Functional Trajectories After COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Functional trajectories post-COVID-19 hospitalization in older adults remain poorly understood.
• Characterizing long-term functional outcomes is crucial for this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct functional trajectories among older adults (≥60 years) after COVID-19 hospitalization.
• To evaluate risk factors associated with different functional recovery paths over six months.

Main Methods:

• Latent class analysis was used to identify functional trajectories in 311 older adults.
• Disability in 15 functional activities was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-discharge.
• Multinomial regression analyzed associations between risk factors and trajectory membership.

Main Results:

• Four functional trajectories were identified: no (43%), mild (16%), moderate (23%), and severe (18%) disability.
• Pre-admission disability count, in-hospital delirium, frailty, comorbidities, illness severity, and age were associated with moderate to severe trajectories.
• In-hospital delirium and frailty showed strong associations with severe disability.

Conclusions:

• Older COVID-19 survivors exhibit diverse functional recovery patterns.
• Findings can inform clinical decision-making and guide research into modifiable risk factors for improved post-hospitalization care.