Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39949717›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in sports and active living2025

Physical impairments in individuals with Long COVID.

Imane Salmam, Kadija Perreault, Krista L Best, Imane Zahouani, Gilles Drouin, Jean Tittley, François Desmeules, Alexandre Campeau-Lecours, Simon Beaulieu-Bonneau, Jean-Sébastien Paquette and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in sports and active living, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Imane SalmamCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Kadija PerreaultCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Krista L BestCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Imane ZahouaniHospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Gilles DrouinCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Jean TittleyCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
François DesmeulesHospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Alexandre Campeau-LecoursCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Simon Beaulieu-BonneauCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Jean-Sébastien PaquetteVITAM-Research Centre on Sustainable Health, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Simon DeslauriersVITAM-Research Centre on Sustainable Health, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Sarah-Maude BrouillardPatient Partners, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Katherine LepagePatient Partners, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Jean-Sébastien RoyCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Réactualisation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective was to compare the physical capacities of individuals with Long COVID [Long COVID group (LCG)] to those who had COVID-19 but did not develop persistent symptoms [short COVID group (SCG)], and to individuals without a history of COVID-19 [control group (CG)]. The secondary objectives were to provide a comprehensive profile of sociodemographic and COVID-19 history of individuals with Long COVID, considering factors such as sex, gender, hospitalization, time since onset, and comorbidities, and b) identify self-reported and objective clinical measures explaining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with Long COVID. Methods: A total of 120 adults were included in each of the groups. Participants completed self-reported assessments covering HRQoL, comorbidities, pain, sleep, and fatigue. Physical assessments included handgrip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 6-minute-walk-test (6MWT), perceived exertion during the 6MWT (Modified-Borg Scale), and daily step count during a 7-day period. Results: Mean age (mean [SD]) for LCG, SCG, and CG was 44.2 [11.2], 42.1 [16.4], and 46[15.9], respectively. LCG showed significantly higher pain, comorbidities, and fatigue, along with lower HRQoL and sleep quality compared to the other groups. HGS, SPPB, and 6MWT performance were also significantly lower in LCG, while perceived exertion during 6MWT was higher. Finally, the number of steps per day was significantly lower in LCG. Higher prevalence of obesity and comorbidities were identified among those hospitalized after COVID-19. Fatigue, pain, comorbidities, and Step count were the variables explaining HRQoL for LCG ( Conclusion: Long COVID individuals, on average 329 [146] days post-infection, experience enduring physical and health-related challenges, with significant implications for their overall well-being.

Indexed as

fatigueLong COVIDpersistent symptomsphysical impairmentspost-COVID-19 syndrome

Identifiers

PMID39949717
PMCPMC11821922

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.