Publication:
Hand grip strength before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in community-dwelling older adults.

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2021-06-19

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Del Brutto, Oscar H
Mera, Robertino M
Pérez, Pedro
Recalde, Bettsy Y
Costa, Aldo F
Sedler, Mark J

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To assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and decreased hand grip strength (HGS). Longitudinal population-based study. Community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥60 years) living in a rural Ecuadorian village struck by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Of 282 enrolled individuals, 254 (90%) finished the study. HGS was measured 3 months before (January 2020) and 9 months after the introduction of the virus into the population (January 2021). SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was performed in two rounds: in May-June (early) and September-November (late), 2020. An independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and HGS decline was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Changes in HGS scores in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive subjects, according to the time elapsed since seroconversion, were compared with those who remained seronegative. Overall, 149 (59%) individuals became seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. The mean HGS (in kg) was 25.3 ± 8.3 at baseline and 23.7 ± 8.1 at follow-up (p = 0.028), with 140 individuals having >5% HGS decline between both measurements. The follow-up HGS measurement decreased by 1.72 kg in seropositive individuals, and by 0.57 kg in their seronegative counterparts (p 5% HGS decline between both measurements. The follow-up HGS measurement decreased by 1.72 kg in seropositive individuals, and by 0.57 kg in their seronegative counterparts (p 5% HGS decline at the time of the follow-up than those with later, i.e., more recent, infections. This study shows an independent deleterious impact of SARS-CoV-2 on HGS that is more marked among individuals with infections that occurred more than 8 months before follow-up HGS. Results suggest the possibility of chronic damage to skeletal muscles by SARS-CoV-2.

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Aftercare
Aged
COVID-19
COVID-19 Serological Testing
Ecuador
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Hand Strength
Health Services for the Aged
Humans
Independent Living
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Rural Population
SARS-CoV-2
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

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COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, hand grip, older adults, rural communities

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