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Since late 2019, the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has introduced a wide array of health challenges globally. In addition to a complex acute presentation that can affect multiple organ systems, increasing evidence points to long-term sequelae being common and impactful. As the worldwide scientific community forges ahead with efforts to characterize a wide range of outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the proliferation of available data has made it clear that formal definitions are needed in order to design robust and consistent studies of Long COVID that consistently capture variation in long-term outcomes. In the present study, we investigate the definitions used in the literature published to date and compare them against data available from electronic health records and patient-reported information collected via surveys. Long COVID holds the potential to produce a second public health crisis on the heels of the pandemic. Proactive efforts to identify the characteristics of this heterogeneous condition are imperative for a rigorous scientific effort to investigate and mitigate this threat.

Purpose of review We provide an update on the recent advances in nutrition research regarding the role of protein intake in the development and treatment of sarcopenia of aging. Recent findings Specific muscle mass, strength and function cutpoints for the diagnosis of sarcopenia have been identified. There is mounting evidence, as highlighted by multiple consensus statements, that the RDA (0.8g/kg BW) may be inadequate to promote optimal health in older adults. Recent research also indicates that in addition to total daily protein intake also the timing of protein intake is important to best stimulate muscle protein synthesis and maintain muscle mass and function in older adults. Summary Recent evidence suggests that the RDA for protein is inadequate and that the timing and distribution of protein consumption throughout daily meals may be as important as the total quantity. Research has continued to advance our understanding of protein’s effects on muscle metabolism; however, there remains a need for large, long-term, randomized clinical trials examining whether the positive effects of dietary protein on muscle metabolism seen in acute studies will translate over the long term into gains of muscle mass, function, and overall health of older adults.

Objective We reviewed randomized trials to examine the effect of home and community-based physical activity interventions on physical functioning among cancer survivors based on the most prevalent physical function measures. Data Sources Five electronic databases—Medline Ovid, Pubmed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsychINFO—were searched from inception to March 2016 for relevant articles. Study Selection Search terms included: community-based interventions, physical functioning, and cancer survivors. A reference librarian trained in systematic reviews conducted the final search. Detail protocol is registered on PROSPERO (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) CRD42016036730. Data Extraction Four reviewers evaluated eligibility and two reviewers evaluated methodological quality. Data were abstracted from studies that used the most prevalent physical function measurement tools—Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, Late Life Function and Disability Instrument, European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire, and six minute walk test. Random or fixed effects models were conducted to obtain overall effect size per physical function measure. Data Synthesis Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria and were used to compute standardized mean differences using inverse variance statistical method. The median sample size was 83 participants. The majority of the studies were conducted among breast cancer survivors (n = 7). The interventions produced short-term positive effects on physical functioning with overall effect sizes ranging from small (0.17, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.27) to medium (0.45, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.67). Community-based interventions that met in groups and used behavioral change strategies produced the largest effect sizes. Conclusions Home and community-based physical activity interventions may be a potential tool to combat functional deterioration among aging cancer survivors. More studies are needed among other cancer types using clinically relevant objective functional measures (e.g., gait speed) to accelerate translation into the community and clinical practice.