EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON PAIN, FALL FREQUENCY, FEAR OF FALLING, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL IN OLDER PEOPLE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Purpose: People who have recovered from COVID-19 may experience a range of symptoms. These symptoms are linked to negative changes in pain, falls, fear of falling, and physical activity. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on pain, fall frequency, fear of falling, and physical activity level in older people, as well as identify associated factors with these variables. Methods: Participants were divided into two groups for this cross-sectional study: COVID-19 (n=48) and healthy control (n=66). Pain, number of falls, fear of falling, and physical activity level of the participants were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis was also used to identify factors associated with these variables. Participants were also asked about their demographics, illnesses, post-COVID-19 symptoms, smoking habits, who they lived with, how long they had been infected with COVID-19, hospitalization due to COVID-19, and the doses of the vaccine. Results: Pain, fatigue, and cognitive impairment were found to be significantly more prevalent in the COVID-19 group (p=0.001, p=0.021, p=0.011, respectively). When compared to the control group, the COVID-19 group showed worse results in terms of pain intensity, the number of falls, fear of falling, and physical activity level (p=0.009, p=0.030, p=0.005, p<0.001, respectively). It was found that COVID-19 infection significantly predicted pain intensity and physical activity level (β=-0.273, p=0.007; β=0.416, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Older adults who have had COVID-19 experience more pain, falls, fear of falling, and reduced physical activity compared to their peers. COVID-19 affects pain severity and physical activity in older individuals after recovery. It is important to assess long-term symptoms, falls, and physical activity in older adults who have had COVID-19 and provide necessary treatments.