Body Composition and Physical Performance 1 Year After COVID-19

ObjectiveLong-term consequences after COVID-19 include physical complaints, which may impair physical recovery and quality of life.DesignWe assessed body composition and physical ability in patients 12 months after COVID-19. Consecutively recruited patients recovering from mild to severe COVID-19 were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis, 6-min-walk test, additional scales for physical performance and health-related quality of life.ResultsOverall physical recovery was good (i.e., Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended >= 7 in 96%, Modified Rankin Scale <= 1 in 87%, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group <= 1 in 99%). Forty-four percent of the 69 patients experienced a significant body mass index increase in the year after COVID-19 (>= 1 kg/m2), whereas skeletal muscle mass index was reduced in only 12%. Patients requiring intensive care treatment (n = 15, 22%) during acute COVID-19 more often had a body mass index increase (P = 0.002), worse 6-min-walk test-performance (P = 0.044), and higher body fat mass (P = 0.030) at the 1-yr follow-up when compared with patients with mild (n = 22, 32%) and moderate (n = 32, 46%) acute COVID-19. Body mass index increase was also more frequent in patients who had no professional rehabilitation (P = 0.014).ConclusionsAlthough patients with severe COVID-19 had increased body mass index and body fat and performed worse in physical outcome measures 1 yr after COVID-19, overall physical recovery was satisfying. Translating these findings to variants beyond the Alpha strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus needs further studies.