Predictors of Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale in Hospitalized Patients Recovering From SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Objective: The study aimed to investigate whether peripheral and inspiratory muscle strength and architecture, functional capacity, functional mobility, fatigue, and health-related quality of life are predictors of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale score in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome who were hospitalized.Design: A cross-sectional study included 69 patients (53.3 +/- 13.2 yrs, 36 men) with post-COVID-19 syndrome. The following outcomes were assessed: peripheral (dynamometry) and inspiratory (manovacuometry) muscle strength, muscle architecture (ultrasound), functional capacity (six-minute walk test), functional mobility (Timed Up and Go), fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy), health-related quality of life (36-item Short-Form Health Survey), and functional status (Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale).Results: Functional mobility (beta = 0.573, P < 0.001), vastus intermedius echogenicity (beta = -0.491, P = 0.001), length of stay (beta = 0.349, P = 0.007), and female sex (beta = 0.415, P = 0.003) influenced the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale.Conclusions: Functional mobility, muscle quality of the vastus intermedius, length of stay, and female sex influence the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale score in this population. It is noteworthy that functional mobility is an independent predictor of Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale.