Patient physical condition and functional sequelae following hospitalization with COVID-19: A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

After hospitalization caused by COVID-19, a high prevalence of physical deterioration has been observed, hence the importance of having tests to evaluate the functional status of patients and to be able to perform a partition and subsequent referral to the physiotherapy service. This cross-sectional observational study describes the physical status according to the short physical performance battery (SPPB) of patients admitted to the hospital setting for COVID-19 and to identify variables potentially related to this outcome. Thirty-six patients admitted to the hospital setting for COVID-19 in the first wave living in the community. Patients were evaluated with the SPPB, strength test, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the 1-minute sit-to stand, spirometry, the Barthel index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and other patient-related data were collected. We performed bivariate and regression analyses. A linear regression was fitted, having SPPB as a dependent variable to ascertain the impact of intensive care unit (ICU) admission on physical performance. Five variables were related to SPPB. There was a significant relationship between admission to the ICU and having a heart disease (P = .015), the level of physical activity (P = .049), number of years smoking (P = .029) and days of hospitalization (P = .005). A total of 22.22% of analyzed patients suffered frailty. SPPB is related to altered respiratory pattern, quadriceps strength, 1-minute sit-to-stand and FEV1, Barthel score, days of hospitalization and FEV/FVC ratio. Lack of association between ICU stay, age or sex with SPPB results differs from the results of other studies.