Association of fatigue with balance and physical performance in patients with acute Covid-19: A cross-sectional study

Aim: Previous studies have primarily focused on the relationship between fatigue and neuropsychiatric manifestations such as stress, depression, and anxiety in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, evidence regarding the association between fatigue and objective, quantifiable neuromuscular parameters—including balance, fall risk, and physical performance—remains limited in patients with acute COVID-19. Therefore, this observational study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and neuromuscular function in patients with acute COVID-19.Methods: Among 116 patients with COVID-19 admitted to pandemic wards, aged 50–70 years, and with positive Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thoracic computerized tomography (CT) findings, 98 volunteered to participate. Of these, 74 patients who met the inclusion criteria completed the study. Two researchers, blinded to each other’s assessments, conducted the evaluations. One researcher recorded demographic data, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores, while the other administered objective field tests in the same sequence, including the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSTS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Tandem Stance Test (TST), and Single-Leg Stance Test (SLST).Results: Based on FSS scores, Group 1 (non-fatigue) included 55 patients with scores 0.05). Although no statistically significant differences were found in static balance tests (TST and SLST), Group 2 demonstrated both clinically and statistically significantly poorer performance in the 5xSTS and TUG tests.Conclusion: In patients with acute COVID-19, fatigue was associated with impaired dynamic balance, mobility, and physical performance, but not static balance. Objective performance-based tests such as the 5xSTS and TUG may be useful in the early stages of systemic viral infections, including COVID-19, for evaluating fatigue-related functional impairment.