Impact of Covid-19 on the Functional Capacity of Hospitalized Adults

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infection of high transmissibility and global distribution, where the most known damages are pulmonary infections, although physical, psychological and cognitive impairment can be reported, with the most common complaints being fatigue, muscle weakness, anxiety and depression. Questionnaires are highly reliable instruments such as the Barthel Index (BI) that assess the performance of patients' functional capacity. In order to assist in physical therapy treatment, the objective of this study was to evaluate the functional capacity of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study with patients who were hospitalized in the infirmary of the Hospital de Caridade São Vicente de Paulo for seven days or more. The BI and 10-CS cognitive screening were applied. RESULTS: 21 participants were included. From the results of the IB questionnaire, 6 patients were independent, 11 slightly dependent, 1 moderately dependent and 3 severely dependent. Of those classified as severely dependent, 66% of them did not perform physical activity and 33% did, while those classified as independent 50% performed physical activity and another 50% did not. No patient who had severely dependent BI had severe cognitive impairment on 10-CS showing that there was no correlation between the two findings. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we can conclude that postcovid patients who remained hospitalized for more than seven days will be able to return to society with deficits, even if mild, in their activities of daily living, especially in mobility and cognitive skills such as time, space orientation. and memory.