OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the physical and pulmonary capacities of hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus disease and its correlation with the time of hospitalization and complications involved. METHODS: A total of 54 patients, aged ≥18 years of both sexes, were evaluated 2-4 months after hospital discharge in São Paulo, Brazil. The physical characteristics analyzed were muscle strength, balance, flexibility, and pulmonary function. The K-means cluster algorithm was used to identify patients with similar physical and pulmonary capacities, related to the time of hospitalization. RESULTS: Two clusters were derived using the K-means algorithm. Patients allocated in cluster 1 had fewer days of hospitalization, intensive care, and intubation than those in cluster 2, which reflected a better physical performance, strength, balance, and pulmonary condition, even 2-4 months after discharge. Days of hospitalization were inversely related to muscle strength, physical performance, and lung function: hand grip D (r=−0.28, p=0.04), Short Physical Performance Battery score (r=−0.28, p=0.03), and forced vital capacity (r=−0.29, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Patients with a longer hospitalization time and complications progressed with greater loss of physical and pulmonary capacities.

RESUMO O novo coronavírus, que causa a doença infecciosa denominada COVID-19 pela Organização Mundial de Saúde, foi notificado em dezembro, na China. As principais manifestações clínicas dos pacientes infectados são febre, tosse e dispneia. Esses pacientes têm propensão a desenvolver alterações cardíacas, miopatia difusa, diminuição da função pulmonar, diminuição da força muscular inspiratória e deterioração da capacidade funcional. Assim sendo, é esperado que os pacientes afetados pela COVID-19 sofram sequelas musculoesqueléticas em decorrência do processo inflamatório e perda de massa muscular causada pela imobilidade, que geram incapacidades motoras ainda não quantificáveis. Existe a necessidade de entender as implicações clínicas causadas pela COVID-19 para elaborar melhores estratégias de reabilitação para esses pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma análise reflexiva no que tange ao impacto da COVID-19 nos sistemas imunológico, neuromuscular e musculoesquelético e no processo de reabilitação. Trata-se de uma análise reflexiva, desenvolvida no Laboratório do Estudo do Movimento do Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Nesta análise, fizemos uma reflexão sobre os seguintes tópicos relacionados com a COVID-19: mecanismos imunológicos, impacto no sistemas neuromuscular e musculoesquelético e reabilitação dos pacientes. Nível de evidência V; Opinião do especialista.

ABSTRACT The new coronavirus, which causes the infectious disease named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), was notified in 2020 in China. The main clinical manifestations in infected patients are fever, cough and dyspnoea. These patients are prone to developing cardiac changes, diffuse myopathy, decreased pulmonary function, decreased inspiratory muscle strength, and a deterioration in functional capacity. Thus, it is expected that patients affected by COVID-19 will suffer musculoskeletal consequences as a result of the inflammatory process and loss of muscle mass caused by immobility, generating motor incapacities that are not yet quantifiable. It is important to understand the clinical implications caused by COVID-19, in order to have better rehabilitation strategies for these patients. The aim of this study was to conduct a reflective analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the immune, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems, and its rehabilitation process. This is a reflexive analysis, developed in the Laboratory for the Study of Movement of the Institute of Orthopaedics’ and Traumatology, at the Universidade de São Paulo School of Medicine, SP, Brazil. In this analysis, we reflect on the following topics related to COVID-19: immunological mechanisms, impact on the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems, and the rehabilitation of patients. Level of evidence V; Opinion of the specialist.

RESUMEN El nuevo coronavirus, que causa la enfermedad infecciosa llamada COVID-19 por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, fue notificado en diciembre en China. Las principales manifestaciones clínicas de los pacientes infectados son fiebre, tos y disnea. Esos pacientes son propensos a desarrollar cambios cardíacos, miopatía difusa, disminución de la función pulmonar, disminución de la fuerza muscular inspiratoria y deterioro de la capacidad funcional. Por lo tanto, se espera que los pacientes afectados por COVID-19 sufran secuelas musculoesqueléticas debido al proceso inflamatorio y pérdida de masa muscular causada por la inmovilidad, que generan discapacidades motoras aún no son cuantificables. Es necesario comprender las implicaciones clínicas causadas por COVID-19 para elaborar mejores estrategias de rehabilitación para estos pacientes. El objetivo de este estudio fue realizar un análisis reflexivo sobre el impacto de COVID-19, en los sistemas inmunitario, neuromuscular y musculoesquelético y en el proceso de rehabilitación. Es un análisis reflexivo, desarrollado en el Laboratorio del Estudio de Movimiento del Instituto de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de São Paulo, SP. En este análisis, reflexionamos sobre los siguientes temas relacionados con COVID-19: mecanismos inmunológicos, impacto en los sistemas neuromuscular y musculoesquelético y la rehabilitación de los pacientes. Nivel de evidencia V; Opinión de expertos.