Assessment of Balance and Fatigue In COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: COVID-19 predominantly affects the respiratory system; however, evidence indicates a multisystem disease, with some patients presenting with neuromuscular and psychological sequelae. Impaired balance, and fatigue are frequently found in the patients with respiratory illness and is associated with functional impairments in daily life. Objectives: A Retrospective analysis of balance and fatigue in COVID-19 disease and identifying any influence of comorbidities on balance and fatigue with different disease severities will help us understand and widen the scope of physiotherapy interventions during COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 rehabilitation Procedure: The Medical and Physiotherapy records of 67 patients, in the age group of 18 – 75 Years, admitted in a Tertiary care hospital with COVID-19 were considered from the period of September 2020 to March 2021. Data consisting of sex, severity of COVID-19, Oxygen status, comorbidities, SLS time for Static balance, FRT distance for dynamic balance and NRS score for fatigue, were considered for analysis while those on HFNC or Ventilator, unconscious patients or with altered sensorium, or musculoskeletal and neurological conditions were excluded. Results: FRT distance, SLS time and NRS scores were significantly reduced in those who were on oxygen supplementation as compared to those not on oxygen supplementation. There was a moderate negative correlation between age and FRT, SLS values of those who were on oxygen supplementation but not in those without oxygen supplementation. There was no significant difference in FRT, SLS & NRS values with or without comorbidities. Conclusion: Balance performances were significantly reduced and fatigue significantly increased in COVID-19 patients who were on supplemental oxygen. Age is also an important factor influencing balance in them. Comorbidities did not have any effect on balance and fatigue in different disease severities. Assessment of static balance, dynamic balance and fatigue should be considered as an important part of Physiotherapy routine assessments in patients with COVID-19. KEY WORDS: Static balance, Dynamic balance, Fatigue.