Functional respiratory capacity in the elderly after COVID-19 – a pilot study
This article has been Reviewed by the following groups
Listed in
- Evaluated articles (ScreenIT)
Abstract
Background
The pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to an unprecedented outbreak of viral pneumonia. Despite the current focus of worldwide research being the characterization of post-COVID-19 sequelae, the level of functional impact that this disease causes in the elderly who have presented moderate, severe or critical manifestations is still unknown.
Objective
To identify the main consequences/sequelae on functional respiratory capacity in the elderly after CoViD-19.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was carried out in the community. Functional aerobic capacity (2min step test), dyspnea perception (modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire), respiratory and peripheral muscle strength (maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure, grip strength) and the Frailty Index (Clinical Fragility Scale) were assessed in 25 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years, who have had a diagnosis of CoViD-19 for up to 6 months, and in an equal number of elderly people with the same characteristics without a known diagnosis of CoViD-19.
Results
The elderly with a diagnosis of CoViD-19 up to 6 months presented a decrease in the values of maximum inspiratory pressure (p=0.001) and maximum expiratory pressure (p=0.015), in aerobic capacity (p<0.001) with significant presence of desaturation on exertion (p<0.001), and increased values of dyspnea perception (p=0.001) and Frailty Index (p=0.026).
Conclusion
Significant changes were found in the functional respiratory capacity of elderly patients diagnosed with CoViD-19 for up to 6 months, when compared with elderly individuals without a known diagnosis of CoViD-19. It is not possible to extrapolate the results obtained to the Portuguese population, however these results may be an important indicator in the characterization of sequelae in the elderly after infection by SARS-CoV-2.
Article activity feed
-
SciScore for 10.1101/2021.09.03.21263076: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Ethics Consent: The study sample consisted of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years, diagnosed with CoViD-19 within a period of up to 6 months before the evaluation carried out in this study, who voluntarily agreed to participate after signing a informed consent by themselves or their health caregiver.
IRB: The informed consent was signed by all participants, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of ESTeSL.Sex as a biological variable not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences – IBM SPSS 25.0 … SciScore for 10.1101/2021.09.03.21263076: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Ethics Consent: The study sample consisted of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years, diagnosed with CoViD-19 within a period of up to 6 months before the evaluation carried out in this study, who voluntarily agreed to participate after signing a informed consent by themselves or their health caregiver.
IRB: The informed consent was signed by all participants, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of ESTeSL.Sex as a biological variable not detected. Randomization not detected. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Table 2: Resources
Software and Algorithms Sentences Resources The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences – IBM SPSS 25.0 software. SPSSsuggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:Although this study limitation (small sample), the characterization of the sequelae found is essential in the elderly age group. Decreased respiratory muscle strength and aerobic capacity can affect the ability to perform ADL, in addition to implying an increase in the vulnerability of the immune system as well as a reduction in physiological reserve in face of a potential aggressor event. This has consequences in the increase of frailty, which is directly related to the decrease in functionality, institutionalization and mortality. To our knowledge, there were no studies specifically carried out with older adults (>65 years of age). Taking into account the burden on social and rehabilitation services, the early inclusion of these patients in pulmonary and/or cardiovascular rehabilitation programs seems very important, aiming for the recovering of their respiratory and functional capacity.
Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.
-
