The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There are growing concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults. We examined the effect of the pandemic on the risk of depression in older adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the prospective cohort study of Korean older adults, which has been followed every 2 years. Among the 2308 participants who completed both the third and the fourth follow-up assessments, 58.4% completed their fourth follow-up before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the rest completed it during the pandemic. We conducted face-to-face diagnostic interviews using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and used Geriatric Depression Scale. We performed generalized estimating equations and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased depressive symptoms in older adults [b (standard error) = 0.42 (0.20), p = 0.040] and a doubling of the risk for incident depressive disorder even in euthymic older adults without a history of depression (odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.18-5.02, p = 0.016). Less social activities, which was associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic. However, less family gatherings, which was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was associated with the doubled risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influences the risk of late-life depression in the community. Older adults with a lack of family gatherings may be particularly vulnerable.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There are growing concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults. We examined the effect of the pandemic on the risk of depression in older adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the prospective cohort study of Korean older adults, which has been followed every 2 years. Among the 2308 participants who completed both the third and the fourth follow-up assessments, 58.4% completed their fourth follow-up before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the rest completed it during the pandemic. We conducted face-to-face diagnostic interviews using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and used Geriatric Depression Scale. We performed generalized estimating equations and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased depressive symptoms in older adults [b (standard error) = 0.42 (0.20), p = 0.040] and a doubling of the risk for incident depressive disorder even in euthymic older adults without a history of depression (odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.18-5.02, p = 0.016). Less social activities, which was associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic. However, less family gatherings, which was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was associated with the doubled risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influences the risk of late-life depression in the community. Older adults with a lack of family gatherings may be particularly vulnerable.

The impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiologic characteristics of traumatic fractures: A systematic review of recent literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether COVID-19-related period of societal restrictions and nationwide in 2020 were associated with a significant change in types and frequency of traumatic fractures. METHODS: A systematic review of recent literature on epidemiologic characteristics of traumatic fractures during the outbreak of COVID-19 was conducted. Multiple databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Web of Science were searched, and articles comparing incidence for traumatic fractures before and after of COVID-19 outbreak were Results: From 8 published studies which had been reported from July 2020 to September 2020, a total of 9305 patients were identified. The study period of each study included varied from January 24 to May 22 in 2020. There was a significant decrease in the total number of trauma cases during lockdown by 3229 cases (pre-lockdown n = 6267 and lockdown n = 3038), amounting to a decrease by a pooled percentage of 51.6% (P = 0.012). The incidence of hand and tibia fractures decreased while the incidence of femoral fracture significantly increased during COVID-19 outbreak (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the fracture frequency for all other skeletal areas (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that there was a significant decrease in the overall number of traumatic fractures during the COVID-19-related period of societal restrictions and lockdown. Proportions of most fractured areas were not significantly influenced by the state of emergency, except for femoral fractures, which had occurred more often during this state. Care must be taken, while developing contingency plans for reallocating resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, not to assume that all trauma presentations will decrease. Evidence from this study has suggested there was a significant decrease in the overall number of traumatic fractures during the COVID-19-related period of societal restrictions and lockdown. Proportions of most fractured areas were not significantly influenced by the state of emergency, except for femoral fractures which had occurred more often during this state. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Diagnostic Study.

The impact of COVID-19 on the injury pattern for maxillofacial fracture in Daegu city, South Korea.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on oral and maxillofacial fracture in Daegu by comparing the demographic data in 2019 and 2020, retrospectively. We collected data from all patients having trauma who visited the emergency room for oral and maxillofacial fractures. METHODS: This retrospective study was based on chart review of patients who visited the emergency department of Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, South Korea from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. We conducted a comparative study for patients who presented with maxillofacial fractures with occlusal instability during pre-COVID-19 era (2019) and COVID-19 era (2000) with demographics and pattern of injuries. RESULTS: After the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of monthly oral and maxillofacial fractures, especially sports-related oral and maxillofacial fractures, decreased significantly. Also, the number of alcohol-related fractures increased significantly. In addition, as the number of monthly confirmed cases of COVID-19 increases, the incidence of fracture among these cases tends to decrease. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily life in Korea. Identifying the characteristics of patients having trauma can provide a good lead to understand this long-lasting infectious disease and prepare for future outbreaks.