The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on the physical profile and quality of life

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among SARS survivors.

Design A cohort study.

Setting An outpatient physiotherapy department in a major hospital in Hong Kong.

Participants SARS patients (N=171) discharged from the hospital. Their mean age was 37.36±12.65 years, and the average number of days of hospitalization was 21.79±9.93 days.

Interventions Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures Subjects’ cardiorespiratory (6-minute walk test [6MWT], Chester step test for predicting maximal oxygen uptake [V̇o₂max]), musculoskeletal (proximal/distal muscle strength and endurance test), and HRQOL status (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were measured and compared with the normative data matched for age and sex.

Results Seventy-eight (45.61%) patients continued to require prednisolone (<0.5mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for residual lung opacities when data were collected. The values of 6MWT distance, predicted V̇o₂max, proximal and distal muscle strength, and the scores from all SF-36 domains, particularly perceived role-physical, were significantly lower than the normative data (P<.05).

Conclusions SARS survivors had deficits in cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal performance, and their HRQOL appeared to be significantly impaired.