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DIFFERENTIAL DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS
Epidemiology ; 70(SUPPL 1):S260-S261, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1853993
ABSTRACT
Background During COVID-19, social distancing was prevalent to curb disease transmission, particularly for vulnerable older adults. However, this isolation leads to low mood, functional decline and frailty. Hence, such preventative measures have brought to the fore the heavy implications of social isolation, the lack of social contact and interaction. Associated but separate is loneliness, the feeling of being alone or separated from others. While it is evident that either or both impact health negatively, attributable risk factors and relationship with geriatric syndromes such as frailty and sarcopenia are still unclear. Understanding these aspects would be important in developing healthcare policies to reduce social isolation and loneliness in our older adults. Hence, we aim to investigate the differential determinants of social isolation and loneliness in community dwelling older adults. Methods We surveyed 299 community dwelling older adults ≥60years. Parameters documented include demographics, 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale, UCLA loneliness scale, EQ5D, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Geriatric Depression Scale, functional screening with Barthel index, Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale, FRAIL scale and SARC-F. Linear regression analysis was performed. Results 234(78.26%) were female, mostly of Chinese ethnicity(90.30%), mean age 74.31±7.81years. 62(20.74%) were living alone. 220(73.58%) had primary school education or less. Mean number of chronic diseases 1.57±0.07 and 81(27.09%) classified as frail, ie FRAIL score 3 and above. Social isolation was significantly correlated with perceived health status (β=0.08;95%CI 0.04 to 0.13;p<0.01), self-care (β= -2.18;95%CI -4.19 to -0.17;p=0.03), sarcopenia (β= -0.57;95%CI -1.12 to -0.02;p=0.04) and cognition (β=0.26;95% CI 0.12 to 0.39;p<0.01). Loneliness was significantly correlated with pain (β= -0.23;95%CI -0.45 to -0.01;p=0.04). Conclusion Social isolation was linked to lower perceived health and cognition, but better physical function as seen from lower levels of sarcopenia and issues with self-care. This finding highlights that isolated older adults may not only be limited by physical disabilities. Mood and cognition have to be considered. Loneliness on the other hand was linked to pain, emphasising that this common symptom has far-reaching implications. Our study is important in identifying key risk factors to be investigated. More work is needed to delineate mechanisms.
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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Epidemiology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Epidemiology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article