Abstract

Background: Social isolation during COVID-19 may negatively impact older adults’ wellbeing. To assess its impact, we measured changes in physical activity and sleep among community-dwelling older adults, from pre-to post-pandemic declaration. Method: Physical activity and sleep in older adults (n = 10, age = 77.3 ± 1.9 years, female = 40%) were remotely assessed within 3-month pre-to 6-month post-pandemic declaration using a pendant-wearable system. Depression was assessed pre-and post-pandemic declaration using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and was compared with 48 h continuous physical activity monitoring data before and during pandemic. Results: Compared to pre-pandemic, post-pandemic time spent in standing declined by 32.7% (Cohen’s d = 0.78, p < 0.01), walking by 52.2% (d = 1.1, p < 0.01), step-counts by 55.1% (d = 1.0, p = 0.016), and postural transitions by 44.6% (d = 0.82, p = 0.017) with increase in sitting duration by 20.5% (d = 0.5, p = 0.049). Depression symptoms increased by 150% (d = 0.8, p = 0.046). Interestingly, increase in depression was significantly correlated with unbroken-prolong sitting bout (ρ = 0.677, p = 0.032), cadence (ρ = −0.70, p = 0.024), and sleep duration (ρ = −0.72, p = 0.019). Conclusion: This is one of the early longitudinal studies highlighting adverse effect of the pandemic on objectively assessed physical activity and sleep in older adults. Our observations showed need for timely intervention to mitigate hard to reverse consequences of decreased physical activity such as depression.

Highlights

  • The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacted great illness, death, distress, and unprecedented restrictions on our society [1]

  • Older adults are at high risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 and have been recommended to follow strict guidelines to minimize the risk of exposure during the current pandemic

  • This study found a significant association between the increase in depression symptoms post-pandemic with deterioration in physical activity and sleep

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Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacted great illness, death, distress, and unprecedented restrictions on our society [1]. The resulting social isolation can have a significant negative impact on the physical and mental health of older adults [2,3], the extent of which is not completely known at this time. As a preventive measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, community activities were halted, and social or family gatherings were discouraged. These measures may reduce physical activity level and sleep duration and, if they persist for a long time, could lead to hard to reverse consequences such as depression and frailty [6,7,8]. We measured changes in physical activity and sleep among communitydwelling older adults, from pre-to post-pandemic declaration.

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