The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the implementation of disability prevention activities among community-dwelling older adults has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to examine the relationship between these changes and their mental status or life-related functions.
In this cross-sectional study, self-report questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of older adult residents in 10 locations in the Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. During the mailing process, those living in nursing homes or facilities other than their own homes, and those under the age of 65 years were excluded from the survey. The mailing area was determined based on the regional characteristics and demographic changes. Participants were categorized into two groups: one that maintained their disability prevention activities and the other that decreased disability prevention activities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental status and life-related functions were assessed using the Kihon Checklist. Implementation of disability prevention measures before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed using a questionnaire. Disability prevention activities included four categories: daily living functions, nutritional status, oral functions, and others. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between maintenance or decrease in disability prevention activities and basic attributes, mental status, and life-related functions before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.1.3 with a significance level of 5%.
Overall, 263 participants were included in the analysis. Of them, 174 (66.1%) maintained their disability prevention activities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, while 89 (33.8%) decreased such activities. Factors associated with a decrease in disability prevention activities were identified as those with a higher number of depressive items on the Kihon Checklist (adjusted odds ratio = 0.788, 95% confidence interval: 0.637–0.947, P = 0.027) and those with a higher total number of disability prevention activities before the COVID-19 pandemic (adjusted odds ratio = 0.653, 95% confidence interval: 0.476–0.896, P = 0.008).
Our findings showed that depression and the total number of disability prevention activities performed before the COVID-19 pandemic among community-dwelling older adults may be associated with the changes of disability prevention activities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This finding suggests the characteristics of older adults who may benefit from implementing support for the continuation of disability prevention activities in the event of a COVID-19 pandemic-like event and may also highlight perspectives where support is currently lacking.
Disability prevention
COVID-19
