Title:The Five Times Sit to Stand Test as a Tool to Assess Disability and
Physical Capacity after Hospitalization for COVID-19
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Khouloud Kchaou*, Balsam Barkous, Hadhemi Rejeb, Sahar Chakroun, Asma Chaker and Saloua Ben Khamsa Jameleddine
Affiliation:
- Pulmonary Function Tests Department, Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia
Keywords:
COVID-19, sit to stand test, six-minute walk test, physical capacity, length of hospital stay, lawton score.
Abstract:
Background: Assessment of exercise tolerance should be an integral part of the follow-
up of COVID-19 survivors.
Objective: We aimed in this study to investigate the correlation between the 5 Times Sit to Stand
Test (5STST) and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and to determine their place in assessing exercise
tolerance and disability in COVID-19 survivors.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 201 survivors of COVID-19. All patients
underwent a detailed medical questionnaire, assessment of disability by the Lawton scale, and sub-
-maximal exercise tolerance by 6MWT and 5STST. Our study population was divided into two
groups based on the Length of Hospital Stay (LHS) (<10 or ≥10 days).
Results: Compared with the group with a LHS < 10 days, the group with prolonged LHS (≥10
days) had a significantly greater mean value of 5STST. In contrast, the mean values of 6-minute
Walk Distance (6MWD) and Minimal Oxygen Saturation (MOS) were significantly lower. A significant
correlation of 5STST with Lawton score (r = -0.373; p < 0.0001) and 6MWD (r = -0.563;
p < 0.0001) was also found.
Conclusion: Our results showed that the 5STST was correlated with the 6MWD and Lawton
score. Hence, it could be proposed to assess physical capacity and disability, especially in patients
who had a prolonged LHS for COVID-19.