ASSESSMENT OF PERSISTENT AFFECTIONS OBSERVED IN INDIVIDUALS SURVIVING COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the recent pandemic caused by Covid-19, in mild and severe cases, clinical and functional complications were noted due to several factors, the most common being long periods of hospitalization. Evidence points out that these physical and/or psychological complications can lead patients to have difficulties performing daily tasks even in a post-illness state. Therefore, with a specific look at patients in the city of Assis, the Faculdade Educacional do Município de Assis (FEMA), together with the physiotherapy course, developed an outpatient clinic in which post-Covid patients undergo treatment in order to rehabilitate the individual so that the same goes back to carrying out its daily practices. However, it is not known whether clinical and functional complications persist after a period, including after treatment. Objective: To evaluate the functionality of patients after one year of being affected by Covid-19. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study that will assess clinical (vital signs and general symptoms) and functional (balance, functional capacity and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength) characteristics. The sample will be composed of patients over 18 years old, attended at the post Covid outpatient clinic of FEMA. All clinical and functional evaluations have already been carried out at an initial moment, at FEMA's post Covid outpatient clinic. For this study, all the assessments mentioned will be reapplied after one year. A questionnaire designed by the study researchers will also be applied to investigate impairments one year after the initial assessment. All data collected in evaluations and tests will be distributed in an Excel spreadsheet to later be analyzed in the SPSS 22.0 statistical program, interpreted and discussed.Keywords: covid-19, coronavirus, pandemic, rehabilitation.