Mental Health in Elderly Spanish People in Times of COVID-19 Outbreak

García‐Fernández, Lorena; Romero‐Ferreiro, Verónica; López-Roldán, Pedro; Padilla, Sergio; Rodríguez‐Jiménez, Roberto

doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.027

Cited by 112 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…The 19.84% of our interviewees had a GDS-5 score indicative of depressive symptoms. Our results, showing a significant association between depression and living alone or having a poor relationship with the cohabitants, are in contrast with a recent cross-sectional study based on a national online survey in Spain conducted by García-Fernandez et al ( 27 ) which did not show any relationship between loneliness and increase of depression in older adults. However, our results are consistent with another study conducted by phone-interviewing elders with MCI ( 31 ) and with the hypothesis that quarantine period affects mental health of older people who live alone and whose only social contacts take place outside home ( 14 ).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

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The Effects of COVID-19 and Quarantine Measures on the Lifestyles and Mental Health of People Over 60 at Increased Risk of Dementia

et al. 2020

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Background: The lockdown strategies adopted to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection may lead to adopt unhealthy lifestyles which may impact on the mental well-being and future risk of dementia. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may suffer important mental health consequences from measures of quarantine and confinement. Aims: The study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 and quarantine measures on lifestyles and mental health of elderly at increased risk of dementia. Methods: One hundred and twenty six community-dwelling seniors with MCI or SCD were phone-interviewed and assessed with questions regarding variables related to COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle changes and scales validated for the assessment of depression, anxiety, and apathy. Results: The sample included 55.6% patients with MCI and 56 people with SCD. Over 1/3 of the sample reduced their physical activity and nearly 70% reported an increase in idle time. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreased in almost 1/3 of respondents and over 35% reported weight gain. Social activities were abolished and 1/6 of participants also decreased productive and mental-stimulating activities. 19.8% were depressed, 9.5% anxious, and 9.5% apathetic. A significant association existed between depression and living alone or having a poor relation with cohabitants and between anxiety and SCD, cold or flu symptoms, and reduction in productive leisure activities. Conclusions: Seniors with SCD and MCI underwent lifestyle changes that are potentially harmful to their future cognitive decline, even if, with the exception of leisure activities, they do not appear to be cross-sectionally associated with psychiatric symptoms.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Two studies observed that older people showed less COVID-19 outbreak-related emotional distress than younger ones, a more optimistic outlook and better mental health ( 27 , 28 ). On the other hand, these researches enrolled seniors without cognitive impairment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of COVID-19 and Quarantine Measures on the Lifestyles and Mental Health of People Over 60 at Increased Risk of Dementia

et al. 2020

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“…Depression negatively impacts lifestyle choices, and individuals with depressive symptoms tend to be less motivated, more sedentary and less physically fit than non-depressed ones [ 41 , 42 ]. In previous Spanish surveys during the lockdown, older persons showed less emotional distress and higher resilience to the pandemic than younger adults [ 43 ]. However, the profile of resilient individuals seemed to be characterized by more optimistic personality traits [ 44 ], a regular practice of vigorous and moderate PA, positive self-perceptions of ageing, less depressive symptoms [ 45 , 46 ] as well as less perceived loneliness during the lockdown [ 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

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Castellano-Tejedor

Cesari

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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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.

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“…The pandemic situation caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) and, especially, home confinement measures have favored the coincidence of a series of factors that may have precipitated or worsened situations of GBV. On the one hand, the initial fear of an unknown pandemic situation, which has exposed the population to a new potentially fatal virus, has been associated with high levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms and symptoms of acute stress that our group has already published (García-Fernández et al, 2020 ; García-Fernández, Romero-Ferreiro, López-Roldán, Padilla, & Rodriguez-Jimenez, 2020 ). Moreover, the economic and employment problems resulting from the pandemic have undoubtedly contributed to increasing stressful situations within the family.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%