Intrinsic capacity with COVID-19 infection and late complications in the older adult population.
- 1Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
- 2Student Research Committee, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
- 3Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds NHS Trusts Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, University of Leeds School of Medicine, University of Manchester, World Health Organisation Europe, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Background
Intrinsic capacity (IC) decline, infection susceptibility, and post-COVID sequelae in older adults, intensified by the pandemic, demand probing IC domains' infection/outcome links and population-level strategies for sustaining functional health.Methods
This cross-sectional study enrolled 600 older adults. IC was assessed using the World Health Organization's ICOPE framework. Post-COVID-19 condition was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, and late complications were evaluated via the culturally adapted and validated Persian C19-YRS questionnaire. COVID-19 infection status was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction testing of nasopharyngeal swabs or serological antibody assays. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 22, including independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and regression models.Results
Overall, most participants demonstrated relatively preserved IC across domains, although greater variability was observed in the psychological domain. In multivariable analysis, higher scores in the psychological IC domain were independently associated with COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.08). Lower cognitive and sensory IC scores were significantly associated with poorer functional ability (B = -0.35, 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.04; and B = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.90 to -0.10, respectively), while higher sensory IC scores were associated with better general health among participants with post-COVID-19 complications (B = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.01-0.47).Conclusion
These findings indicate meaningful associations between IC and both COVID-19 infection status and post-infectious health outcomes in older adults. Monitoring and supporting IC may be relevant for maintaining functional independence and quality of life in ageing populations during and after widespread infectious disease outbreaks.
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BibTeX
@article{nikbakht2026intrinsic,
title = {{Intrinsic capacity with COVID-19 infection and late complications in the older adult population.}},
author = {Hossein-Ali Nikbakht and Afsaneh Bakhtiari and Negar Tamadoni and Manoj Sivan and Maryam Ghorbanzadeh},
journal = {Caspian journal of internal medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.22088/cjim.17.3.572},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923631},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Intrinsic capacity with COVID-19 infection and late complications in the older adult population.
AU - Hossein-Ali Nikbakht
AU - Afsaneh Bakhtiari
AU - Negar Tamadoni
AU - Manoj Sivan
AU - Maryam Ghorbanzadeh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Caspian journal of internal medicine
DO - 10.22088/cjim.17.3.572
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923631
AB - Background Intrinsic capacity (IC) decline, infection susceptibility, and post-COVID sequelae in older adults, intensified by the pandemic, demand probing IC domains' infection/outcome links and population-level strategies for sustaining functional health.Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 600 older adults. IC was assessed using the World Health Organization's ICOPE framework. Post-COVID-19 condition was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, and late complications were evaluated via the culturally adapted and validated Persian C19-YRS questionnaire. COVID-19 infection status was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction testing of nasopharyngeal swabs or serological antibody assays. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 22, including independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and regression models.Results Overall, most participants demonstrated relatively preserved IC across domains, although greater variability was observed in the psychological domain. In multivariable analysis, higher scores in the psychological IC domain were independently associated with COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.08). Lower cognitive and sensory IC scores were significantly associated with poorer functional ability (B = -0.35, 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.04; and B = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.90 to -0.10, respectively), while higher sensory IC scores were associated with better general health among participants with post-COVID-19 complications (B = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.01-0.47).Conclusion These findings indicate meaningful associations between IC and both COVID-19 infection status and post-infectious health outcomes in older adults. Monitoring and supporting IC may be relevant for maintaining functional independence and quality of life in ageing populations during and after widespread infectious disease outbreaks.
SN - 2008-6164
SN - 2008-6172
ER -