FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT IN COVID 19 SURVIVORS DURING THE PANDEMIC – A NEUROLOGIC PERSPECTIVE

S. Canavarro¹, C.M. Dias², C.S.S. Moreira³, N. Santos Silva³, A. Bergmann⁴

¹Ciência em Movimento, Fisioterapia Neurofuncional do Adulto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ²Unisuam, Fisioterapia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ³Hospital de Força Aérea do Galeão, Fisioterapia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ⁴Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Epidemiologia Clínica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Background: This is a retrospective cohort study held at Galeão Air Force Hospital during the COVID 19 pandemic, when most efforts were driven to respiratory care, given the life-threatening character of the infection; however, since the beginning, it was postulated that neurologic sequelae could be underdiagnosed. Our study points out some evidences of mild neurologic disfunctions post COVID.

Purpose: Neurologic impairments may be caused by several factors related to SARS-CoV 2 infection and may arise from direct and indirect viral nervous system invasion or even may be consequent to ICU environment. This study aims to investigate the frequency and magnitude of neurologic post COVID 19 infections, addressing mainly balance and lower limbs' strength.

Methods: The records of sixty-three patients who were seen at the physical therapy outpatient clinic of the Galeão Air Force Hospital with post COVID syndrome between June 2020 and 2021 were plotted and statistically analyzed. The tests included six-minute walk test, pulmonary measures, MiniBest Test and 30 seconds sit to stand test. The demographic data and the tests were plotted and statistically analyzed with SPSS version 23.0.

Results: From the 63 patients, 33 were women and 30 were men, mean age was 54,3y; 44,4% of the patients were assessed before 60 days of the first symptom and 55,6% were evaluated after this period. 76% of the patients were hospitalized and from these, 54% were in ICU. MiniBest Test results point out that about 46% of this population were in fall risk. Results of 30 seconds sit to stand test showed severe lower limbs’ weakness in the whole sample.

Conclusions: The data collection was held during the pandemic with a face-to-face evaluation, what made it possible a more detailed approach. Balance disfunction, fatigue and lower limb weakness were extremely prevalent in this population, even in mild cases and young patients. These symptoms may have multifatorial etiologies, and certainly neurologic disfunction may be one of them.

Implications: The results show that some balance disorders may not have been diagnosed and perhaps may still have impact in COVID-19 survivors’ life. Neurologic PTs need to take this in consideration when assessing patients who were infected with SARS CoV-2.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided

Keywords:
COVID -19
Balance
Neurology

Topics:
COVID-19
Disability & rehabilitation
Neurology

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Galeão Air Force Hospital

Committee: Comitê de ética em pesquisa

Ethics number: 48509221.8.0000.5250