Impact Of COVID-19 Lockdown Research Articles

Burden of COVID-19 infection and lockdown measures on individuals with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia: A national population-based study

BackgroundThe recent COVID-19 crisis has placed a huge strain on the global health and economy. The toll of the damage on the human society exceeds the morbidity and mortality of the pandemic and the associated burden, considering the multidimensional impact on all aspects of life. ObjectivesThe present study assessed the specific impact of COVID-19 on individuals with chronic diseases including the Years Lost for Disability (YLD) burden of COVID-19 infection, and multidimensional impact on the disease management, adaptive lifestyle, and socioeconomic dimensions. MethodA national, population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Saudi population. An internet-based questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the management of the chronic disease, adaptive lifestyle, and impact of COVID-19 on family members. Additionally, data regarding eventual COVID-19 infection, severity and management were collected. YLD was estimated and normalized per 100,000 persons. ResultHaving a chronic disease was not associated with a greater risk of COVID-19 (relative risk [RR]=0.83, p = 0.153); however, it was associated with higher risk of declined physical activity (RR=1.30, p < 0.0001), deteriorated eating habit (RR=1.20, p = 0.002), sleep quality (RR=1.25, p < 0.0001), and overall health perception (RR=1.61, p < 0.0001), loss of family members due to COVID-19 (RR=1.96, p = 0.0001), and impacted household income (RR=1.11, p = 0.010). In case of COVID-19 infection, having a chronic disease was associated with increased risk of hospitalization (RR=5.04, p = 0.005) and having a moderate-to-severe form of COVID-19 (RR=6.00, p = 0.013). The overall YLD was estimated to be 17.7 per 100,000 individuals, and there was no significant difference between individuals with chronic diseases and those without. ConclusionCOVID-19 entailed a substantial burden on the Saudi society in 2020, and individuals with preexisting chronic diseases suffered more important multidimensional impact, which need further research to assess the real impact of the pandemic and draw the pertinent lessons from the experience for future possible epidemics.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Continuation of Treatment among the OPD Geriatric Patients

The aim of the study was to identify the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on continuation of treatment among the OPD geriatric patients. Quantitative research study has been conducted. A descriptive research design and convenience sampling technique were used to pick a total of 100 samples, (n=100). Self-structured socio demographic questionnaire and self structured interview method were used to collect the data in November 2020 at tertiary care hospitals, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Comparison of three categories of COVID-19 pandemic factors affecting in availing OPD services reveals that the psychological factor has more effect (73%) followed by hospital related factors (68%) and the availability of public transportation and resources (62%) has less effect in availing OPD services among patients during COVID-19 pandemic. Application of chi square test reveals that there is no significant relationship of intensity of COVID-19 pandemic factors affecting in availing OPD services among patients with selected socio demographic variables. These findings suggest that facility for sanitization of hospital premises, facility for social distancing in registration counter, waiting area and other areas of hospital are not quite satisfactory. Factors like availability of public transport, availability of healthcare personnel’s in OPD, adequacy of treatment facility, cost of medical services, availability of diagnostic services, are highly affecting geriatric patients in availing OPD services during COVID-19 pandemic and need to be taken care.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on health disparities: Lessons from Israel on preventive health utilization.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on health disparities: Lessons from Israel on preventive health utilization.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on smoking (waterpipe and cigarette) and participants' BMI across various sociodemographic groups in Arab countries in the Mediterranean Region.

Tobacco smokers are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. Lockdown was a chosen strategy to deal with the spread of infectious diseases; nonetheless, it influenced people's eating and smoking behaviors. The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on smoking (waterpipe and cigarette) behavior and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index. The data were derived from a large-scale retrospective cross-sectional study using a validated online international survey from 38 countries (n=37207) conducted between 17 April and 25 June 2020. The Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO-EMR countries) data related to 10 Arabic countries that participated in this survey have been selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12433 participants were included in the analysis of this study, reporting their smoking behavior and their BMI before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between smoking practices and the participant's country of origin, sociodemographic characteristics, and BMI (kg/m2). Overall, the prevalence rate of smoking decreased significantly during the lockdown from 29.8% to 23.5% (p<0.05). The percentage of females who smoke was higher than males among the studied population. The highest smoking prevalence was found in Lebanon (33.2%), and the lowest was in Oman (7.9%). In Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, the data showed a significant difference in the education level of smokers before and during the lockdown (p<0.05). Smokers in Lebanon had lower education levels than those in other countries, where the majority of smokers had a Bachelor's degree. The findings show that the BMI rates in Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, and Saudi Arabia significantly increased during the lockdown (p<0.05). The highest percentages of obesity among smokers before the lockdown were in Oman (33.3%), followed by Bahrain (28.4%) and Qatar (26.4%), whereas, during the lockdown, the percentage of obese smokers was highest in Bahrain (32.1%) followed by Qatar (31.3%) and Oman (25%). According to the logistic regression model, the odds ratio of smoking increased during the pandemic, whereas the odds ratio of TV watching decreased. This finding was statistically significant by age, gender, education level, country of residence, and work status. Although the overall rates of smoking among the studied countries decreased during the lockdown period, we cannot attribute this change in smoking behavior to the lockdown. Smoking cessation services need to anticipate that unexpected disruptions, such as pandemic lockdowns, may be associated with changes in daily tobacco consumption. Public health authorities should promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles to reduce the long-term negative effects of the lockdown.

The impact of covid-19 lockdown on the Quality of life, meaningful activities, and frailty in community-dwelling octogenarians: A study in Belgium

Objectives To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on quality of life (QoL), meaningful daily activities, and (pre)frailty in community-dwelling octogenarians. Methods Cross-sectional design with bivariate and multiple linear regression modeling using a stepwise approach examining the level of QoL during the COVID-19 lockdown in a group of 215 community-dwelling octogenarians (Mage = 86.49 ± 3.02). A comprehensive set of biopsychosocial variables (FRAIL scale, general health, engagement in meaningful activities survey, questions on loneliness, and feelings) were used as explaining variables. Results Particularly, a decrease in daily activities, social activities, and an increase in free times activities were observed, but the decrease in QoL could be explained by the meaningfulness in activities, together with experiencing emptiness in life, taking ≥ 4 medications a day and feeling down or depressed. Conclusions We tried to understand which components contribute to and might affect a person’s QoL caused by restrictions imposed by the governance and its influence on the lives of the community-dwelling octogenarians. As such, this output could be a baseline for the development of minimally impacting countermeasures during future lockdowns. Clinical implications Studying lifestyle changes and thus also variables related to QoL during a pandemic, may support policymakers and practitioners to develop relevant interventions.

Impact of Covid-19 Lockdown on Agricultural Production

This study aims to assess the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the agricultural crop production in India and identify the factors affecting the agricultural crop production in India during the lockdown period. Due to the pandemic, production of Rabi crops such as Jowar and coarse cereals have declined, and the growth rate of Kharif crops such as Bajra and coarse cereals production have also been dropped. Among the horticulture crops, the growth rate of fruit production has been adversely affected by the restrictions imposed during the lockdown. The fertilizer consumption, annual rainfall, pesticides consumption and storage capacity are identified as major determinants affecting the agricultural crop production in the country during the lockdown period.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity behaviours of older adults who participated in a community-based exercise program prior to the lockdown.

This study investigated the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on community-dwelling older adults attending a community-based exercise program to seek strategies to keep them active during self-isolated situations. A two-phase mixed methods approach included a survey followed by in-person focus groups. Forty-eight participants, with 32 starting a community-based exercise program before the lockdown and 16 joining the program after the lockdown, completed a questionnaire survey about physical activities before and during the lockdown. This was followed by three focus groups (26 participants in total) to identify factors influencing physical activity behaviours found in the survey. The survey found that the COVID-19 lockdown had varied impact on exercise adherence of the older adults: 43% of the participants exercised less during the lockdown than pre-lockdown, but 26% exercised more. Interestingly, among the participants approximately 80% still achieved the recommended physical activity level by the WHO during the lockdown. The focus groups revealed that exercise behaviours before the lockdown directly affected the behaviours during the lockdown. Participants' recognition of the support from trustworthy people also influenced their motivation to perform exercises in an isolated environment. Remote exercise programs, such as digital and printed exercise materials, were found beneficial for the participants only when they came from the people the older adults trusted through their previous experience (i.e., the program). A sense of belonging to the exercise group was also essential for the participants to achieve self-managed exercise. It was concluded that older adults need connections to an exercise group and a trustworthy exercise instructor who could continuously support them to be physically active in isolated situations such as lockdowns, in addition to exercise knowledge and a better understanding of the benefits of exercise.

COVID-19 Lockdowns Promoted Recovery of the Yangtze River’s Aquatic Ecosystem

The impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on human life, air quality, and river water quality around the world have received significant attention. In comparison, assessments of the implications for freshwater ecosystems are relatively rare. This study explored the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on aquatic ecosystems in the Yangtze River by comparing river water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish data collected at the site in the middle reach of the Yangtze River in 2018 and 2020. The results show that during COVID-19 lockdowns, the reduction in industrial and domestic effluent discharge led to a reduction in organic pollution and industrial plant nutrient pollution in rivers. Among them, PO43−−P, CODMn, and TP were significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05). During lockdowns, nutrient supplies such as TN and TP were reduced, which led to inhibition of algae growth and decreased phytoplankton abundance. Phytoplankton affects the abundance of zooplankton through a bottom-up effect, and a decrease in phytoplankton density leads to a decrease in zooplankton density. The decrease in plankton density led to lower primary productivity in rivers, reduced fish feed supplies, intensified competition among fish populations, with increases in population dominated by high trophic level carnivorous fish. In addition, the decrease in fishing intensity has contributed to an increase in the number of rivers–sea migratory fish; the fish community was earlier mainly dominated by small-sized species with a short life cycle, and the number of supplementary populations has now increased. As a consequence, the fish community structure shows a tendency toward high complexity and high fish diversity. Overall, these observations demonstrate that the rapid revival of the retrogressive Yangtze River ecosystem is possible through limitation of anthropic interferences.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown and E-cigarette Ban on Tobacco and Nicotine Use in India

The global tobacco pandemic continues to cause enormous health burden and fatality, especially in the low and middle-income countries (LMICs), in spite of continuing efforts under the umbrella of FCTC. India, representing a complex pattern of tobacco use, both in smoking and smokeless forms, remains the second largest tobacco-using country. This study was designed to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures on all groups of tobacco users and the impact on the users of e-cigarettes (EC), as a result of imposition of ban. A well-designed, online or CATI interview-based survey was conducted in eight large metropolitan cities of India on 3005 samples (smoking tobacco [ST]: 1,193; smokeless tobacco [SLT]: 966; and EC: 846). The study finds all groups were affected albeit differently The COVID-19 crisis affected all tobacco user segments positively as well as negatively. EC users, unless supported appropriately, were likely to revert to tobacco use after having quit it successfully.

The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Glycemic Balance in Romanian Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought major changes not only at the economic and social level but especially in the medical system. To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of glycemic control in Romanian patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Our study group included 102 Romanian volunteers' patients with T1DM from both urban and rural areas. Data were collected during an interview, based on a structured questionnaire with multiple-choice questions about diabetes management during lockdown, how they interact with their diabetologist, how they accessed the treatment and what other factors influenced their diabetes management during the lockdown. Blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the MDII group as a consequence of delayed administration of insulin corrections due to inadequate insulin dosing (60% vs 31.81%; χ 2 = 5.51, p = 0.018). In addition, insulin pump users had improved response to stress and anxiety (ie, additional therapeutic safety being provided by use of insulin pump; in some devices, blood glucose being continuously monitored, leading to premature detection of important blood glucose excursions) compared to insulin pen users (χ 2 = 5.09, p = 0.024). In the context of hypoglycemia, we observed that in the pen MDII group, more users have administered an excess of insulin, compared with the pump users (80% vs 45.45%; χ 2 = 10.34; p = 0.001). A lower impact of COVID-19 lockdown on glycemic control was observed in patients with T1DM treated using insulin pumps compared to patients with T1DM who administered their insulin using insulin pens. Telemedicine and online consultations have brought significant improvements in diseases management. Stress, emotions, and anxiety were among the main reasons that led to increases in blood sugar levels, suggesting that the psychological impact may have long-term complications.

Prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of perceived family functionality, marital satisfaction and intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 lockdown among married primary healthcare users.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on family experiences has not been thoroughly evaluated, given the consequent stressful home environment it reportedly caused that can adversely affect family dynamics. This study examined the prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of perceived family functionality, marital satisfaction and intimate partner violence (IPV) during the lockdown among married healthcare users in a Nigerian primary care setting. The study was cross sectional. Data were collected randomly from 432 eligible attendees of a primary care clinic in Kano, Nigeria. Information regarding participants' sociodemographic characteristics, family functioning, marital satisfaction and IPV were measured using a sociodemographic questionnaire, APGAR-, Kansas marital satisfaction- and verbal HITS-scales. Respondents' mean (range) age was 30 (15-70) years; 293 (67.8%) were females. Family dysfunction, marital dissatisfaction and probable IPV were found in 44.2, 56.5 and 50.5% of respondents, respectively. The odds of a functional family were higher among caregiver and female respondents but lower among those aged ≥50 years, students, non-Hausa/Fulani, those with low education and residing outside the Kano metropolis during the lockdown. Marital satisfaction was higher among caregivers and respondents from polygamous families and lower among respondents aged ≥50 years. No studied sociodemographic variable predicted probable IPV. There was a high prevalence of family dysfunction, marital dissatisfaction and probable IPV among the respondents during the lockdown. These findings suggest screening married patients for family dysfunction, marital dissatisfaction and IPV during similar lockdowns for appropriate interventions. The predictor variables could form essential considerations for the screening.

Retrospective study on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on patients with type 2 diabetes in Northern Jordan

ObjectiveDuring COVID-19 pandemic, complete lockdown of cities was one of the measures implemented by governments worldwide. Lockdown had a significant impact on people’s lifestyles and access and utilisation of health...

The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns in Istanbul.

The World Health Organization (WHO) have set sustainability development goals to reduce diseases, deaths, and the environmental impact of cities due to air pollution. In Istanbul, although average pollutant concentrations have been on a downward trend in recent years, extreme values and their annual exceedance numbers are high based on the air quality standards of WHO and the EU. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, statistically significant reductions in emissions were observed for short periods. However, how long the effect of the lockdowns will last is unknown. For this reason, this study aims to investigate the impact of long-term lockdowns on Istanbul's air quality. The restriction period is approximated to the same periods of the previous years to eliminate seasonal effects. A series of paired t-tests (p-value < 0.05) were applied to hourly data from 12 March 2016, until 1 July 2021, when quarantines were completed at 36 air quality monitoring stations in Istanbul. The findings reveal that the average air quality of Istanbul was approximately 17% improved during the long-term lockdowns. Therefore, the restriction-related changes in emission distributions continued in the long-term period of 476 days. However, it is unknown how long this effect will continue, which will be the subject of future studies. Moreover, it was observed that the emission probability density functions changed considerably during the lockdowns compared to the years before. Accordingly, notable decreases were detected in air quality limit exceedances in terms of both excessive pollutant concentrations and frequency of occurrence, respectively, for PM10 (-13% and -13%), PM2.5 (-16% and -30%), and NO2 (-3% and -8%), but not for O3 (+200% and +540%) and SO2 (-10% and +2.5%).

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a biomedical research campus: A gender perspective analysis.

From March to September 2020, researchers working at a biomedical scientific campus in Spain faced two lockdowns and various mobility restrictions that affected their social and professional lifestyles. The working group "Women in Science," which acts as an independent observatory of scientific gender inequalities on campus launched an online survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on scientific activity, domestic and caregiving tasks, and psychological status. The survey revealed differences in scientific performance by gender: while male researchers participated in a larger number of scientific activities for career development, female researchers performed more invisible scientific tasks, including peer review or outreach activities. Mental impact was greater in researchers caring for children or dependents, and this was aggravated for women. Results spot a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on female scientific career development, and urges for equity measures to mitigate the consequences of an increase in the gender gap in biomedical sciences for current and future pandemics.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Biomarkers of Diabetes and Dyslipidaemia

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Gomti-Ganga Alluvial Plain, associated human health risks assessment and potential remediation using novel-nanomaterials.

The health risks associated with consumption of water from river Gomti polluted with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including As, Fe, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Hg were investigated at the initiation of unlocking of COVID-19 lockdown and compared with pre-COVID-19 lockdown status. In the current investigation, the total hazard index (THI) values exceeded the acceptable limit of “unity” at all sampling stations. The use of river water for drinking and domestic purposes by millions of people with high THI values has emerged as a matter of huge concern. The individual hazard quotients associated with Cd and Pb were found to be most severe (> 1). A vivid difference between the THI values during the two study phases indicated the positive impact of COVID-19 lockdown signifying the prominent impact of anthropogenic activities on the PTE concentrations. The closure of local manufacturing units (textile, battery, etc.) emerged as a potential reason for decreased health risks associated with PTE levels. The higher susceptibility of children to health risks in comparison with adults through the values of THI and HQs was interpreted across the study area. Potential remedial measures for PTE contamination have also been suggested in the study. Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-022-10562-2.

Impacts of COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures on Asthma-Related Hospital and Outpatient Visits in Yichang, China.

This article investigates the impact of COVID-19 lockdown and regular epidemic prevention and control after lifting lockdown on asthma-related hospital and outpatient visits in Yichang. Data on the general outpatient department (GOPD), emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) visits for asthma from 15 November 2019 to 21 May 2020 and the corresponding from 2018 to 2019 were collected from eight tertiary hospitals in municipal districts. The controlled interrupted time series (CITS) analysis was used to investigate the level and long-term trend changes of weekly asthma visits during lockdown and regular epidemic prevention and control, and stratified by type of visits and age. A total of 9347 asthma-related hospital and outpatient visits were analyzed. The CITS showed that after the implementation of lockdown, the weekly visits of asthma patients immediately decreased by 127.32 (p = 0.002), and the level of GOPD and ED/ICU visits immediately decreased significantly. After implementation of regular prevention, the level and trend of overall weekly visits changed insignificantly compared with the lockdown period. The weekly visits of GOPD adults immediately increased by 51.46 (p < 0.001), and the trend of ED/ICU adults decreased by 5.06 (p = 0.003) visits per week compared with lockdown period. The COVID-19 lockdown in Yichang was related to the decrease in hospital and outpatient visits for asthma. After the implementation of subsequent regular prevention and control measure, only the GOPD visits of adults increased compared with lockdown period.

“It’s been a double-edged sword”: An online qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with spinal cord injury in the US with comparisons to previous UK findings

Objective The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are poorly understood. This exploratory online qualitative study collected self-reported COVID-19 experiences from persons with SCI in the United States (US). To enrich understanding, these data were compared to similar previously-published data from a sample of SCI participants from the United Kingdom (UK). Design Explorative, online qualitative study. Participants completed an online survey of open-ended qualitative questions pertaining to their experiences during the pandemic. Thematic analysis was utilized to generate themes from the US data. These themes were compared to our previously-published thematic analysis of data from the UK. Setting Community-based sample of persons with SCI in the US. Participants Participants were recruited via SCI-focused research registries and social media outlets serving the SCI community, using convenience sampling (n = 36). Key themes identified in the US data were compared to themes identified in a similar sample from the UK (n = 42) collected at the same time and published previously. Results Analysis resulted in three themes from the US data, each containing positive and negative qualitative reflections. Themes included (1) health and access to care, (2) making sense of the pandemic, and (3) daily life during the pandemic. Each theme captured common facets of life during the pandemic, often shared by those without physical disabilities, but included accounts particularly relevant to persons with disabilities. Comparisons to thematic findings from the UK study revealed similarities (e.g. healthcare access challenges, isolation) and differences (e.g. importance of previous SCI experiences). Conclusion We detailed common experiences of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and their impact on people with SCI, while contrasting these with sense-making positive reflections and social benefits that appeared to be helpful in managing distress and coping with the pandemic.

Links between the concentrations of gaseous pollutants measured in different regions of Estonia.

The factors that determine the concentrations of air pollutants (NO, NO2, SO2, O3), measured in 8 monitoring stations (4 rural background, 3 urban, and 1 industrial) in Estonia, are studied applying the factor analysis. The factor analysis reveals remarkable impact of COVID-19 lockdown, effects caused by dramatic decrease in oil-shale based energy production in Estonia provoked by new socio-economic conditions such as elevated price for CO2 emission quota, differences between rural and urban stations, maritime-continental difference for NO2 and ozone, and specific industrial impact in case of SO2. The multiple regression analysis to predict the ozone concentration in one rural background station at Tahkuse was performed, based on the ozone concentrations measured in other stations and the concentrations of NO, NO2, and CO2, recorded in the same station. It was found that the ozone concentration at Tahkuse is rather well predictable (determination coefficient, i.e., correlation coefficient squared, R2 = 0.714), using only the concentrations from another rural station at Saarejärve that is about 110 km away from Tahkuse. Adding all the available data into the list of regression analysis arguments, the model predictability is improved moderately (determination coefficient R2 = 0.795). Large model residuals above all tend to occur with the values measured and predicted at summer nights. Surprisingly, neither NO nor NO2 concentration measured in the Tahkuse station did appear a good predictor for ozone (R2 = 0.02 and 0.05, respectively), possibly long-range transport of ozone (that has also experienced NO and/or NO2 influence during transport) overrides the local effects of NO and/or NO2.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on the Activity and Mental Health of Older People in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused detrimental impacts on different population groups throughout the world. This study aimed to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic’s mandatory lockdown protocols on individual and social activities and mental health conditions of community-dwelling older people in Jakarta, Indonesia. A qualitative design using one-on-one in-depth interviews was employed to collect data from the participants (n = 24) who were recruited using the snowball sampling technique. Data analysis was guided by the five steps proposed in a qualitative data analysis framework, including familiarisation with the data, identification of a thematic framework, indexing the data, charting the data and mapping and interpreting the data. The findings showed that before the COVID-19 outbreak participants engaged in different kinds of regular individual and social activities. However, the COVID-19 outbreak and its mandatory lockdown protocols significantly influenced both their activities and social life, which led to social disconnection and financial difficulties for them. COVID-19 outbreak, mandatory lockdown protocols, and the disruption of individual and social activities of the participants also caused mental health challenges to them, including feelings of loneliness, loss, sadness, stress, and anger. The findings suggest that there is a need for intervention programs addressing the socio-economic and mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on older populations to help them cope with these challenges. Future studies involving large-scale older populations to comprehensively understand COVID-19 impacts on them are recommended.