The severe acute respiratory syndrome induced by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared a worldwide pandemic. Identifying common characteristics of the disease is crucial to promote a better prognosis for patients and to reduce the occurrence of medical complications, the time to medical discharge and mortality rates. Muscle mass and strength are recognized predictive measures of medical complications and mortality in different populations, but it is still unclear whether these also applies to patients with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, this study will investigate whether muscle mass and/or muscle strength are predictors of the time until medical discharge of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2. Our working hypothesis is that muscle mass and/or muscle strength are predictive measurements of the time until medical discharge of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2
Muscle mass (via ultrasound) and muscle strength (via handgrip) of patients with SARS-CoV-2
will be assessed upon admission, medical discharge and 180 days after medical discharge. The
time until medical discharge and any medical complications will be recorded. Throughout the
hospitalization period, the mortality rate will also be assessed. One hundred and eighty days
after medical discharge, the number of hospital readmissions, mortality rate and the use of
public health services will be evaluated, to estimate the cost of each patient to the health
service. Patients will be stratified according to muscle mass and strength assessed at
admission. Data will be analysed using a mixed model with repeated measures assuming group
(percentiles) and time (admission, medical discharge, and 180 days after medical discharge)
for each dependent variable. In the event of a significant F-value, Tukey-Kramer post hoc
adjustments will be used for multiple purposes. Survival rate will be examined using the
Kaplan-Meier curve and analyzed using the Log-rank test (Mantel-Cox). The level of
significance will be set apriori at P≤0.05.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 Years and older ;
- hospital stay less than 48 hours;
- length of hospital stay to 48 hours no requiring invasive mechanical ventilation;
Exclusion Criteria:
- cancer in the last 5 years;
- delirium;
- cognitive deficit that impossibility the patient to read and sign the informed consent
form;
- neurological disease;
- degenerative muscular disease.
Univsersity of Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Investigator: Bruno Gualano, Phd
Contact: 551130918783
gualano@usp.br
Investigator: Bruno Gualano, Phd