Impacto del COVID-19 en la capacidad funcional respiratoria y calidad de vida de los pacientes post alta hospitalaria.

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 can cause respiratory and physical dysfunctions in the short and long term. Fatigue and dyspnea, as an effect of the development of pulmonary fibrosis, are the most common symptoms that remain after hospital discharge. Objective: To determine the impact of COVID-19 on the functional respiratory capacity and quality of life of patients after hospital discharge. Materials and methods: It is a retrospective, quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental cross-sectional study, with a sample of 82 COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge from Hospital General Monte Sinaí, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Results: Prevalence of the male sex with 61%, the most frequent previous comorbidity was hypertension. Persistent symptoms after hospital stay were: 100% fatigue, 84% dyspnea, 43% anosmia and / or ageusia, 63% erratic pain, 51% MMII muscle weakness, 33% paresthesia. The Sit To Stand Test presented a predominance of low performance, the modified Borg scale reflected 33% moderate effort, the modified Medical Research Council scale registered 30% grade II dyspnea, the Brief Inventory on Fatigue reflected 56% moderate fatigue, the COPD Assessment Test showed 67% high - medium impact of HRQL, it demonstrated a positive linear correlation between functional respiratory capacity and impact of HRQL. Conclusion: COVID-19 has a medium-high impact on the respiratory functional capacity and HRQoL of post-hospital discharge patients, which is reflected in the levels of dyspnea and moderate fatigue; symptoms that, together with pre-existing pathologies, affect well-being and quality of life.