Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Status of Post-COVID-19 Patients

Miriã C. Oliveira, Larissa R. Alves, Juliana M. P. Soares, Shayra K. A. Souza, Bruna M. R. Silva, Adriano L. Fonseca, Carlos H. M. Silva, Claudia S. Oliveira, Rodolfo P. Vieira, Deise A. A. P. Oliveira, Iransé Oliveira-Silva, Rodrigo F. Oliveira, Luciana M. M. Sampaio, Vinicius Maldaner, Dante B. Santos, Renata K. Palma, Sergio R. Nacif, Giuseppe Insalaco and Luís V. F. Oliveira ()
Additional contact information
Miriã C. Oliveira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Larissa R. Alves: Faculty of Medicine, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Juliana M. P. Soares: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Shayra K. A. Souza: Scientific Initiation Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Bruna M. R. Silva: Scientific Initiation Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Adriano L. Fonseca: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Carlos H. M. Silva: Faculty of Medicine, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Claudia S. Oliveira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Rodolfo P. Vieira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Deise A. A. P. Oliveira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Iransé Oliveira-Silva: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Rodrigo F. Oliveira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Luciana M. M. Sampaio: Rehabilitation Sciences, Graduate Program, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo 01504-001, SP, Brazil
Vinicius Maldaner: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Dante B. Santos: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Renata K. Palma: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil
Sergio R. Nacif: Health Sciences Graduate Program, Institute of Medical Assistance to State Public Servants (IAMSPE), Av. Ibirapuera, 981, São Paulo 04029-000, SP, Brazil
Giuseppe Insalaco: Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy
Luís V. F. Oliveira: Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGELICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Background: COVID-19 mainly affects the respiratory system, although its manifestations are multisystemic. We are increasingly recognizing complications that present after the acute phase, which are associated with impaired functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective was to assess the functional status and HRQoL of patients with post-COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving individuals affected by COVID-19 who had persistent symptoms for one month after the acute phase of the disease. Functional status was measured with the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea Scale, and the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS). HRQoL was confirmed with the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Results: We included 123 patients; 73 (59.35%) were male, with a mean age of 49.17 ± 13.48 years and a body mass index of 31.02 ± 6.56 stratified into three groups: the not-recovered group (NRG = 23), the ward-recovered group (WHG = 60), and the intensive-care-unit group (ICUG = 40). The main symptoms were muscle weakness (74.17%) and dyspnea (68.33%). The predicted distances for the 6MWT were missed by 12.83% by the GNR group, 20.21% by the GNR group, and 28.82% by the UGCI group. The MRC dyspnea scale had a mean value of less than 3, and the FSS scale had a mean value of over 4, indicating considerable fatigue. In the PCFS scale, a significant difference was observed ( p < 0.0005), while in the SF-36, all HRQoL domains were compromised. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients involved in this study showed a significant decline in functional status and an impairment of HRQoL.

Keywords: COVID-19; functional status; health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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