Assessment of musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and grip strength in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Although there are some retrospective studies to present musculoskeletal findings of the COVID-19, still the muscle strength and fatigue has not been studied in detail.

Aim: To reveal the symptoms of musculoskeletal system in COVID-19 patients, to evaluate myalgia, arthralgia and physical/mental fatigue, to assess handgrip muscle strength, and to examine the relations of these parameters with the severity and laboratory values of the disease.

Design: This study was designed as a cross-sectional, single-center case series.

Setting: This study took place from May 15, 2020, to June 30, 2020 at the Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Pandemia Services.

Population: Hospitalized 150 adults with laboratory and radiological confirmation of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) according to WHO interim guidance were included in the study.

Methods: The disease severity 2007 IDSA/ATS guidelines for community acquired pneumonia was used. Myalgia severity was assessed by numerical rating scale (NRS). Visual analog scale and Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) were used for fatigue severity determination. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured by Jamar hand dynamometer.

Results: One hundred three patients (68.7%) were non-severe, and 47 patients (31.3%) were severe. The most common musculoskeletal symptom was fatigue (133 [85.3%]), followed by myalgia (102 [68.0%]), arthralgia (65 [43.3%]) and back pain (33 [22.0%]). Arthralgia, which was mostly notable at wrist (25 [16.7%]), ankle (24 [16.0%]) and knee (23 [15.3%]) joints, was significantly higher among the severe group. Severe myalgia was prevalent among myalgia sufferers regardless of COVID-19 severity. The physical fatigue severity score was significantly higher in severe cases, whereas this difference was not significant in mental fatigue score. Female patients with severe infection had "lower" grip strength, whereas grip strength among males did not differ significantly between non-severe and severe COVID-19 cases. Nevertheless, the mean values in both genders and in age decades were below the specified normative values. CRP, ferritin, and LDH levels were significantly higher in women with "lower" grip strength compared to the "normal" group.

Conclusions: Aside from other multisystemic symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms are quite common in patients with COVID-19. Patients have severe ischemic myalgia regardless of disease activity. Although there is a muscle weakness in all patients, the loss of muscle function is more of a problem among women in connection with disease severity. Muscular involvement in Coronavirus disease is a triangle of myalgia, physical fatigue, and muscle weakness.

Clinical rehabilitation impact: Muscle involvement in COVID-19 patients does not mean only myalgia but also a combination of physical fatigue and muscle weakness, and this should be considered in planning the rehabilitation strategies of COVID-19 patients.