Since the beginning of the new coronavirus pandemic, scientists from different countries have been actively studying the relationship of clinical and morphological features of the COVID-19 course and outcomes with changes in laboratory indicators and data from imaging examination methods (X-ray, computed tomography (CT) of the chest). Nevertheless, insufficient attention has been paid to the change of functional status, which determines the short-term and long-term prognosis and rehabilitation potential of patients with COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the one-minute sit-to-stand test (1STST) performed under inpatient treatment by subjects with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The prospective cross-sectional non-randomized open-label comparative study of 117 patients admitted to hospital with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis has been conducted. The 6MWT and 1STST were carried out on admission in addition to the determination of standard clinical and laboratory indicators and CT of the chest.
RESULTS
During the 6MWT performing patients went 390 [340.0; 420.0] m and 17 [14.0; 19.0] repeats when doing 1STST. The following correlation between the test results of physical activity has been established: patients, who passed shorter distance at 6MWT, showed fewer repeats during 1STST (rs=0.76, p<0.001). The SpO2 decrease was comparable in both groups. Desaturation has been recorded in 25 patients during 6MWT and in 25 patients when doing 1STST. The physical activity test results (passed distance in meters and number of repeats, SpO2 decrease) were related to the age of patients, severity of COVID-19 course, initial volume of lung lesions according to CT data, laboratory signs of inflammatory activity on admission, as well as with the duration of inpatient admission, maximum volume of lung lesions according to CT data and maximum severity of inflammation’s laboratory signs (C-reactive protein and ferritin levels) during admission.
CONCLUSION
The six-minute walk and one-minute sit-to-stand tests can be used with identical diagnostic significance to evaluate physical activity tolerance and detect desaturation in patients with COVID-19.