ABSTRACT
The persistence of symptoms in post-COVID patients, such as dyspnea and fatigue, has been common. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of respiratory and palmar muscles weakness in patients post-COVID-19 infection and compare with those without weakness. Method(s): A prospective study carried out with individuals of post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic of the Pulmonology Department of Hospital Sao Paulo/Brazil. Assessment of maximal respiratory pressures and maximal handgrip strength (HGS) were performed in the first assessment after hospital discharge (60+/-20 days after the onset of symptoms). Individuals with maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) lower than 80% of predicted were considered respiratory muscle weakness. Result(s): 269 patients were evaluated, most were male (55%), 55+/-14 years, BMI 30+/-7 Kg/m , average length of stay for hospital 14+/-10 days, of which 138 (51%) were referred to the ICU (11+/-9 days) and 49 (87%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle weakness was verified in 85 (32%) and 72 (27%) patients, respectively. Patients with inspiratory muscle weakness had MIP of 67+/-22 vs 110+/-26 cmH2O (p<0.001), MIP 2 %predicted 65+/-13 vs 108+/-18 cmH2O (p<0.001), sustained MIP of 60+/-21 vs 110+/-26 cmH2O (p<0.001), MEP of 73+/-32 vs 104+/-34 cmH2O (p<0.001), MEP%predicted of 72+/-23 vs 94+/-25 cmH2O (p<0.001). The HGS of patients with inspiratory muscle weakness was 17+/-10 vs 22+/-12 KgF (p<0.05). Conclusion(s): After hospital discharge for COVID-19, 32% of patients had inspiratory muscle weakness and 27% had expiratory muscle weakness. Patients with inspiratory muscle weakness had lower maximal HGS when compared to patients without inspiratory muscle weakness.