{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Malnutrition contribution to the functional status and health related quality of life after COVID-19, a correlational follow-up study.
{Author}: Mejía Alonso LA;Espinosa-Poblano E;de Regil López S;Lemus Eslava V;Serrano Sánchez JG;Paredes-Manjarrez C;Balderas-Chairéz AT;Anda-Garay JC;Miguel-Puga JA;Jáuregui-Renaud K;
{Journal}: Sci Rep
{Volume}: 14
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 07 1
{Factor}: 4.996
{DOI}: 10.1038/s41598-024-65698-7
{Abstract}: To assess malnutrition contribution to the functional status and health related quality of life after hospitalization due to COVID-19 pneumonia, 66 selected adults referred for physical rehabilitation accepted to participate in the study; none of them required oxygen supply or had history of lung/musculoskeletal/neurological/immune/rheumatic disease or trauma, or contraindication for respiratory-function tests. At three evaluations, with 3 months in-between, assessments included: self-report of functional status, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, spirometry, the 6-min-walk-test, the MRC-scale, the 30-s sit-to-stand-test, the timed-up-and-go-test, nutritional status, and ultrasound imaging (vastus medialis and diaphragm). At referral, patients had nutritional deficits with protein deficiency, which gradually improved; while muscle thickness (of both vastus medialis and diaphragm) increased, along with muscle strength and mobility (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Contrarywise, the distance covered during the 6-min-walk-test decreased (ANOVA, p < 0.05), with a negative influence from excess body mass. During rehabilitation, health-related quality of life and functional status improved, with negative influence from a history of tobacco use and referral delay, respectively. After hospitalization due to COVID-19, early diagnosis of both protein deficiency and decrease of skeletal muscle thickness could be relevant for rehabilitation, while pondering the negative impact of excess body mass on submaximal exercise performance.