Exercise in Older Adults to Prevent Depressive Symptoms at the Time of Covid-19: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial with Follow-Up
Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health
; 18(1), 2022.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1770864
ABSTRACT
Background:
This study aimed to verify, through a randomized controlled trial, whether a medium-intensity mixing/aerobic/anaerobic exercise (accessible to older adults even with mild chronic diseases) can effectively counteract depressive episodes. A characteristic of the trial was that the follow-up coincided (unscheduled) with the lockdown due to Covid-19.Methods:
Participants (N=120) were randomized into an intervention group, performing physical exercise, and a control group. Participants, aged 65 years and older, belonged to both genders, living at home, and cleared a medical examination, were evaluated with a screening tool to detect depressive episodes, the PHQ9, at pre-treatment, end of the trial (12-week), and follow-up (48-week).Results:
A decrease in the frequency of depressive episodes after the trial (T1) was found in both groups;however, a statistically significant difference was observed only in the control group (p=0.0039). From T1 to follow-up (conducted during the lockdown), the frequency of depressive episodes increased in the control group, reaching a frequency equal to the time of study entry (p=0.788). In the experimental group, the frequency of depressive episodes did not change at the end of the trial but reached a statistically significant difference compared to the start of the study (p = 0.004) and was higher than the control group (p=0.028).Conclusion:
Moderate-intensity physical exercise can be conducted safely, benefitting older adults even suffering from mild chronic disorders. Physical exercise seems to guarantee a long-term preventive effect towards depressive symptoms, especially in serious stressful situations such as the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Clinical Trial Registration Number (NCT03858114).
aerobic exercise; aged; anaerobic exercise; article; chronic disease; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; depression; exercise; female; follow up; gender; human; lockdown; major clinical study; male; medical examination; pandemic; Patient Health Questionnaire 9; physical activity; prevention; randomized controlled trial
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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