Aspectos psicoemocionais e funcionais de indivíduos com síndrome pós-Covid-19

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the etiological agent of COVID-19, was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. It is highly transmissible and in March 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared a new pandemic. Although the disease affects young, healthy adults mildly, there are several risk factors that are associated with its worsening. This study aims to verify the psycho-emotional and functional aspects of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. This is a cross- sectional study, carried out at the post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation outpatient clinic at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM), from June 2020 to December 2021. Clinical data, hospitalization, symptoms and comorbidities were collected from the electronic medical records. All were assessed using the instruments: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Handgrip Strength (HGS), Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT). The study included 68 individuals, mean age 52.6 (±13.6) years, of both sexes, referred to the clinic and stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal (n=4); overweight (n=20) and obese (n=44). Among the patients, 42.6% were classified as probable for anxiety and depression, among the 32 women evaluated 12.5% and among the 36 men 19.4% were diagnosed with muscle weakness. Among the patients, 57.4% were considered to have mild to moderately reduced functional capacity. Among the obese 47.7% and among the eutrophic 75.0% were classified as probable and unlikely for anxiety and depression respectively. The PMF was prevalent among obese women (100.0%) and men (71.4%). The HADS scale was associated with gender (p < 0.001), the presence of headache (p = 0.023), previous smoking (p = 0.023) and changes in sleep pattern (p < 0.001). Performance on the 6MWT was associated with the patient having dyspnea (p=0.024). We therefore conclude that it is important to monitor patients who are trying to regain their independence and mental health, who are weakened by the process of becoming ill and have significant sequelae, especially those who have required hospitalization.