POST-COVID SYNDROME: FUNCTIONAL STATUS AND MEDICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE COVID-19 SURVIVORS

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced massive and drastic changes into healthcare. A significant part of the population has suffered a new coronavirus infection of varying severity and they need attention and follow-up at the outpatient level. Assessment and monitoring over functional status of the COVID-19 survivors is one of the important objectives of organizing medical rehabilitation in primary health and developing preventive measures. The purpose of the study is to analyze changes in functional status and assess rehabilitation potential of the COVID-19 survivors. Material and methods used include questionnaire survey, analytical and statistical analysis. Results. Based on the questionnaire, assessment of functional status of the COVID-19 survivors was carried out using a special scale, presence and degree of functional limitations were determined. According to the survey, 65.5% of the COVID-19 survivors did not feel any limitations in everyday life. Minor functional limitations were reported by 26.5% of the respondents, while an equal number of the respondents, 4% each, noted mild and moderate limitations of body functions. The COVID-19 survivors indicated the following symptoms: easy fatiguability - 33.3%, fatigue - 26%, shortness of breath on exertion (unusual) - 15%, “smell disorder” - 13%, and headache and joint pain - 12.4%; however, 36.7% of the respondents did not report any symptoms. After the disease, 50.8% of the respondents returned to their usual state, while 35% of the respondents chose the answer “rather yes than no”. 14.2% did not return to their usual state, choosing the answer “rather not” (8.5%) and “no” (5.7%). Rehabilitation measures in the first three months after the disease were carried out by 49.2% of the respondents (327 patients). Conclusion. Functional status of the COVID-19 survivors is largely determined by the initial state of somatic health, peculiar features of the biological and psychophysiological characteristics of a person, and a complex of external factors that allow the person to realize potential abilities to compensate for the existing functional limitations. Compliance with rehabilitation measures requires active participation of medical specialists in terms of quality control and correctness of their implementation. The data obtained can be used to organize primary care delivery both at the stage of rehabilitation and development of rehabilitation programs, as well as for the purpose of timely prevention of post-COVID conditions.