Changes in Cognitive and Functional Status and in Quality of Life of Older Outpatients during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Gerontology
; 68(11): 1285-1290, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2088997
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Older adults denoted one of the populations that mostly suffered from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of confinement was paid in terms of social isolation, distance from relatives and friends, lack of social support, and limited access to the healthcare system, which had a negative impact on health of older adults with comorbidities and frailty.OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of the present study was to report the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive performances, functional status, and health-related quality of life among frail outpatients, compared to pre-pandemic status.METHOD:
The current sample was part of a larger sample of frail and pre-frail outpatients, who were first evaluated at the clinic between April and May 2019 and who underwent a first follow-up evaluation between April and May 2020. Those outpatients who have undergone the first follow-up evaluation were contacted between April and May 2021 and were asked to voluntarily participate in a second telephone-based evaluation. Cognitive performances (through Mini Mental State Examination - MMSE), functional independency in basic and instrumental daily activities, physical and mental components of health-related quality of life (SF-12 PCS and SF-12 MCS, respectively) were evaluated and compared to previous evaluations.RESULTS:
Seventy one outpatients (mean age of 80.69 years) completed the present follow-up evaluation. Patients reported significantly lower cognitive performances (mean MMSE 19.37; p < 0.001), lower physical quality of life (mean score 31.69; p < 0.001), and lower mental quality of life (mean score 38.79; p < 0.001) compared to both pre-pandemic baseline and the first follow-up. Moreover, patients showed a significantly reduced independency in basic daily activities (mean score 3.8; p = 0.004), and a significantly reduced independency in managing telephone (p = 0.012) and medications (p = 0.035), compared to baseline.CONCLUSIONS:
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a prolonged stressor over time, which has markedly affected health-related quality of life of outpatients, and it can be considered a stressor that might have contributed to the patients' greater cognitive and functional vulnerability.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quality of Life
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Gerontology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
000525041
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