INVESTIGATION OF PERSISTENT POST-COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, FRAILTY, KINESIOPHOBIA, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL CROSS‑SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare kinesiophobia and quality of life in older adults among subgroups created according to persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms and frailty. Methods: This study included 63 adults over the age of 65 with COVID-19.. Frailty was assessed with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) was used to assess the kinesiophobia and The World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD) was used to assess quality of life. Results: The TSK score was significantly higher in the visibly frail and frail group than in the non-frail group (p=0.040). The TSK score was also significantly higher in the group with at least one persistent symptom after COVID-19 than participants with no persistent symptoms (p=0.008). Among participants with at least one persistent post-COVID-19 symptom, the TSK score was significantly higher in those with persistent dyspnea compared to those without (p=0.016). There was no significant difference in the WHOQOL-OLD scores of any sub-groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that kinesiophobia was affected by the presence of persistent COVID-19 symptoms and dyspnea, and frailty in older adults. In addition, quality of life was found to be independent of frailty and persistent COVID-19 symptoms.