[ID 214] EVALUATION OF PEAK COUGH FLOW AND EXPIRATORY FLOW IN POST-COVID-19 SUBJECTS

Abstract

Introduction: Patients affected by covid-19 may experience weakness in the muscles related to swallowing, causing a disorder called dysphagia. Alteration in the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing, which may present pathological deficits in the coordination of swallowing and breathing. Objective: Measure peak cough flow and expiratory flow in post-covid-19 subjects. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study. The Peak Flow Meter device was used to measure the Expiratory Flow and Peak Cough Flow. Results: Thirty-five people participated in the research, 51.43% female and 48.57% male, the average age was 45.60 years (31-59). Regarding the inferential analyses, there was no difference in the PFT and PEF variables depending on whether individuals were hospitalized or did not need to be hospitalized; and in the analysis of the gender variable, men had higher peak expiratory flow and peak cough flow values than women. Regarding the correlation of the PFE and PFT variables with the date variable that got covid-19, a negative correlation was found between the peak cough flow (p=0.020); and in the correlation of the age variable, there was a negative correlation between peak expiratory flow (p=0.009), that is, as age decreases, peak expiratory flow increases. Conclusion: PEF and PFT values showed normal patterns, and the subjects involved in the study did not have a long-term impact on respiratory and swallowing protective function.