PD471 - LUNG FUNCTION AND MUSCLE STRENGTH DECLINE IN POST-COVID-19 SURVIVORS

PD471

LUNG FUNCTION AND MUSCLE STRENGTH DECLINE IN POST-COVID-19 SURVIVORS

G. S. de Castro^1,*, E. S. Silva¹, M. S. de Oliveira¹, C. R. R. Carvalho²

¹Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, ²Departamento de Pneumologia, Instituto do Coração, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Rationale: People who had COVID-19 may experience sequelae and symptoms ranging from a decline in muscle strength to organ damage, such as lung sequelae. We aimed to evaluate if the progressive loss of handgrip strength in COVID-19 survivors was explained by worsening lung function parameters.

Methods: This study included subjects from a cohort of patients who were hospitalized at Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) due to COVID-19 in 2020. To be part of this specific arm, subjects must not have had previous lung diseases, neuromuscular diseases, severe motor impairment and attended the two follow-up visits (FUPs) (2022 and 2024). All procedures were approved by HC Ethics Committee (73166123.1.0000.0068). Participants underwent plethysmography, handgrip strength measurement, and blood tests in the FUPs. Statistical analysis was performed using R Studio and JASP. Artificial intelligence Gemini was used to assist with R coding.

Results: Patients (n=157, 84 female) were 56.3±13.6 years old during hospitalization, stayed in hospital for 16 [7; 27.5] days and 52.2% of them needed to be intubated. When comparing them with the FUPs, it was possible to observe a decrease in handgrip strength (p<0.0001) and a worsening in lung function, including carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), total lung capacity (p<0.0001 for both), and an increase in airway resistance (p=0.0002). A multiple linear regression was performed to test if a decrease in handgrip strength could be explained by a decrease in DLCO. Age, sex, and need of intubation during hospitalization were used as covariates in the model. The decline in muscle strength was not significantly predicted by the reduction DLCO (β=-0.402; p=0.388). Sex was a significant predictor (β=-3.901; p=0.0423).

Conclusion: The lack of association between DLCO impairment and muscle strength loss suggests independent pathophysiological mechanisms for these sequelae in COVID-19 survivors.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared