Physical and pulmonary capacities of individuals with severe coronavirus disease after hospital discharge: A preliminary cross-sectional study based on cluster analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the physical and pulmonary capacities of hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus disease and its correlation with the time of hospitalization and complications involved.

METHODS

A total of 54 patients, aged ≥18 years of both sexes, were evaluated 2-4 months after hospital discharge in São Paulo, Brazil. The physical characteristics analyzed were muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and pulmonary function. The K-means cluster algorithm was used to identify patients with similar physical and pulmonary capacities, related to the time of hospitalization.

RESULTS

Two clusters were derived using the K-means algorithm. Patients allocated in cluster 1 had fewer days of hospitalization, intensive care, and intubation than those in cluster 2, which reflected a better physical performance, strength, balance, and pulmonary condition, even 2-4 months after discharge. Days of hospitalization were inversely related to muscle strength, physical performance, and lung function: hand grip D (r=-0.28, p=0.04), Short Physical Performance Battery score (r=-0.28, p=0.03), and forced vital capacity (r=-0.29, p=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a longer hospitalization time and complications progressed with greater loss of physical and pulmonary capacities.