Musculoskeletal symptoms and relationship with laboratory findings in patients with COVID-19

To investigate the frequency of fatigue and musculoskeletal symptoms and their correlation with laboratory data in patients with COVID-19.

This study included 80 patients hospitalised and treated for COVID-19 in the infectious diseases clinic between March 2020 and May 2020. Data analysis was performed retrospectively from the hospital medical charts. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings were noted. Clinical symptoms and correlations with laboratory results were assessed. Besides, an analysis of patients with and without chronic disease was performed for clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.

The frequencies of myalgia and fatigue were 46.1% and 50%, respectively. In the laboratory data, there was a significant increase in creatinine kinase (CK) level and lymphocyte count in the patients with myalgia symptoms (P < .05). There were no other significant results in the laboratory data. Of the patients with chronic disease, it has been shown that hemoglobin levels were significantly decreased (P < .05), while D-dimer was markedly increased (P < .05).

The laboratory findings of COVID-19-related myalgia suggested that patients might have a risk of progressive muscle injury. Therefore, these patients should also be followed up in terms of the myopathic process.