Depressive Symptoms, Fatigue and Social Relationships Influenced Physical Activity in Frail Older Community-Dwellers during the Spanish Lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Laura M. Pérez, Carmina Castellano-Tejedor, Matteo Cesari, Luis Soto-Bagaria, Joan Ars, Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi, Sonia Baró, Francisco Díaz-Gallego, Jordi Vilaró, María B. Enfedaque, Paula Espí-Valbé and Marco Inzitari
Additional contact information
Laura M. Pérez: Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Area of Intermediate Care, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Carmina Castellano-Tejedor: Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Area of Intermediate Care, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Matteo Cesari: Geriatric Unit, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, 20138 Milano, Italy
Luis Soto-Bagaria: Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Area of Intermediate Care, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Joan Ars: Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Area of Intermediate Care, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi: Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Sonia Baró: RE-FiT Barcelona Research Group, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research & Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Francisco Díaz-Gallego: Primary Healthcare Center Bordeta-Magòria, Institut Català de la Salut, 08014 Barcelona, Spain
Jordi Vilaró: Department of Health Sciences, Blanquerna—Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
María B. Enfedaque: Institut Català de la Salut, Gerència de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Paula Espí-Valbé: RE-FiT Barcelona Research Group, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research & Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Marco Inzitari: Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Area of Intermediate Care, 08023 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: Due to the dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain underwent a strict lockdown (March–May 2020). How the lockdown modified older adults’ physical activity (PA) has been poorly described. This research assesses the effect of the lockdown on PA levels and identifies predictors of sufficient/insufficient PA in frail older community-dwellers. Community-dwelling participants from the +ÀGIL Barcelona frailty intervention program, suspended during the pandemic, underwent a phone-assessment during the lockdown. PA was measured before and after the lockdown using the Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT). We included 98 frail older adults free of COVID-19 (mean age = 82.7 years, 66.3% women, mean Short Physical Performance Battery = 8.1 points). About one third of participants (32.2%) were not meeting sufficient PA levels at the end of the lockdown. Depressive symptoms (OR = 0.12, CI95% = 0.02–0.55) and fatigue (OR = 0.11, CI95% = 0.03–0.44) decreased the odds of maintaining sufficient PA, whereas maintaining social networks (OR = 5.07, CI95% = 1.60–16.08) and reading (OR = 6.29, CI95% = 1.66–23.90) increased it. Living alone was associated with the reduction of PA levels (b = −1.30, CI95% = −2.14–−0.46). In our sample, pre-lockdown mental health, frailty-related symptoms and social relationships were consistently associated with both PA levels during-lockdown and pre-post change. These data suggest considering specific plans to maintain PA levels in frail older community-dwellers.

Keywords: COVID-19; frailty; aging; physical activity; mental health; social relationships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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