Association of intrinsic capacity with COVID19 infection and immunosenescence in community-dwelling older adults

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-8757.2026.03.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the association between intrinsic capacity and COVID-19 infection as well as immunosenescence in community-dwelling older adults, and to provide evidence for precision health management in this population.

Methods

A total of 190 community-dwelling older adults who established health records at Zhejiang Hospital between January 2023 to December 2024 were enrolled as subjects. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire and the intrinsic capacity assessment scale for older adults. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and other immune function parameters were measured. Latent profile model was employed to identify latent profiles of intrinsic capacity. Univariate analysis was performed to compare clinical and immunological characteristics across different profiles, and multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with heterogeneity in intrinsic capacity.

Results

Three latent profiles of intrinsic capacity were identified: the sensory-cognitive impairment group (n=28), the mobility-cognitive decline group (n=36), and the mobility-psychologically well group (n=126). Significant differences were observed among the three groups in sex, history of COVID-19 infection, age, body mass index, and lymphocyte count (χ²=15.172, 11.247; H=73.046, 10.695, 13.750; P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased age (OR=1.115, 95%CI:1.059-1.173, P < 0.01) and abnormal lymphocyte count (OR=3.537, 95%CI: 1.325-9.442, P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the sensory-cognitive impairment; increased age (OR=1.265, 95%CI:1.169-1.369, P < 0.01) and history of COVID-19 infection (OR=8.115, 95%CI: 1.945-33.854, P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for the mobility-cognitive decline.

Conclusion

Intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults demonstrates considerable heterogeneity. Increased age, COVID-19 infection, and abnormal lymphocyte count may serve as potential screening indicators for differentiating distinct decline trajectories of intrinsic capacity. Community health practitioners should prioritize immunosenescence screening in high-risk older adults to enable early identification of populations with rapid intrinsic capacity decline and to implement targeted comprehensive interventions.

Key words: Aged, Intrinsic capacity, Latent profile analysis, COVID-19, Immunosenescence

Ziqing Ye, Yao Zheng. Association of intrinsic capacity with COVID19 infection and immunosenescence in community-dwelling older adults[J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics Research(Electronic Edition), 2026, 13(03): 31-37.

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References 29

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模型类别	AIC	BIC	aBIC	P值		信息熵	类别概率
模型类别	AIC	BIC	aBIC	LMRT	BLRT	信息熵	类别概率
1	5 638.31	5 670.78	5 639.11	-	-	1	1
2	4 835.10	4 887.06	4 836.37	0.003	<0.001	0.984	0.291/0.709
3	4 567.79	4 639.22	4 569.54	0.013	<0.001	0.989	0.190/0.666/0.144
4	4 402.03	4 492.94	4 404.25	0.007	<0.001	0.990	0.021/0.172/0.662/0.145

模型类别	AIC	BIC	aBIC	P值		信息熵	类别概率
模型类别	AIC	BIC	aBIC	LMRT	BLRT	信息熵	类别概率
1	5 638.31	5 670.78	5 639.11	-	-	1	1
2	4 835.10	4 887.06	4 836.37	0.003	<0.001	0.984	0.291/0.709
3	4 567.79	4 639.22	4 569.54	0.013	<0.001	0.989	0.190/0.666/0.144
4	4 402.03	4 492.94	4 404.25	0.007	<0.001	0.990	0.021/0.172/0.662/0.145

项目	C1（28例）	C2（36例）	C3（126例）	检验值	P值
性别（男）	23（82.1）	24（66.7）	116（92.1）	χ²=15.172	<0.01
年龄（岁）	87.50（76.25，94.00）^ab	93.50（89.25，96.75）^a	74.00（68.75，82.00）	H=73.046	<0.01
BMI（kg/m²）	23.28（21.24，24.78）^a	23.48（22.38，25.08）	24.71（23.35，26.27）	H=10.695	<0.01
新型冠状病毒感染史	21（75.0）	32（88.9）	76（60.3）	χ²=11.247	<0.01
总T淋巴细胞百分比（%）	68.25（55.30，72.10）	66.90（59.63，75.05）	64.85（57.28，72.45）	H=1.256	>0.05
Th细胞百分比（%）	38.52±11.29	37.41±12.18	35.78±9.15	F=1.025	>0.05
CD4/CD8比值	1.84（1.12，2.28）	1.32（1.03，2.10）	1.38（0.98，1.86）	H=3.099	>0.05
淋巴细胞计数（×10⁶/L）	1 115.00（900.00，1 500.0）^a	1 250.00（985.00，1 545.00）^a	1 500.00（1 145.00，2 000.00）	H=13.750	<0.01
NK细胞绝对计数（×10⁶/L）	265.00（177.00，432.25）	287.00 (145.75，448.25)	300.50（210.00，468.75）	H=1.578	>0.05

项目	C1（28例）	C2（36例）	C3（126例）	检验值	P值
性别（男）	23（82.1）	24（66.7）	116（92.1）	χ²=15.172	<0.01
年龄（岁）	87.50（76.25，94.00）^ab	93.50（89.25，96.75）^a	74.00（68.75，82.00）	H=73.046	<0.01
BMI（kg/m²）	23.28（21.24，24.78）^a	23.48（22.38，25.08）	24.71（23.35，26.27）	H=10.695	<0.01
新型冠状病毒感染史	21（75.0）	32（88.9）	76（60.3）	χ²=11.247	<0.01
总T淋巴细胞百分比（%）	68.25（55.30，72.10）	66.90（59.63，75.05）	64.85（57.28，72.45）	H=1.256	>0.05
Th细胞百分比（%）	38.52±11.29	37.41±12.18	35.78±9.15	F=1.025	>0.05
CD4/CD8比值	1.84（1.12，2.28）	1.32（1.03，2.10）	1.38（0.98，1.86）	H=3.099	>0.05
淋巴细胞计数（×10⁶/L）	1 115.00（900.00，1 500.0）^a	1 250.00（985.00，1 545.00）^a	1 500.00（1 145.00，2 000.00）	H=13.750	<0.01
NK细胞绝对计数（×10⁶/L）	265.00（177.00，432.25）	287.00 (145.75，448.25)	300.50（210.00，468.75）	H=1.578	>0.05

自变量	赋值
性别	男=1；女=0
新型冠状病毒感染史	有=1；无=0
淋巴细胞计数分组	异常范围=1；正常范围=0

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