Lung Function in Post-COVID-19 Nursing Home Residents

Associated Factors for Impaired Lung Function in Post-COVID Nursing Home Residents

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) took a toll in institutionalised older adults, who represent a vulnerable population in European countries.

The aim of this study is to identify the predictive factors that worsens lung function in post-COVID nursing home (NH) residents.

This is a multicenter case-control study in nursing homes of Osona (Catalonia), where individuals with worsened (cases) and normal (controls) lung function will be studied. The inclusion criteria are: female and male from 65 to 95 years old, preserved cognitive capacity and positive diagnosis of COVID-19 at least 3 months prior.

We will assess sociodemographic variables, lung function [spirometry], fatigue [Chalder Fatigue Scale], frailty [Clinical Frailty Scale], and activities of daily living (ADL) [modified Barthel index].

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 184

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Barcelona
    • Vic, Barcelona, Spain, 08500
      • Faculty of Health Sciences and Welfare

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The population will be institutionalised older adults previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, either symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male and female
• preserved cognitive function
• previous positive diagnosis of COVID-19 at a minimum of 3 months to the day of data collection
• individuals living permanently in a nursing home

Exclusion Criteria:

• individuals in coma or palliative care
• any contraindication to perform spirometry (severe hypertension, myocardial infarction in the past week, non compensated heart failure, etc).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Case; Individuals with impaired lung function, according to spirometry results (FVC ≤ LLN and FEV1/FVC ≥ LLN).	Other: Previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2; This is an observational study in which no intervention will be applied.
Control; Individuals with normal lung function	Other: Previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2; This is an observational study in which no intervention will be applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lung function	Lung function will be assessed by spirometry.	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sociodemographic variables	Sociodemographic variables (age, gender, length of institutionalization) will be collected through an interview.	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Anthropometric variables	Anthropometric variables (weight and height) will be collected by means of a scale and a measuring tape, respectively.	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Health variables	Health variables (history of comorbidities) will be collected directly in the medical records of each participant.	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
COVID-19 variables	The following variables related to COVID-19 will be collected from the medical records of each participant: diagnostic tests (PCR and serological test), suspicious case (symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty breathing, etc.), previous hospitalization for COVID-19 (yes/no, duration), use of mechanical ventilation during hospitalization (yes/no, duration) and vaccination (yes/no, type).	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Fatigue	Fatigue levels will be collected using the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11)	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Frailty	Frailty levels will be assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS).	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Dependency levels	Dependency levels will be assessed using the Barthel modified index.	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia
• Collaborators: Catalan Board of Physiotherapists

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 25, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 19, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; COVID-19
• Other Study ID Numbers: LUNGFUNCTIONCFCR101

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Research data cannot be shared due to ethical issues regarding patients' privacy according to the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (Spain). Only the study results may be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No