Functional status, functional capacity and quality of life in post-COVID-19 adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the functional status in post-COVID-19 COPD patients and its functional implications remains to be determined. Objective: To investigate the relationship of post-COVID-19 functional status with functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in
COPD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional, correlational analysis study enrolled 71 participants (64 ± 8 years, women/men: 26/45), of which 22 (31%) tested positive for COVID-19 97 ± 67 days before recruitment. Participants were assessed regarding
pulmonary function (spirometry), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), functional exercise capacity (six-minute walk test; 6MWT), and health-related quality of life (Short-form Health Survey; SF-36). Patients
with medical history of COVID-19 were assessed with the Post-COVID-19 Functional Scale (PCFS). Results: The PCFS was positively correlated with CAT (r = 0.481, 95%CI=[0.075; 0.751], p = 0.023). The PCFS was negatively correlated with SF-36 mental component (r = -0.455, 95%CI=[-0.735; -0.041], p = 0.034) and walked distance in 6MWT (r = -0.433, 95%CI=[-0.722; -0.013], p = 0.044). Conclusion: The
severity of post-COVID-19 functional status is related to the impact of COPD in daily life, functional exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life. Rehabilitation programs should include baseline assessment of functional status, functional exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life for monitoring the effects of interventions in this population.