Força muscular respiratória, função pulmonar e sintomas persistentes da Covid-19 em indivíduos hospitalizados e não hospitalizados após um ano da infecção: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and persistent symptoms of COVID-19 in hospitalized and non-hospitalized individuals one year after infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 160 participants (80 hospitalized and 80 non-hospitalized) in Fortaleza, Ceará, between 2021 and 2024. Data collection involved manovacuometry, spirometry, and a questionnaire on persistent symptoms categorized by organic systems. Results: The mean age of participants was 55.8 ± 15.87 years, with a BMI of 28.85 ± 4.85 kg/m2. Comorbidities were present in 37.5% of hospitalized individuals, primarily cardiovascular diseases (27.5%). Persistent symptoms were reported by 42.5% of hospitalized and 45% of non-hospitalized participants (p = 0.716). Fatigue was more frequent in non-hospitalized individuals (42.5%) compared to hospitalized (16.2%, p = 0.032). Regarding lung function, hospitalized participants showed significantly lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (60.01 ± 11.14%) compared to non-hospitalized (89.02 ± 10.94%, p = 0.021). Predictive analysis showed that, among hospitalized individuals, BMI (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.15, p = 0.001) and the number of comorbidities (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 0.52–2.24, p = 0.040) were significant predictors of persistent symptoms. For non-hospitalized individuals, the number of acute-phase symptoms (OR: 4.05, 95% CI: 1.30–10.54) and comorbidities (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.08– 5.56) were key predictors of prolonged symptoms. Conclusions: One year after infection, persistent symptoms were prevalent, with fatigue more common among non-hospitalized individuals. Hospitalized participants exhibited greater restrictive impairment in FVC. BMI and comorbidities predicted prolonged symptoms in hospitalized individuals, while acute-phase symptoms and comorbidities were key predictors in non-hospitalized individuals.In both groups, respiratory muscle strength was preserved.