Consequences of COVID-19 in the Status of Physical Fitness in Post COVID Patients: A Cross Sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction- The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 has affected over 15.9 million people across 200 countries and caused more than 643,000 deaths. The coronavirus is a highly infectious virus and spreads through droplets generated during coughing, sneezing, talking, and even breathing. .[1] As the main symptoms reported after COVID-19 are fatigue and dyspnoea, the need of the study is to find out consequences of COVID 19 in status of Physical Fitness with respect to Functional status, endurance and Lung capacity in Post COVID- 19 subjects   Aim – To analyse the consequences of covid-19 in the status on physical fitness in post COVID patients.   Objectives- 1. To find out effect of COVID on lung function capacity assessing PEFR in post COVID patients. To find out effect of COVID on functional status in post COVID patients.  3.To know the effect of COVID on endurance using Figure of 8 walk test in post COVID patients.   Methods- The research was carried out in the Physiotherapy OPD at Vikhe Patil Memorial Hospital. A cross-sectional study was designed. Purposive sampling was used in the sampling process. The sample size for this study was 50. Consent form for a six-month study was made. Peak flow metre, Sterilium, Cotton wool, Weighing machine and Measuring tape, Post COVID-19 Functional status scale, 2 cones, stop watch, Pedometer, tape measure were among the materials utilised. Patients with COVID 19 infection who were recovered and willing to participate, both genders, ages 20 to 55, and able to walk without assistance met the inclusion criteria. Patients who were not cooperative or who had additional systemic illnesses, such as diabetes, were excluded.   Result- A total of 50 patients entered the study who were in the age group of 20-55 yrs. We compare PEFR values among symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The study shows that comparison of PEFR values between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was not significant (p value 0.2265) and PEFR values of symptomatic patients were less than that of asymptomatic patients. The patients who were symptomatically ill were affected more and show symptom of pain, anxiety, depression rather than asymptomatic patients and there was no sign of functional limitation. There is no effect on endurance of the patients as such after recovery from COVID-19 infection. Conclusion- This study shows that there is effect of COVID on physical fitness of post COVID patients after recovery with respect to lung function capacity. Symptomatic patients were more affected than asymptomatic patients. The functional status of the post COVID patients is not affected, few of them suffered from pain, depression and anxiety after recovery. There is no effect on endurance in post COVID patients after recovery.