknown yet.
Objective
The CO-FLOW project aims to further develop the aftercare pathways for patients with COVID-19 and other comparable (future) infectious diseases. The study systematically evaluates over a 3 year period:
trajectories of physical, cognitive, and psychological recovery;
patient flows, healthcare utilization, patient satisfaction with aftercare, and barriers/facilitators regarding aftercare as experienced by healthcare professionals;
effects of physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes on participation and health-related quality of life;
predictors for long-term recovery, health care utilization, and patient satisfaction with aftercare.
Our research focus
Design
CO-FLOW is a multicenter prospective cohort study in 650 patients after hospitalization for COVID-19 in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond and Delft region, with a 3-year follow-up period. Measurements comprise non-invasive clinical tests and patient reported outcome measures from a combined rehabilitation, pulmonary, and intensive care perspective. Measurements are performed at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after hospital discharge and, if applicable, at rehabilitation discharge. Measurements comprise, amongst others, self-reported symptoms, pulmonary function, (pre-morbid) physical activity level, physical fitness, cognition, fatigue, coping, mood, post-traumatic stress syndrome, sleep quality, participation, health-related quality of life, health care utilization, and patient satisfaction with aftercare.Collaborations
The project is part of the COVID-19 Program Care and Prevention of The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw).
Erasmus MC:
- department of Rehabilitation Medicine
- department of Respiratory Medicine
- department of Adult Intensive Care Medicine
Outside Erasmus MC:
- Rijndam Rehabilitation
- Laurens Intermezzo
- Aafje nursing home
- Albert Schweitzer Hospital
- Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland
- IJsselland Hospital
- Ikazia Hospital
- Maasstad Hospital
- Reinier de Graaf Hospital
Our team
PdDs Erasmus MC
Martine Bek
Julia Berentschot, MSc
Supervision Erasmus MC
Rita van den Berg-Emons, PhD
Majanka Heijenbrok-Kal, PhD
Prof. Dr. Gerard Ribbers, MD, PhD
Merel Hellemons, MD, PhD
Prof. Joachim Aerts, MD, PhD
Contact us
Rita van den Berg-Emons: h.j.g.vandenberg@erasmusmc.nl
