Eating behaviour, physical activity and mental health by COVID - 19 quarantine in older adults in Trujillo

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a quarantine in Peru seeking the greatest social distancing. Objective: To determine the effect of quarantine on eating behavior, physical activity and mental health before and during this period in older adults in Trujillo. Study: Observational, descriptive, longitudinal in 350 older adults, by means of virtual survey on frequency of food consumption, physical activity and changes in mental health, analyzed by chi-square. Findings: The intake of alcoholic beverages and fast food decreased. The level of physical activity decreased significantly. Feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, among others, increased. Perception of weight gain and waist size increase was found. Conclusions: COVID-19 quarantine in older adults decreased physical activity, affected mental health and gave perception of weight and waist size increase, without affecting eating behavior.

STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGE IN ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON MEDICAL STUDENTS

OBJECTIVE: To identify the stressors related to academic online teaching and the change in social norms during the pandemic and to assess their psychological impact on the medical students. METHODS: A web based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Hazrat Bari Imam Sarkar Medical and Dental College, Islamabad Pakistan over a period of 4 months using an Online questionnaire via Google forms based on Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21) scale comprising of 21 questions which address the depression, anxiety, and stress related questions. The modified questionnaire also contained open ended questions along with a short questionnaire based on 3 points Likert scale. RESULT: Total of 305 subjects participated. Mean (+/- SD) severity score for Depression, anxiety and stress was 2.02 +/- 1.3, 1.76 +/- 1.25 and 1.66 +/- 1.15 respectively. Highly significant positive correlation was observed between depression and stress score of subjects and history of COVID-19 infection in an acquaintance (r=0.179, p=<0.01) and (0.132, p=<0.001) respectively;between depression and stress score of subjects and history of acquaintance who expired due to COVID-19 (r=0.198, p<0.01) and s (r=0.25, p<0.01) respectively;distraction during online classes and depression and stress score (r=0.233, p<0.01) and (r=0.236, p<0.01) respectively and worry about effect on clinical skills due to teaching through online sessions and depression (r=0.161,p<0.01) . CONCLUSION: The stressors related to change in the academic activities and social norms due to SARS-CoV-2 has had significant psychological impact on the mental health of students which requires attention and formal counselling.