ost-COVID-19 syndrome and obesity: findings in a sample referred for pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome refers to persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective: To investigate the profile of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, classified according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) as obese and non-obese, and to verify whether obese individuals have worse clinical and functional condition. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study, with adults, both sexes, history of hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 and post-COVID-19 syndrome, referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, between August/2020 and October/2022. The data originated from a physiotherapeutic evaluation. The participants were classified as obese and non-obese, assessed regarding health history, length of hospitalization, dyspnea during activities of daily living, and respiratory muscle strength. Results: Fifty-four subjects participated, mostly women, with a mean age over 55 years, mostly obese (75.9%), sedentary, white, and professionals in the trade and construction industries. No significant association was identified between being obese and the variables hypertension (p = 0.057), diabetes (p = 0.113), dyspnea (p = 0.368), and fatigue (p = 0.750). The variables days of hospitalization (p = 0.592), days in Intensive care unit (p = 0.478), days on invasive mechanical ventilation (p = 0.075), modified Medical Research Council scale (p = 0.633), maximum inspiratory pressure (p = 0.625), and maximum expiratory pressure (p = 0.967) were not influenced by obesity. Conclusion: Obese participants were more likely to require pulmonary rehabilitation due to post-COVID-19 syndrome. However, they did not present worse clinical and functional conditions in the physiotherapeutic evaluation regarding health history, length of hospital stay, dyspnea during activities of daily living and respiratory muscle strength.