Respiratory muscle strength in patients post infection by COVID-19

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The persistence of symptoms in post-COVID patients, such as dyspnea and fatigue, has been common. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of respiratory and palmar muscles weakness in patients post-COVID-19 infection and compare with those without weakness. <b>Method:</b> A prospective study carried out with individuals of post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic of the Pulmonology Department of Hospital São Paulo/Brazil. Assessment of maximal respiratory pressures and maximal handgrip strength (HGS) were performed in the first assessment after hospital discharge (60±20 days after the onset of symptoms). Individuals with maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) lower than 80% of predicted were considered respiratory muscle weakness. <b>Results:</b> 269 patients were evaluated, most were male (55%), 55±14 years, BMI 30±7 Kg/m², average length of stay for hospital 14±10 days, of which 138 (51%) were referred to the ICU (11±9 days) and 49 (87%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle weakness was verified in 85 (32%) and 72 (27%) patients, respectively. Patients with inspiratory muscle weakness had MIP of 67±22 <i>vs</i> 110±26 cmH₂O (p&lt;0.001), MIP_%predicted 65±13 <i>vs</i> 108±18 cmH₂O (p&lt;0.001), sustained MIP of 60±21 <i>vs</i> 110±26 cmH₂O (p&lt;0.001), MEP of 73±32 <i>vs</i> 104±34 cmH₂O (p&lt;0.001), MEP_%predicted of 72±23 <i>vs</i> 94±25 cmH₂O (p&lt;0.001). The HGS of patients with inspiratory muscle weakness was 17±10 <i>vs</i> 22±12 KgF (p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> After hospital discharge for&nbsp;COVID-19, 32% of patients had inspiratory muscle weakness and 27% had expiratory muscle weakness. Patients with inspiratory muscle weakness had lower maximal HGS when compared to patients without inspiratory muscle&nbsp;weakness.