Functional Capacity Among Brazilian Older Adults 12 Months After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Evidence suggests that older adults who survived COVID-19 were exposed to greater functional dependence in their daily living activities. This study aims to examine the prevalence of functional dependence and associated factors among Brazilian older people with functional dependence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving people aged 60 years or older in the state of Paraná, Brazil. One year after notification or hospital discharge due to COVID-19, between June 2021 and March 2022, participants responded to a questionnaire via telephone call about sociodemographic data and data on functionality using the Measure of Functional Independence (FIM). The outcome variable “assessment of functional capacity” was divided into functional dependence (FIM Total < 104) and functional independence (FIM Total ≥ 104). Results: A total of 768 older adults participated, with an average age of 68.03 ± 6.8 years (range between 60 and 100). A majority of them were female (50.3%), white (46%), with low education (37.4%), had a partner (56.3%), did not live alone (72.4%), and had their own home (52.2%). The prevalence of functional dependence was 7.2%. On average, participants scored 5.4 points lower on FIM one year after COVID-19 infection compared with those in the acute phase of COVID-19 (125.5 vs. 120.1; p < 0.001). Functional dependence was higher (p < 0.05) among women when compared to men (aOR = 2.28); in people who changed their work situation due to COVID-19 when compared to those with no change (aOR = 5.27); in people with fair/poor/bad self-reported health compared to those with excellent/good health (aOR = 2.97); in people with cardiovascular symptoms compared to those without cardiovascular symptoms (aOR = 3.37); and among the most severe cases of the disease (treatment in ICU) compared to mild cases (outpatient treatment) (aOR = 10.5). Conclusions: Most participants presented functional independence 12 months after COVID-19 infection. Cases of functional dependence were influenced by multidimensional factors, including physical health, economic, and psychosocial aspects.