ASSESSMENT OF KIDNEY FUNCTION, MUSCLE STRENGTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENTS

• Grant number: 22/13997-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2023 - November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Maria Aparecida Dalboni
• Grantee: Maria Aparecida Dalboni
• Host Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Vergueiro. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Rosilene Motta Elias Coelho

Abstract

In the period from December 2019 to January 2022, approximately 400 million cases of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-COV2 virus, were confirmed worldwide with approximately 6,000,000 deaths. COVID-19 manifests with systemic disorders, particularly severe pneumonia and respiratory syndrome. In addition to respiratory complications, acute kidney injury (AKI) was a major complication of COVID-19, which occurred in 36.6% to 56.9% of hospitalized patients. In a multicenter study, one in six patients required dialysis within 60 days of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Additionally, patients who had COVID19, report muscle weakness, which can have an adverse impact on the quality of life of these patients. In fact, 30% of patients who had COVID-19 report not feeling fully recovered. Although recently the literature has reported subsequent complications in of severe cases recovered from COVID-19 (post-COVID-19) on the cardiovascular system, renal function, loss of muscle mass and quality of life, among others, national data are still scarce (Brazil); mainly regarding the renal function of patients who had a mild or moderate clinical presentation. Thus, the main objective of this study will be to evaluate renal function and secondary objectives will be to evaluate muscle strength and quality of life in patients recovered from mild and moderate cases of COVID-19. The sample will be composed of patients who tested positive in the RT-PCR exam for COVID-19 in the period from December/2021 to July/2022 (post vaccination) treated at the Reference Center for COVID-19 in the city of São Gabriel da Cachoeira/Amazonas. We will use a sample of 300 recovered post-COVID-19 patients divided in mild, moderate and severe groups (according to World Health Organization/WHO guideline). Blood will be collected for analysis of renal function (creatinine, urea, cystatin C and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)), and urine sample to evaluate proteinuria. Quality of life will be assessed by applying the SF-36, EVA (pain) and functional capacity using the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) questionnaires. Muscle strength will be evaluated using a dynamometer and the sit-up test (SitUp) and the SARC-F questionnaire (sarcopenia). These assessments will take place after 6 months (T6) and 12 months (T12) from the date of positive RT-PCR for COVID-19 (T0). Biochemical and epidemiological results on the date of positive RT-PCR for COVID-19 will be obtained from the patients' medical records. Study rationale: There are few data in Brazil regarding renal function in patients recovered from COVID-19 at medium and long-term. In this way, an understanding of factors related to the clinical evolution of patients after remission of infection, called "post-COVID", considering pathophysiological aspects already present in the acute phase, can negatively influence the recovery of patients, such as: kidney damage, loss of muscle mass and quality of life. In this context, these assessments are relevant to establish early clinical strategies. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Nove de Julho/UNINOVE) under number CAAE: 56579522.2.0000.5511 (AU)