The Five Times Sit to Stand Test as a Tool to Assess Disability and Physical Capacity after Hospitalization for COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Assessment of exercise tolerance should be an integral part of the follow- up of COVID-19 survivors. Objective: We aimed in this study to investigate the correlation between the 5 Times Sit to Stand Test (5STST) and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and to determine their place in assessing exercise tolerance and disability in COVID-19 survivors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 201 survivors of COVID-19. All patients underwent a detailed medical questionnaire, assessment of disability by the Lawton scale, and sub- -maximal exercise tolerance by 6MWT and 5STST. Our study population was divided into two groups based on the Length of Hospital Stay (LHS) (<10 or ≥10 days). Results: Compared with the group with a LHS < 10 days, the group with prolonged LHS (≥10 days) had a significantly greater mean value of 5STST. In contrast, the mean values of 6-minute Walk Distance (6MWD) and Minimal Oxygen Saturation (MOS) were significantly lower. A significant correlation of 5STST with Lawton score (r = -0.373; p < 0.0001) and 6MWD (r = -0.563; p < 0.0001) was also found. Conclusion: Our results showed that the 5STST was correlated with the 6MWD and Lawton score. Hence, it could be proposed to assess physical capacity and disability, especially in patients who had a prolonged LHS for COVID-19.