COMPARISONS OF CHEST EXPANSION BETWEEN POST-COVID ADULTS AND NON-COVID HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Background: Post Covid -19 fibrosis is one of the emerging complications of COVID -19 pneumonia and ARDS. Reduced chest expansions may be secondary to fibrosis, consolidation, effusion, collapse or pneumothorax. Restrictive lung disease makes it difficult for the lungs to expand completely so making it harder for someone to inhale fully. Chest expansion measurement is important assessment in physical examination of post covid adults.

Aim: To compare chest expansion between non-covid healthy individuals and post covid adults.

Method: Total 120 participants were selected as per inclusion criteria for the study. The participants were allocated purposively into group A which consisted of non-covid adults and group B which consisted of post covid adults, 60 in each group. Group B was further divided into three groups according to HRCT score (mild, moderate, severe). Chest expansion was measured in both the groups at 2^nd intercostal space, 4^th intercostal space and xiphoid process by non-stretchable inch tape.

Results: The results showed that chest expansion reduces in post covid participant when compared to non-covid participant, P-value <0.0001 which was highly significant. It interprets that as the severity of HRCT increases, chest expansion reduces.

Conclusion: This study concluded that the chest expansion reduces in post covid patient compare to non-covid patient.