Long COVID-19 Syndrome: Effect on Functional Capacity, Balance and Cognitive Functions

Year 2023, , 522 - 535, 09.09.2023

Meltem Kaya , Esra Nur Arslan

https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1268039

Abstract

Aim: Although COVID-19 infection predominantly affects the respiratory system, it is a disease which is a high mortality rate that causes multisystem sequelae in the long term. The aim of this study is to compare the long-term functional capacity, fatigue severity, balance, and cognitive functions of individuals with Long COVID-19 Syndrome with healthy individuals.
Method: Thirty patients aged 50 years and over who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had at least 6 months after the negative test result, had one or more of the persistent or progressive common Long COVID-19 symptoms, and 30 healthy individuals with a similar mean age were included in the study. The functional capacities of the participants were evaluated with 30-second Sit-to-Stand Test (30STS), perception of fatigue with Fatigue Severity Scale, balance with the Single Leg Stance Test, and cognitive functions with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). For non-normally distributed data with Mann Whitney U test and for normal distribution data with Independent Samples T-test were performed to analyze between-group differences.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups’ 30STS, Fatigue Severity Scale score, and Single Leg Stance Test. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of MoCA score.
Conclusion: Our study has found that individuals with Long COVID-19 Syndrome had lower functional capacities and balance parameters and higher fatigue severity compared to healthy controls. As a result, it is recommended that patients be evaluated comprehensively and directed to rehabilitation programs to be planned individually in Long COVID-19 Syndrome.

Keywords

Long COVID-19 Syndrome, functional capacity, balance, fatigue

Uzamış COVID-19 Sendromu: Fonksiyonel Kapasite, Denge ve Kognitif Fonksiyonlar Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 enfeksiyonu ağırlıklı olarak solunum sistemini etkilemesine rağmen uzun vadede multisistemik sekellere neden olan mortalite oranı yüksek bir hastalıktır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; Uzamış COVID-19 Sendromu olan bireylerde uzun dönemde fonksiyonel kapasite, yorgunluk şiddeti, denge ve kognitif fonksiyonları sağlıklı bireyler ile karşılaştırmaktır.
Yöntem: COVID-19 tanısı almış ve negatif test sonucu üzerinden en az 6 ay geçmiş, kalıcı veya ilerleyici yaygın görülen uzamış COVID-19 semptomlarından bir veya birkaçına sahip 50 yaş ve üzerindeki 30 hasta ile, benzer yaş ortalaması olan 30 sağlıklı birey çalışmaya dahil edildi. Katılımcıların fonksiyonel kapasiteleri 30-saniye Otur-Kalk Testi (30-sn OKT), yorgunluk algıları Yorgunluk Şiddet Ölçeği, dengeleri Tek Ayak Üzerinde Durma Testi (TAÜDT), kognitif fonksiyonları Montreal Bilişsel Değerlendirme Ölçeği (MoCA) ile değerlendirildi. Normal dağılım göstermeyen gruplar arası veriler Mann Whitney U testi, normal dağılım gösteren veriler Independent Samples T-test ile karşılaştırıldı.
Bulgular: İki grup arasında 30-sn OKT tekrar sayısı, Yorgunluk Şiddet Ölçeği skoru ve TAÜDT süreleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu. Gruplar arasında MoCA puan ortalamaları açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark saptanmadı.
Sonuç: Çalışmamızda Uzamış COVID-19 Sendromu olan bireylerin sağlıklı kontrollere kıyasla fonksiyonel kapasitelerinin ve denge parametrelerinin daha düşük, yorgunluk şiddetlerinin ise daha yüksek olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak; Uzamış COVID-19 Sendromu’nda hastaların kapsamlı olarak değerlendirilmesi ve kişiye özel planlanacak rehabilitasyon programlarına yönlendirilmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Uzamış COVID-19 Sendromu, fonksiyonel kapasite, denge, yorgunluk

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