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Correlates to psychological distress in frail older community-dwellers undergoing lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Vanessa DaveyORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

Abstract Background: This study identifies correlates of the lockdown's psychological distress in frail older community-dwellers (Catalonia, Spain). Methods: Participants from a community frailty intervention program, with a comprehensive geriatric assessment within the 12-months pre-lockdown and COVID-19 free during the first pandemic wave (March-May 2020), underwent a phone assessment past the lockdown to assess COVID-19-related emotional distress (DME) as well as other sociodemograhic, clinical and psychosocial factors. Results: Of the 94 frail older adults (age = 82,34 ± 6,12 years; 68,1% women; 38,3% living alone), 84,9% were at risk of experiencing moderate-to-high psychological distress, according to the backward stepwise logistic regression model obtained (χ2 = 47,007, p < 0,001, Nagelkerke R² = 0,528), based on the following factors: absence of depressive symptoms before lockdown (OR = 0,12, p = 0,014, 95%CI[0,023-0,647]), not carrying out leisure activities during lockdown (OR = 0,257, p = 0,023, 95%CI[0,079-0,832]) and currently experiencing high malaise due to COVID-19 situation (OR = 1,504, p < 0,001, 95%CI[1,241-1,822]). Discussion: These findings suggest that it is necessary to favour a prior overall health status and to empower frail older community-dwellers in the use of a broad repertoire of coping strategies in the face of adversity to foster mental health and keep at bay the potential emotional impact of the situation generated by the COVID pandemic.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Castellano-Tejedor C, Pérez LM, Soto-Bagaria L, Risco E, Mazo MV, Gómez A, Salvador D, Yanguas J, Enfedaque MB, Morandi A, Font M, Davey V, Inzitari M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMC Geriatrics

Year: 2022

Volume: 22

Online publication date: 23/06/2022

Acceptance date: 20/04/2022

Date deposited: 11/07/2022

ISSN (electronic): 1471-2318

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03072-w

DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03072-w

PubMed id: 35739478

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