This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 can cause respiratory and multisystemic impairments, which lead to impaired activities of daily living (ADL). Telemonitoring after discharge from the hospital may help identify the persistence of such limitations during ADLs simulations. The aim of this study was to compare SpO2, fatigue, and dyspnea through telemonitoring during a battery of 4 ADLs in patients following hospital discharge for COVID-19.
METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted by using teleconferencing for patients 30 d after hospital discharge for COVID-19. The subjects were assessed and performed a simulated ADL battery (ie, walking, bathing and dressing, floor sweeping, and folding towels). SpO2, fatigue, and dyspnea were monitored immediately after the end of each ADL; also, the subjects were asked to show the pulse oximeter on camera and grade their symptoms by using the Borg scale score (0–10).
RESULTS: Sixty-six subjects were evaluated, all of whom were normoxic at rest. No significant difference in SpO2 was found among the ADLs. A portion of the subjects experienced desaturation on at least 1 ADL, which allowed subject grouping into the desaturated group, with highest portion of subjects who desaturated found during the walking task (18%), and the non-desaturated group. The subjects who desaturated were found to have more cardiovascular diseases (P = .031) and diabetes mellitus (P = .005) compared with those who did not desaturate. Both groups experienced mild symptoms; however, a percentage of the subjects with desaturation presented moderate-to-intense symptoms, with higher fatigue scores during walking, bathing and dressing, and floor sweeping. Increased dyspnea was also found during walking and during bathing and dressing in the subjects with desaturation.
CONCLUSIONS: SpO2 was similar among the ADLs but walking triggered desaturation in a larger number of subjects. The subjects presented with mild-to-intense fatigue and dyspnea during ADLs 30 d after discharge after hospitalization for COVID-19 regardless of desaturation status, which demonstrated that the persistence of symptoms is independent of hypoxemia during exercise.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Valéria A Pires Di Lorenzo PhD, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil 13565–905. E-mail: vallorenzo{at}ufscar.br
The study was conducted via telemonitoring by the team of the Laboratory of Spirometry and Respiratory Physiotherapy at the Federal University of São Carlos - São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo Resources and Scholarships (process 2020/16301–3 and process 2020/09064–5) for the development of this project.
The authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
- Copyright © 2023 by Daedalus Enterprises
Pay Per Article - You may access this article (from the computer you are currently using) for 1 day for US$30.00
Regain Access - You can regain access to a recent Pay per Article purchase if your access period has not yet expired.
