Coronavírus interfere na qualidade de vida e ansiedade na Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica

Abstract

On Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) the degeneration of motor neurons causes, due to the interference of nerve impulses transmission, the functionality commitment and consequently the individuals’ quality of life (QF). Although, on the COVID-19 pandemic context cause by social isolation, there was the reinforcement of these functional disorders raising to detrimental psychological conditions like anxiety associated with QF. To assess if the social isolation due to COVID-19, affected the axiety and QF levels on patients with ALS. Eighteen individuals with average age of 46,72 ± 14,09 years old, and average diagnosis time of ALS of 2,8 ±1,75 years, were assessed using the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40/BR), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and clinic-epidemiological questionnaires. Descriptive analysis, Shapiro Wilk test and Pearson’s correlation were used. On MMSE the individuals got average score of 27,33±1,90. It was observed in ALSAQ-40/BR decreased QF (70,03 ± 23,17) and on HAM-A scale 50% of the individuals showed anxiety. However, there was no significant correlation between HAM-A and ALSAQ40/BR (p=0,07). On this study, both questionnaires indicated a decreasing in QF and anxiety presence on the individual with ALS during the COVID-19 pandemic period, even though no correlation among the analyzed objects was found. It is indicated the monitoring during interval periods to define the damages from social isolation and by attendance therapy restriction as physical therapy to preserve the QF.