Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Geriatr. 2023 Jan 23;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-03757-w.
Older adults experience persistent symptoms post-COVID-19, termed as Long COVID, affecting their physical and mental health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Long COVID, level of physical activity, and functional decline on older adults' health-related quality of life post-COVID-19.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 older adults with 60 to 90 years old post-coronavirus infection. The standardized metrics used in the study were Fatigue Severity Scale, Physical Activity Elderly, SF12, Post-COVID-19 functional status scale, and COVID-19 Yorkshire rehabilitation screening scale. The severity of coronavirus infection was evaluated by changes in chest CT scan images and O saturation at hospital admission. Data were analyzed using linear regression analyses.
The results of regression analysis revealed six factors to be predictors of physical health at 6 months post-COVID-19 (F = 9.046, P < 0.001; explained variance 63%), which the significant factors were fatigue, level of physical activity, worsened pain, difficulties in activities of daily living and cognitive-communication problems. Among these factors, greater fatigue and worsened pain intensity were the strongest predictors. Mental health was associated with days of hospitalization and cognitive-communication problems (F = 2.866, P < 0.001; explained variance 35%).
Considering the negative impact of fatigue, pain, low physical activity, and cognitive-communication problems on health-related quality of life, early and accurate evaluation and management are required for recovered older adults post-COVID-19.
老年人在感染新冠病毒后会持续出现新冠后症状，即长新冠，这会影响他们的身心健康。本研究旨在评估长新冠、身体活动水平和功能下降对新冠后老年人健康相关生活质量的影响。
这是一项横断面研究，共纳入了 121 名 60 至 90 岁的新冠后老年人。本研究使用了疲劳严重程度量表、老年人身体活动量表、SF12、新冠后功能状态量表和新冠约克郡康复筛查量表等标准化指标。通过入院时的胸部 CT 扫描图像和血氧饱和度变化评估新冠感染的严重程度。使用线性回归分析进行数据分析。
回归分析的结果显示，有六个因素可预测新冠后 6 个月的身体健康状况（F=9.046，P<0.001；解释方差 63%），其中显著的因素是疲劳、身体活动水平、疼痛加重、日常生活活动困难和认知-沟通问题。在这些因素中，疲劳程度和疼痛加重程度是最强的预测因素。心理健康与住院天数和认知-沟通问题相关（F=2.866，P<0.001；解释方差 35%）。
鉴于疲劳、疼痛、低身体活动和认知-沟通问题对健康相关生活质量的负面影响，需要对新冠后康复的老年人进行早期、准确的评估和管理。
