Clinical and Preventive Medicine · Oct 17, 2026

CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RECOVERY IN WORKING-AGE ADULTS AFTER COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

By Горошко ВІ, Ємець АВ, Скріннік ЄО et al.

Introduction. Functional limitations may persist after the acute phase of community-acquired pneumonia and delay return to daily and occupational activities. Aim. To investigate clinical and functional status and age-related recovery characteristics in working-age adults during 30 days after community-acquired pneumonia and to substantiate the individualization of physical therapy. Materials and methods. A prospective clinical and functional study involved 73 participants. The main group included 48 patients after community-acquired pneumonia, divided into age subgroups of 18–22, 45–55, and 56–64 years; the control group included 25 participants. Functional status was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test, the 10-meter walk test, the 6-minute walk test, the mMRC dyspnea scale, and the Borg CR10 scale. Patients then completed a personalized 30-day physical therapy program. Results. Compared with controls, patients had lower functional mobility, walking speed, and exercise tolerance. The most pronounced limitations occurred in the 56–64-year subgroup: median Timed Up and Go time was 13.0 s, walking speed 0.86 m/s, 6-minute walk distance 385 m, post-exercise oxygen saturation 91%, and heart rate 126 beats/min. After 30 days, complete or nearly complete functional recovery was observed in 24 of 48 patients (50.0%). The frequency of insufficient recovery increased with age, from 34.8% to 56.3% and 77.8%. Dyspnea at mMRC ≥2 persisted in 43.8% of patients and severe fatigue in 50.0%. Overall, 37.5% had not returned to usual daily activity, 25.0% had not returned to professional or educational-professional activity, and 37.5% required further rehabilitation support. Conclusions. Thirty days after community-acquired pneumonia, half of the working-age adults had insufficient functional recovery. Older age groups showed greater impairment in mobility and exercise tolerance, as well as more severe dyspnea and fatigue. Comprehensive clinical and functional assessment should guide individualized physical therapy and the need for continued rehabilitation.

doi.org/10.31612/2616-4868.7.2026.15 Open access Interventions