@misc{10481/102738,
year = {2025},
month = {2},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102738},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: The existing literature has described the common
symptoms and long-term effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, there is a
lack of detailed information on how different degrees of disease severity affect survivors
differently. This study aims to fill that gap by evaluating the symptoms, physical activity,
and functionality of COVID-19 survivors across a spectrum of severity levels, comparing
them with those of healthy individuals. Methods: An observational study was carried
out following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology
(STROBE) criteria and checklist. Participants were divided into 5 groups based on COVID-
19 severity according to the World Health Organization classification: healthy (COVID-19-
negative), mild (symptomatic without pneumonia or dyspnoea), moderate (pneumonia and
dyspnoea without hospitalisation), severe (severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation),
and critical (severe pneumonia with admission to the intensive care unit). Descriptive
variables, symptoms (Fatigue Borg Scale, Fatigue Impact Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale,
Dyspnoea Borg Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,
and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions), physical activity (the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire) and functionality (Patient-Specific Functional Scale, Short Physical
Performance Battery, Arm Curl test, and 2 min step test) were measured. Results: A total of
304 participants were included: healthy (n = 42), mild (n = 143), moderate (n = 49), severe
(n = 52), and critical (n = 18) COVID-19 patients. The impact of COVID-19 on surviving
patients varies significantly with the severity of the disease. The results show that the
hospitalisation time, age, and comorbidities of the patients are greater in those with a
greater severity of the disease. Patients with more severe COVID-19 also experience greater
frailty, dysphagia, fatigue, dyspnoea, and pain. Additionally, those with severe cases
have poorer overall health, reduced physical activity, and diminished functionality. No
evidence of post-COVID-19 anxiety or depression is found in the sample, even considering
the timeframe between the negative test and the assessment. Conclusions: Patients with
higher COVID-19 severity (severe or critical) experience more symptoms than those with
lower COVID-19 severity (mild or moderate). Additionally, those with severe cases have
poorer overall health, reduced physical activity and diminished functionality. Register:
Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05731817.},
organization = {Ilustre Colegio Profesional de Fisioterapeutas de Andalucía,
grant number [AI-05/2022; AI-10/2022]},
organization = {Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica
(SEPAR), grant number [Project:1216]},
organization = {Ministry of Universities for the training of university
teachers for Laura Pérez-Gisbert, grant number [FPU: 22/00430]},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {COVID-19},
keywords = {symptoms},
keywords = {physical activity},
title = {Severity Matters: How COVID-19 Severity Impacts Long-Term Effects on Symptoms, Physical Activity and Functionality—An Observational Study},
doi = {10.3390/ healthcare13030333},
author = {Pérez Gisbert, Laura and Morales-Garcia, Concepcion and Sánchez Martínez, José Antonio and González Gutiérrez, María Victoria and Valenza, Marie Carmen and Torres Sánchez, Irene},
}