Comunicación y deglución en el paciente con COVID-19: El caso de Puerto RicoIntroduction: At the end of 2019, the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) was announced, affecting areas of health such as communication and swallowing.
Objective: To describe the sequelae of COVID-19 on communication and swallowing in individuals diagnosed with the virus in Puerto Rico.
Methods: Quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive-correlational research. Data was collected through an online questionnaire. The sample consisted of 67 participants, over 21 years of age, residents of Puerto Rico diagnosed with COVID-19 and who presented associated symptoms.
Results: Participants presented problems with attention (29.9%), mental fatigue (59.7%), identification of tastes (40.3%) and odors in food (34.3%), as well as choking (57%). 56% of participants with COVID-19 symptoms for 16 days or more, described difficulty speaking. Other symptoms identified were vertigo and voice difficulties such as dry throat, hoarseness and vocal fatigue.
Conclusions: COVID-19 affected the areas of communication and swallowing. In the face of emerging trends in the prolonged sequelae of COVID-19, healthcare professionals should be aware of the relationship between the previous diagnosis of the virus and the general health status of patients.
Keywords:
COVID-19; hearing; cognition; voice; swallowing