Muscle strength in patients hospitalized for COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Complications arising from hospitalization due to COVID-19 have great impact on the physical health of individuals. One of the consequences that deserves attention is muscle weakness, which can be influenced by several factors, generating consequences that may need rehabilitation. Objective: To relate the degree of peripheral and respiratory muscle strength to sociodemographic, clinical, and hospitalization variables close to discharge after hospitalization due to COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data for 52 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who were interviewed close to discharge to determine sociodemographic and clinical profiles and underwent muscle strength testing. Peripheral muscle strength was evaluated using the Medical Research Council scale, and respiratory strength was determined according to maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure measured with a vacuometer. Hospitalization data were collected from patient medical records. Results: Peripheral strength was reduced in 53.9% of the sample, and the related variables (p < 0.05) were age, weight, cancer, high blood pressure, physical therapy, and number of physiotherapy sessions. Inspiratory force was reduced by 50% of individuals and expiratory force in 60% individuals, and these reductions were related (p < 0.05) to sex, high blood pressure, age, and weight. Conclusion: Close to COVID-19 hospital discharge, over 50% of patients exhibited peripheral and respiratory muscle weakness, associated with advanced age, hypertension, and low weight. Those with peripheral weakness received more physiotherapy and had more oncological diseases, while respiratory weakness was more common in men. This underscores the importance of preventive measures and post-hospitalization rehabilitation programs, including physiotherapy, for muscle strength recovery.