Editorial: Post COVID-19 physical performance and functional capacity

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 infection can range from being asymptomatic to presenting with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations including symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and myalgia, as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal problems (1, 2). Furthermore, the pandemic has impacted individuals' health through indirect effects, such as in-person healthcare visits, and the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of other acute and chronic conditions (3). In particular, healthcare assessments have decreased by about a third, with greater reductions among people with less severe illnesses (4).Beyond the severe clinical manifestations of acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), about 80% of patients develop one or more long-term symptoms (5). Fatigue, dyspnea, headache, attention alteration, anxiety, mood disorders, and significant decline in quality of life are commonly reported symptoms associated with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (5, 6). Several studies have described a reduction of physical performance in COVID-19 survivors, as well as a worsening of functional ability, leading to a loss of independence following the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection (7, 8). Particularly in the case of prolonged hospitalizations, especially for critical illness, impaired physical performance is common and prior functional limitations are exacerbated. In the specific context of post-COVID-19, these deleterious effects may be further attributed to prolonged immobility and physical deconditioning, in addition to the pathophysiological mechanisms directly related to SARS-CoV-2 systemic inflammation and multiorgan damage.Based on these important considerations, the present Research Topic aimed to collect the most updated evidence on the impact of the pandemic on functional capacity, physical performance, and post-COVID-19 recovery, with a specific focus on the multidimensional performance of older adults.