Publication date: Sep 02, 2025
Background: Immediately after discharge from hospital, COVID-19 patients have poor physical function and impaired performance in activities of daily living. Persisting symptoms and cognitive impairments have been reported, but the long-term impact on objectively measured physical activity (PA) in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 is not clear. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to compare objectively measured PA and physical function 12 months post discharge in patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 with age- and sex-matched healthy controls and to elucidate the impact of ICU admission on these outcomes. PA was objectively assessed using accelerometry in patients, healthy controls, and in a subset of partners of patients. Additionally, lung function, physical function (six-minute walk distance (6 MWD) and isometric quadriceps and handgrip force), symptom experience, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were evaluated in patients with and without ICU admission. Results: Included in the study were 101 patients (60 +/- 10 years, 69% male), 36 healthy controls (60 +/- 9 years, 58% male), and 14 partners (55 +/- 8 years, 21% male). Daily step count and movement intensity (MI) during walking in patients were significantly lower compared with healthy controls (6726 +/- 328 vs. 8155 +/- 555 n. day, p = 0. 03 and 1. 99 +/- 0. 04 vs. 2. 21 +/- 0. 07 min/s. day, p = 0. 005). PA levels of patients and their partners were comparable. Physical function, symptom experience, HRQoL, and PA levels were comparable in patients with and without ICU admission (p > 0. 05). Daily step count was weakly positively associated with 6 MWD (r = 0. 30). Conclusions: One year post discharge, patients had lower PA levels than healthy controls. ICU admission did not affect physical function, symptoms, HRQoL or activity levels.
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Daily | COVID-19 |
| Handgrip | health status |
| Hospital | hospitalization |
| Isometric | intensive care units |
| Quadriceps |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | cognitive impairments |
| disease | IDO | symptom |
| disease | IDO | quality |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Etodolac |
| disease | MESH | Respiratory Diseases |
| disease | MESH | Chronic Diseases |
| pathway | REACTOME | Metabolism |
| disease | MESH | infections |
| disease | MESH | anxiety |
| disease | MESH | hair loss |
| disease | MESH | smell disorder |
| disease | MESH | dyspnea |
| disease | MESH | abnormalities |
| disease | MESH | critically ill |
| disease | MESH | long COVID |
| disease | IDO | infection |
| disease | MESH | syndrome |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Water |
| disease | MESH | COPD |
| disease | MESH | health status |