Background and Objectives Hospitalization by Covid‐19 can cause persistent functional consequences after hospital discharge due to direct and indirect effects of SARS‐COV‐2 in several organs and systems of the body added to post‐intensive care syndrome and prolonged bed rest. These impacts can lead to dependency in activities of daily living, mainly in older people due to aging process and functional decline. This study aimed to compare the effects of hospitalization by Covid‐19 on functional capacity of adults and older people and to identify its associated factors. Methods Cross‐sectional observational study of 159 survivors of hospitalization by Covid‐19 after 1 month from discharge at Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo, divided into groups: adults (aged < 60 years) and older people (aged ≥ 60 years). Those who did not accept to participate, without availability or without ability to understand the questionnaires were excluded. Functional capacity was assessed by the Barthel Index and patients were classified according to their scores. Data analysis was performed in JASP Statistics program and the sample was compared between the age groups. Wilcoxon test was applied to compare before and after periods, Mann–Whitney test was used for between groups comparison. We adopted alpha = 0.05. Results The total Barthel Index median score was lower 1 month after hospital discharge than in the pre‐Covid‐19 period. Older people had worse functional status than adults before and also showed greater impairment after hospital discharge. Both groups showed lower Barthel Index classification than before, and older people presented more functional dependence than adults in both periods. Age, sarcopenia and frailty were associated factors. Discussion Hospitalization by Covid‐19 impacts functional capacity after 1 month from discharge, especially in older people. Age, sarcopenia and frailty are associated factors. These results suggest need for care and rehabilitation of Covid‐19 survivors.

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Background Spatial orientation is a cognitive domain frequently compromised in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and may be one of its first clinical manifestations. Some studies have shown that allocentric integration with egocentric spatial information seems to be impaired in this pathology. There is no consensus on how best to assess spatial orientation and traditional tests lack ecological validity, but, recently, virtual reality (VR) has provided new opportunities for this assessment. Objectives To analyze the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual task developed to assess spatial orientation, the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Maze Test (SOIVET-Maze) in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. Methods Forty-three older adults were included in the study, 24 without cognitive impairment and 19 with mild cognitive impairment. Applicability was assessed by the Witmer and Singer Sense of Presence Questionnaire and a questionnaire for adverse events of cybersickness. To assess stability, participants were assessed twice with an interval of 7 to 14 days, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated between visits. The t test or the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare applicability and stability between groups. Results There was no significant difference between the groups regarding applicability. A strong correlation between the first and second day of testing was found in the mild cognitive impairment group. Conclusion The SOIVET-Maze task showed excellent applicability and good stability, favoring its clinical application for the evaluation of spatial orientation in older adults.

O presente trabalho foi realizado com apoio da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior -Brasil (CAPES) -Código de Financiamento 001.Primeiramente, gratidão eterna ao Grande Mestre que rege todo esse Universo, assim como a minha vida. Por mais essa imensa oportunidade que recebi e, acima de tudo, por iluminar meus passos, fortalecer a minha fé e acalentar meu coração durante toda trajetória que percorri até aqui.A minha mãe Neuza, pessoa incrivelmente determinada, guerreira, doce e honesta que formou meu caráter através de exemplos e amor incondicional.Por todas as palavras certas nos momentos certos, ou apenas pelo seu silêncio acompanhado de um colo macio e mãos iluminadas nos momentos de cansaço físico, mental e emocional.Ao meu irmão mais velho Rodrigo, agradeço pelo homem extremamente honesto e doce que é, e por me fazer enxergar minha força a cada desafio. Ao meu querido irmão Vinícius, agradeço pela divertida e leve companhia e amizade em todos os momentos vividos, pela força imensurável e por ser um exemplo para mim através de suas virtudes.Ao meu querido parceiro de vida Ricardo, agradeço pela paciência e presença, pelo respeito por minhas escolhas profissionais e pessoais, pelo amparo quando precisei, por me fazer enxergar o lado bom da vida e, acima de tudo, por me mostrar que todos os esforços sempre valerão a pena. Aos meus amigos amados que me acompanham de perto e de longe.Agradeço pelas vibrações positivas de sempre, pelo amor e pelo afeto, pela compreensão durante mais esses anos de ausência e por me ajudarem a manter minha essência.A todas as pessoas envolvidas no desenvolvimento desse estudo: Michelle, parceira de projeto, coletas e estudos. Agradeço pelo companheirismo, por toda ajuda desde o princípio, pela amizade, falas necessárias e conselhos certeiros. A Raquel, pioneira desse estudo, agradeço por me receber de braços abertos, por tudo que me ensinou, pela confiança depositada e pelas palavras de incentivo e otimismo. Ao Emerson por todo seu profissionalismo, por sua disposição em sempre nos ajudar e pelos laços de amizades criados.humana".

ABSTRACT. Spatial orientation is defined as the ability to find one’s way around an environment, follow familiar routes, recognize places, and learn new routes. Spatial disorientation is one of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and traditional cognitive evaluation lacks ecological validity. Therefore, new assessment methods are needed for the early identification of this cognitive impairment. Objective: This study aimed to compare the applicability and stability of an immersive virtual reality (VR) system developed to assess route learning between older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The study sample included 43 older adults: 22 without MCI and 23 with MCI. Applicability was assessed based on the recording of adverse events and the sense of presence reported through questionnaires. The Mann–Whitney U test was applied to compare the applicability of the Spatial Orientation in Immersive Virtual Environment Test (SOIVET)-Route task between older adults with and without MCI. Both short- and long-term stabilities of the task were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The mean age of participants was 71.4 years (SD=5.5). A minimum number of adverse events (mean=1.46; SD=2.11) and high levels of presence (mean=138.04; SD=14.80) were reported, and there was no difference between groups with and without MCI. A good to excellent correlation was found for short-term stability (CCI 0.78) and a reasonable correlation was found for long-term stability (CCI 0.58). Conclusions: The VR system was applicable for older adults and showed a good to excellent correlation for short-term stability.