Canadian study finds Covid-19 associated with worsening mobility, which has fall risk implications
Posted January 26, 2022
Researchers at McMaster University in a recent cohort study of more than 24,000 middle-aged and older adults found that mild-to-moderate Covid-19 was associated with worsening ability to move around and difficulties in physical functioning.
Those who were suspected to have had Covid-19 were also two times as likely to report worsening ability to move around in the home, stand up after sitting in a chair, engage in housework activity, and participate in physical activity, such as walking two to three blocks.
Study results showed that sociodemographic risk factors and having 3 or more chronic conditions were associated with a decline in mobility and/or functioning. These risk factors have been associated with severe COVID-19 and its complications.
Published January 12th the study is available in free full text with JAMA Network Open at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787975
The study does have some limitations:
- not all Covid-19 cases were confirmed with testing,
- only a small number of the participants had Covid-19 and that
- functional ability was not assessed using performance-based tests.
It is an excellent article, and very useful for Loop members to know about, especially for the concerns about mobility and gait problems related to fall risk.
Related Canadian resources on COVID-19 and Falls
1. The Loop Evidence Summary on Fall Prevention and COVID-19 https://www.fallsloop.com/knowledge-products/1028/evidence-summary-fall-prevention-and-covid-19
2. CIHI report: Impact of COVID-19 on accidental falls in Canada: https://www.cihi.ca/en/impact-of-covid-19-on-accidental-falls-in-canada
3. Dr Nathan Stall and Dr Samir Sinha. (2020)“Typically Atypical: COVID-19 presenting as a fall in an older adult” J Am Geriatr Soc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7267373/
Have you seen after-effects of COVID-19 in relation to mobility and fall risk?