Abstract

COVID-19 INFECTION AND LOCOMOTOR PATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS – A SINGLE CENTER, RETROSPECTIVE QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY

Nikola Hariskov, Anita Ganovska, Steliana Gitsova, Manuela Gitsova, Maria Mateva, Mariana Yoncheva-Mihaylova, Mila Arnaudova, Alexandra Stoycheva, Metodi Kunchev, Stefan Kovachev*

Abstract

People infected with SARS-Co-2 may manifest various types of morbidity and symptoms. The aim of this observational study is to establish whether SARS-Co-2 affects the locomotor system and how it is manifested. Material and Methods: The study is single centered, questionnaire, retrospective and is conducted (2020-2021 years) in the temporary clinics for treatment of Covid 19 in the Military Medical Hospital, Sofia. Forty-three patients, diagnosed with acute SARS-Co-2 infection via nasopharyngeal TaqPath™COVID 19 CE IVD RT PCR Kit (31/100% males – I group and 12/100% females - II group, aged 28-84 years) were included. All patients included in the study completed anonymously survey form regarding their symptoms in the locomotor system after they have developed the infection. Results: In the first group 48.39 % (n-15) of the male patients did not report any pains or aches, while among the female patients the percentage was 25%. Strong aches with serious restriction of movement in routine activities and very strong aches with total inability to do routine daily activities were observed respectively in n-2/6.45 % and n-1/3.23 % of the males and 0% of the females. The pains decreased in n-16/51.67 % of the males and n-5/41.67 % of the females and did not aggravate in any of the patients in survey. The usual locomotor movements were performed without any difficulty in n-3/25 % of the females and n-16/51.61 % of the males, while n-3/9.68 % of the males included shared that they were completely unable to perform these locomotor movements. Conclusions: SARS-Co-2 infection seems to cause and aggravate aches and pains in the locomotor system. Male patients more frequently and more seriously seem to manifest such symptoms. The therapy implemented and the cure of SARS-Co-2 infection, resulted in the disappearance or the decrease in pathological locomotor symptoms.

Keywords: SARS-Co-2; infection; locomotor system; symptoms; survey.