Post-COVID-19 functional capacity assessed with ring and walk tests: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 can cause persistent symptoms even in mild cases, such as fatigue and dyspnea, which can reduce functional capacity and make it difficult to perform activities of daily living. Objective: To compare functional capacity using the pegboard and ring test and the six-minute walk test responses in post-COVID-19 patients according to the ventilatory support used. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 40 adults of both sexes after SARS-CoV2 infection between June 2020 and June 2021, with assessment of functional capacity using the pegboard and ring test (upper limbs) and the six-minute walk (lower limbs). Those who reported comprehension deficit or neuromuscular disease were excluded. All participants were evaluated between 15 and 90 days after the onset of symptoms, diagnosed by nasal swab and classified according to the ventilatory support used during the infection. Results: The mean age of the participants (n = 40) was 54.30 (±12.76) years, with BMI 28.39 (±4.70) kg/m2 and pulmonary involvement in 51.49 (±17.47)%. A total of 37 participants were hospitalized with a stay of 14.33 (±15.44) days, and 30% were previously immunized, while 7.5% reached the predicted distance covered. The average achieved was 46.44% (398.63 ± 130.58 m) in the distance covered and 39.31% (237.58 ± 85.51) in the movement of rings. Participants who had invasive mechanical ventilation (n = 10) had the worst functional capacity in both tests 265.85 ± 125.11 m and 181.00 ± 90.03 rings, compared to 472.94 ± 88.02 m and 273.25 ± 66.09 rings in non-invasive ventilation (n = 8), 410.32 ± 90.39 m and 257.68 ± 62.84 rings in oxygen therapy (n = 19), 569.00 ± 79.50 m and 203.00 ± 169.00 rings when there was no hospitalization (n = 3). Conclusion: Participants who required invasive mechanical ventilation had worse functional capacity, 46% of what was expected in the walk test and 39% of what was expected in the pegboard and ring test.