Associations Between Eating, Mobility, and Toileting Functional Dependence and COVID-19 Symptoms

Abstract

ObjectivesThe first goal of this study was to explore associations between functional dependence levels during activities of daily living (eg, functional mobility, eating, and toileting) before COVID-19 and presence of COVID-19 symptoms (eg, fever, dehydration, lethargy, and shortness of breath) during illness. The second goal of this study was to explore associations between presence of specific COVID-19 symptoms and level of functional decline from before to after illness. DesignRetrospective cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 375 residents at a single skilled nursing facility in New York City. MethodsData were extracted from the Minimum Data Set 3.0 and chart reviews. Multiple linear regressions analyzed relationships between baseline functional dependence in eating, functional mobility, and toileting and presence of dehydration, lethargy, shortness of breath, and fever. Ordinal linear regressions analyzed associations between COVID-19 symptom presence and changes in functional dependence from before to after illness. ResultsPre–COVID-19 eating dependence was significantly associated with dehydration during COVID-19. Dehydration during COVID-19 was significantly associated with greater functional declines in functional mobility from before to after illness. Shortness of breath was significantly associated with increased functional declines in eating and functional mobility. Conclusions and ImplicationsPatients with COVID-19 should be monitored for shortness of breath and dehydration, as these symptoms are associated with functional decline. Individuals experiencing functional decline before COVID-19 onset are especially vulnerable to these symptoms. Future research should further explore the relationship between functional status and COVID-19 symptoms.