The Relationship Between Functional Status and Fatigue After COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Introduction: After COVID-19 infection, symptoms last for weeks or months. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between functional status and fatigue and the associated factors in patients with COVID-19. Method: Patients with COVID-19 infection who applied to 13 centers were included into the study according to the inclusion criteria. Age, gender, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), marital status, smoking status and amount, presence, duration of chronic disease, Charlson comorbidity index, regular exercise habit, time of diagnosis with COVID-19, presence of hospitalization,length of hospital stay, intubation status, home oxygen therapy need, participation in PR program, presence of dyspnea, cough, sputum, mMRC score, post-COVID functional status scale, fatigue severity scale, EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire scores were recorded. Results: Of the 1095 patients, 603 (55%) were male and 492 (45%) were female. Their mean age was 50±14 years. The most common chronic lung disease was COPD (11%), while 266 patients (29%) had non-pulmonary systemic disease. The median time of COVID-19 diagonosis was 5 months ago with 47% hospitalization rate. The median value of post-COVID functional status scale was 1 (0:4), and fatigue severity scale score was 4.4 (1:7). There was a significant correlation between post-COVID functional status and fatigue severity scale (r=0.43, p <0.01). Conclusion: Functional status and fatigue were found to be related primarily to quality of life and then patients' age, BMI, presence of chronic and systemic lung disease, regular exercise habits before COVID-19, hospitalization and its duration, home oxygen therapy and symptoms.