Lehtisalo Jenni, Palmer Katie, Mangialasche Francesca, Solomon Alina, Kivipelto Miia, Ngandu Tiia
Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Population Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Front Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 12;12:624125. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.624125. eCollection 2021.
This study aimed to describe how the first phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected older persons from the general Finnish population who are at risk of developing or have cognitive impairment, specifically, to describe whether participants experienced a change in risk factors that are relevant for the prevention of cognitive decline including diet, physical activity, access to medical care, socially and cognitively stimulating activities, and emotional health and well-being. A postal survey was sent in June 2020 to 859 participants from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), an ongoing longitudinal study. The survey was developed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and related infection-control measures on daily life, specifically commitment to distancing measures, access to health care and social services, daily activities, and changes in cognitive and social activities. By September 2020, 613 (71%) participants responded (mean age = 77.7 years, 32% lived alone, and 80% had at least one chronic condition). Three quarters adopted some distancing practices during the first months of the pandemic. Older participants were more likely to practice total isolation than younger ones (29 vs. 19%; = 0.003). Non-acute health-care visits were canceled for 5% of the participants who needed appointments, but cancellations in dental health care (43%), home aid (30%), and rehabilitative services (53%) were more common. Pandemic-related changes were reported in social engagements, for example, less contact with friends (55%) and family (31%), or less frequent attendance in cultural events (38%) or associations (25%), although remote contact with others increased for 40%. Feelings of loneliness increased for 21%, particularly those who were older ( = 0.023) or living alone ( < 0.001). Physical activity reduced for 34%, but dietary habits remained stable or improved. Pandemic-related changes in lifestyle and activities were more evident among those living alone. Finnish older persons generally reported less negative changes in lifestyles and behaviors during the pandemic than expected. Older people and those living alone seemed more susceptible to negative changes. It is important to compare how coping strategies may compare with other European countries to identify factors that may help older individuals to maintain healthy lifestyles during future waves of COVID-19.
本研究旨在描述2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的第一阶段如何影响芬兰普通人群中存在认知功能减退风险或已患有认知障碍的老年人，具体而言，描述参与者在与预防认知衰退相关的风险因素方面是否发生了变化，这些因素包括饮食、身体活动、获得医疗护理的机会、社交和认知刺激活动以及情绪健康和幸福感。2020年6月，向芬兰老年干预预防认知障碍和残疾研究（FINGER）的859名参与者发送了邮政调查问卷，这是一项正在进行的纵向研究。该调查问卷旨在评估COVID-19大流行及相关感染控制措施对日常生活的影响，特别是对保持社交距离措施的遵守情况、获得医疗保健和社会服务的机会、日常活动以及认知和社交活动的变化。到2020年9月，613名（71%）参与者做出了回应（平均年龄 = 77.7岁，32%独自生活，80%至少患有一种慢性病）。在大流行的头几个月里，四分之三的人采取了一些社交距离措施。老年参与者比年轻参与者更有可能完全隔离（29%对19%；P = 0.003）。5%需要预约的参与者取消了非紧急医疗保健就诊，但牙科保健（43%）、居家护理（30%）和康复服务（53%）的取消更为常见。报告了与大流行相关的社交活动变化，例如，与朋友（55%）和家人（31%）的联系减少，或参加文化活动（38%）或社团（25%）的频率降低，尽管与他人的远程联系增加了40%。21%的人感到孤独感增加，尤其是老年人（P = 0.023）或独自生活的人（P < 0.001）。身体活动减少了34%，但饮食习惯保持稳定或有所改善。与大流行相关的生活方式和活动变化在独自生活的人群中更为明显。芬兰老年人普遍报告说，在大流行期间生活方式和行为方面的负面变化比预期的要少。老年人和独自生活的人似乎更容易受到负面变化的影响。比较应对策略与其他欧洲国家的情况，以确定在未来COVID-19疫情期间可能有助于老年人保持健康生活方式的因素，这一点很重要。
