Capacidade para o trabalho e nível de atividade física em indivíduos acometidos pela Covid-19 leve na cidade de Manaus

Abstract

Introduction: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, studies seek to understand the infection impacts on the daily lives of affected people. Considering work activity as a reality for a large part of the affected population, it is impportant to understand the consequences of COVID-19 on the ability to work. A satisfactory performance in work activities involves aspects such as physical and mental health. Physical activity can contribute to the maintenance of these factors through the improvement of functional capacity and quality of life. Objectives: To identify and to compare the ability to work and the level of physical activity of individuals affected and not affected by mild COVID 19 in the city of Manaus; verify whether the level of physical activity in daily life (PADL) is related to the work ability; to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is a determining factor for deficits in work ability. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory study with a convenience sample. All participants underwent serology test for SARS-CoV-2 and were divided, according to the test result, into seropositive and seronegative group. The assessment of work ability was performed using the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire PADL evaluation was done by a pedometer to quantify daily steps. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to analyze data distribution, Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney tests for comparisons and Spearman coefficient for correlations. Poisson regression with robust variance was performed to identify variables that influenced work ability. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: Three hundred and eleven individuals answered the WAI questionnaire. One hundred and fifty-five agreed to use the pedometer in their daily lives. The result of serology for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in 103 (33.1%) individuals and positive in 208 (66.9%). There was no difference between groups regarding PADL (p=0.888). On the other hand, the seropositive group had the lowest final WAI score (40 [36-44] vs 43[38-45];p=0.008). One hundred and fifty-five agreed to use the pedometer in their daily lives. The result of serology for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in 103 (33.1%) individuals and positive in 208 (66.9%). There was no difference between groups regarding PADL level (p=0.888). On the other hand, the seropositive group had the lowest final WAI score (40 [36-44] vs 43 (38-45];p=0.008). A weak correlation was observed between work ability and the PADL in the general sample (r=0.19; p=0.017). However, no correlation between these variables was observed when analyzing only the seropositive group (r=0 .16; p=0.09).The determinants of inadequate work ability in the SARS-CoV-2 seropositive group were the presence of three or more current illnesses (PR=3.23;95%CI:1.59- 6.54;p<0.0001 ) and being female (PR=3.28;95%CI:1.27-8.46;p=0.014). Conclusions: Individuals with a history of mild COVID-19 had the same level of physical activity, but less ability to work than those who never had the disease. The disease was not a determining factor for inadequate work capacity. The presence of three or more concomitant diseases and being female were factors that influenced the reduction of work ability in individuals affected by mild COVID-19. There was no correlation between work ability and the level of physical activity in daily life in individuals with positive serology for SARS-CoV-2