Table 1.

Studies of long COVID in the elderly.

Source	Study Type	Country	Primary Aim	Sex (% Male)	Age Range (Years)	Total Pts (n)	Results
Daitch et al. [28]	Prospective cohort	Israel, Switzerland, Spain, Italy	To estimate the prevalence of long-COVID symptoms among older adults and to explore independent risk factors for fatigue and dyspnea.	50.8	35–66	2333	Older patients had gone to the recovery clinic about one month earlier than younger participants (p < 0.001) and had higher rates of any symptoms (80.0% vs. 64.2%, p < 0.001). However, age was not an independent predictor of fatigue and dyspnea.
Tosato et al. [30]	Cross-sectional	Italy	To provide multidisciplinary and individualized follow-up for COVID-19 survivors in the elderly.	61.6	67–80	165	The presence of more symptoms during the acute phase is associated with a higher risk of symptom persistence beyond 2 months after hospital discharge. The presence of fatigue is a major risk factor for symptom persistence.
Martincheck et al. [34]	Observational retrospective	US	To evaluate the outcome of a COVID-19 outbreak on the weight of older residents in a nursing facility.	44.0	63–86	209	During the acute phase of infection, which lasts about 2 weeks, the patients are likely to lose 5–10% of body weight.
Paneroni et al. [36]	Cross-sectional	Italy	To evaluate skeletal muscle strength, exercise intolerance, and symptoms in a cohort of patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia without preexisting disabilities.	61.0	40–88	41	The strength of the biceps brachii and quadriceps femoris were 69 and 54% of the predicted normal value in 73 and 86% of patients, respectively. The functionality of these large muscle groups was equally impaired.
Paneroni et al. [37]	Cross-sectional comparative study	Italy	To evaluate whether frail elderly recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia have altered vascular endothelium-dependent responsiveness.	73.0	57–78	22	The peak femoral blood flow was reduced in frail elderly patients at about 100 days after hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia
Douaud et al. [52]	Case control	UK	To investigate the relationship between the use of psychotropic medications and post-COVID incident dementia.	42.9	51.3–81.4	785	Pre-COVID psychotropic medication use was associated with a higher 1-year incidence of dementia, after controlling for patient demographics, characteristics, and severity of acute COVID-19 illness (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.37/4.32).

PCS, Post-COVID-19 syndrome; US, United States; UK, United Kingdom; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.