Objective: This study aims to 1) characterize cognitive functioning in patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation due to Covid-19 diagnosis and 2) examine how cognitive status at admission is associated with rehabilitation outcomes. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: An inpatient rehabilitation center located in Chicago, Illinois. Participants: 80 participants in acute rehabilitation due to Covid-19 disease/ Intervention: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Cognitive functioning as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and rehabilitation outcomes as measured by Functional Index Measure (FIM) and Section GG items for self-care and mobility (GG-SC and GG-M respectively). Results: On average, our sample presented with mild cognitive impairment as assessed by the (MoCA). The most significant deficits were demonstrated in executive function, attention, language, and delayed free recall measures. Higher levels of overall cognitive function were associated with higher cognitive measures of rehabilitation outcomes. Weaker associations were observed with outcome measures of self-care and motor functioning. Conclusion: Cognitive impairments are common in patients in acute rehabilitation due to Covid-19 and cognitive performance may help predict rehabilitation outcomes.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This research was supported by the Shirley Ryan Ability accelerator grant. The funders played no role in the design of this study or the interpretation of its results.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

Northwestern University's Institutional Review Board granted approval for our study.

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All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors