Examination of the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection on physical activity and respiratory system

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the long-term effects of Covid-19 infection on physical activity and the respiratory system. In addition to this primary objective, the study aims to determine the current levels of respiratory system problems and physical activity findings in individuals aged 45-65 who have previously had Covid-19 infection, whether these findings vary significantly by gender and age group, and whether there is a significant relationship between respiratory system problems and physical activity levels.The research was conducted in a cross-sectional design and in accordance with a correlational survey model. The research sample consisted of a total of 413 individuals selected through simple random sampling from individuals living across Turkey, aged 45-65 at the time of the study, and who had experienced Covid-19 at least once before. The research data were collected through an online survey method using the Demographic Information Form, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the International Physical Activity Scale (IPAQ) - Short Form. The data obtained in the research were evaluated using quantitative analysis methods with the SPSS 25 program. While 57.6% of the participants stated that they did not experience a serious or distressing chest illness in the past year, 39% reported experiencing cough at times other than when they had a cold in the past year. Additionally, 41.1% reported experiencing shortness of breath at times other than when they had a cold in the past year. Furthermore, findings related to physical activity levels revealed that 27.1% of the participants were inactive, 51.3% were minimally active, and 21.5% were highly active. When the SGRQ Symptom Score was evaluated, the level of experiencing respiratory problems by the participants was calculated as 30%. These results indicated that respiratory system symptoms persisted after Covid-19 and constituted a significant health issue. Moreover, the findings demonstrated a significant impact of hospitalization due to Covid-19 on symptom severity and physical activity levels. Significant differences were also identified by gender and age, and these differences are presented in detail in the study.