Evolución de la funcionalidad y la fuerza muscular desde cuidado intensivo a hospitalización en sobrevivientes por COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: The critically ill patient hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU), has a higher risk of deterioration in physical function. One way to counteract its related to early physiotherapy intervention, but there are few reports in patients with severe disease from COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To describe the compromise and change in functionality and muscle strength in patients with COVID-19 who received early physiotherapy intervention in ICU until hospital discharge and compare the evolution according to whether or not they received invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU between March and September 2020 and received physiotherapy intervention. Functionality was assessed with the Barthel Index (BI) and muscle strength with the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS), which were measured by the physiotherapist at two moments, upon discharge from ICU and from hospitalization. For the correlations, a value P<.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Sixty-six records were reviewed; the mean age was 53.3 (32±11.5) years; 32 (48.5%) required mechanical ventilation. Compromise in functionality and muscle strength was observed, with progressive improvement before hospital discharge: IB [64.1 (± 34.7) vs. 87.7 (± 18.4), P = .000], MRC-SS [40.5 (± 11) vs. 48 (± 9), P = .000]. The group of ventilated patients presented greater compromise: IB [34.2 (± 24.7) vs. 76.7 (± 21.2), P = .000] and MRC-SS [31.5 (± 7.2) vs. 42.3 (± 8.3), P = .000]. The days of mechanical ventilation, relaxation, and higher APACHE II showed a significant negative correlation with the outcome variables (P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe disease from COVID-19 who received physiotherapy intervention, showed significant changes in functionality and muscle strength. The patients who required mechanical ventilation presented greater functional compromise.