Background:

The information on functional decline after hospitalization for COVID-19 is limited in older adults (OAs).

Objective:

To determine the association of inflammation (ferritin) and coagulation markers (D-dimer) and clinical factors with the functional status of OAs who suffered from COVID-19 six months after hospital discharge in Mexico.

Material and methods:

Ambispective cohort study of 158 patients older than 65 years hospitalized for moderate-severe COVID-19 with complete electronic records that would allow to collect information and to contact them six months after discharge. Functional impairment was defined as a decrease ≥ 10 points on the Barthel index. Using logistic regression analysis, the risk of association of biochemical and clinical factors with functional deterioration during follow-up was determined.

Results:

46.2 % of participants exhibited functional decline. Associated factors included age ≥ 73 years (OR = 2.53), chronic kidney disease (OR = 4.57), an ABC-Goals score ≥ 8 (OR = 2.4), ferritin ≥ 605 ng/mL (OR = 3.94) and D-dimer ≥ 930 ng/mL (OR = 17.56).

Conclusion:

COVID-19 infection did not only represent a disease with a high risk of mortality during the acute phase, but is also associated with a high risk of functional impairment after hospital discharge.