Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults Living in Brazil: REMOBILIZE Study.

Monica R Perracini,Paulo Henrique Silva Pelicioni,Maria Do Carmo Correia De Lima,Juleimar Soares Coelho De Amorim,Etiene Duim,Francis Trombini-Souza,Alexandre Da Silva,Patricia Parreira Batista,Daniele Sirineu Pereira,Camila Astolphi Lima,Renato Barbosa Dos Santos,The Remobilize Research Network (Cansort-Sci)

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.643640

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil in a scenario of substantial socioeconomic and health inequalities. It is unknown the immediate impact of social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdown, stay-at-home) on the life-space mobility of older people.Objective: To investigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on life-space mobility of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults and examine the social determinants of health associated with change in life-space mobility.Design: Baseline data from a prospective cohort study (REMOBILIZE Study).Setting: Community.Subject: A convenience snowball sample of participants aged 60 and older (n = 1,482) living in 22 states in Brazil.Methods: We conducted an online and phone survey using an adapted version of the Life-Space Assessment (LSA). Linear regression models were used to investigate social determinants of health on the change in LSA score.Results: Regardless of their gender and social determinants of health, participants showed a significant reduction in life-space mobility since COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Life-space mobility reduction was higher among black individuals, those living alone and aged between 70 and 79. Other variables associated with change in life-space mobility, to a lesser extent, were sex, education and income.Conclusion: Social restriction measures due to pandemic caused substantial reduction in older adults' life-space mobility in Brazil. Social inequalities strongly affected vulnerable groups. Concerted actions should be put in place to overcome the deterioration in life-pace mobility amongst these groups. Failure in minimizing health inequalities amplified by the pandemic may jeopardize the desired achievements of the Decade of Healthy Aging.

Highlights

Experts agree that older people are the group most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic [1, 2]
Life-space mobility is not a new concept [9]; it corresponds to how people engage in, maintain social relationships and roles, and participate in meaningful activities within their communities [10]
After removing incomplete and duplicate questionnaires, 1,482 participants were included who provided all information requested for the study (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Experts agree that older people are the group most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic [1, 2]. Social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdowns, social distancing, stay-athome orders) have been set up as population-level measures to suppress community transmission of COVID-19 [4]. These measures were adopted worldwide, how different groups of older people adapted their life-space mobility to these new circumstances [5] is still uncertain. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil in a scenario of substantial socioeconomic and health inequalities It is unknown the immediate impact of social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdown, stay-at-home) on the life-space mobility of older people

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion