Fatigue in post-covid individuals: an analysis through the fatigue assessment scale and 6-minute walk test
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v104i1e-231370Keywords:
Fatigue, COVID-19, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Walking testAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Since 2019, the world has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, which, in addition to acute viral infection, can manifest signs and symptoms in the long term. In 2021, the World Health Organization recognized post-COVID syndrome, marked mainly by mental and physical fatigue. Therefore, it is interesting to evaluate these in the post-COVID population using validated methods. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the manifestation of fatigue in individuals with a history of COVID-19. METHODS: This is a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from the Post-COVID Care and Rehabilitation Center in Macaé-RJ, including 30 participants. Evaluation was done through anamnesis and data collection, using the Fatigue Assessment Scale (EAF) and the 6-Minute Walk Test (TC6). RESULTS: The mean score of the general group on the EAF was 30.27 ± 1.31, indicating moderate fatigue, with no significant difference between sexes, only between age groups, with the 40 to 50 age group being the most fatigued. Regarding TC6, participants covered shorter distances than expected for healthy Brazilians, especially females and those between 30 and 40 years old. Variations in peripheral oxygen saturation and chronotropism did not suggest a likely respiratory component in fatigue. CONCLUSION: Moderate fatigue was identified after COVID-19, impacting participants subjectively and objectively. Thus, further studies are needed, especially ecological ones, to better analyze post-COVID fatigue, as well as randomized double-blind clinical trials for potential treatments.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Giovanna Montessi Amorim, Maria Alice Pereira Junqueira de Oliveira , Josué Natã Sampaio Monteiro, Bruno Sant'ana Costa, Juliana Mendonça Pereira Amaral, Vivian De Oliveira Sousa Corrêa
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