Manifestaciones musculoesqueléticas post-Covid19 en la población de la parroquia Ricaurte. Periodo marzo 2020 - septiembre 2023. Cuenca - Ecuador

Abstract

Background: the post-Covid19 manifestations can be varied and affect multiple systems including the musculoskeletal, causing symptoms such as fatigue, myalgias and arthralgias which can extend up to 60 days after the infection, causing a negative impact to the quality of life of patients. These symptoms are part of the syndrome known as “Long Covid”. Objective: to determine the main post-Covid19 musculoskeletal manifestations in the population of Ricaurte, March 2020 - September 2023. Cuenca - Ecuador. Methods: a descriptive study, which covers all adults between 18-65 years of age residing in Ricaurte, the sample consists of 164 participants selected by convenience. The information was obtained through a questionnaire and the data was processed using SPSS statistics software version 25.0, applying frequency statistics for its evaluation and analysis. Results: musculoskeletal manifestations occurred in 89.6% of participants, who were mostly adults between 30 and 60 years old (53%), the majority were men (46.3%), with secondary education (53%), the most part did not have comorbidities (56.7%), hadn’t been vaccinated (66.5%), and received only ambulatory care (84.1%). The main manifestations included muscular pain (74.1%), joint pain (46.9%), and muscle weakness (46.3%), the intensity of the pain was moderate (51.8%), and was located in neck (58.8%), knees (31.3%) and upper back (51.1%), the duration of symptoms was 2 to 4 weeks (54.4%). Conclusions: the presence of post-Covid19 musculoskeletal manifestations was high, with moderate muscle pain being the most prevalent symptom, which lasted up to 4 weeks post-infection.