Department of Medicine for Integrated Approach to Social Inclusion, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2022 Oct;22(10):832-838. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14465. Epub 2022 Sep 6.
The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on facility- and home-dwelling people with dementia (PWD).
This observational study included two anonymous online survey questionnaires to explore the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and the long-term impact during the 2 years from the onset of the pandemic. The participants were medical and long-term care facilities representatives for older people (945 facilities in the first survey, 686 in the second), and care managers (751 in the first survey, 241 in the second). A χ -test was carried out between the two surveys.
For facility-dwelling PWD, activities that stimulate cognitive and physical functioning increased significantly compared with the first wave of the pandemic (P < 0.05). Also, a decline in cognitive and walking functions and falls increased in the second survey compared with the first (P < 0.01). For home-dwelling PWD, the broader impact of the pandemic on support for activities of daily living, social interaction and provision of medical care did not mitigate. The high prevalence of cognitive and physical functional decline in the first survey was similar in the second.
The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic produced changes in the lives of home- and facility-dwelling PWD, with widespread negative consequences for them. Our findings are useful to consider preventive supports to mitigate or avoid functional decline and symptom exacerbation in PWD due to changes in their living environment and the care they receive in the COVID-19 era. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 832-838.
本研究旨在探讨 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行对住院和居家痴呆症患者（PWD）的影响。
本观察性研究包括两个匿名在线调查问卷，以探讨 COVID-19 大流行在日本的第一波疫情的影响，以及大流行开始后的 2 年期间的长期影响。参与者为老年人医疗和长期护理设施代表（第一次调查 945 个设施，第二次调查 686 个设施）和护理经理（第一次调查 751 人，第二次调查 241 人）。对两次调查进行了卡方检验。
与第一波疫情相比，住院的 PWD 刺激认知和身体功能的活动显著增加（P<0.05）。此外，与第一波相比，第二次调查中认知和行走功能下降以及跌倒增加（P<0.01）。对于居家的 PWD，大流行对日常生活活动、社交互动和医疗护理支持的更广泛影响并未减轻。第一次调查中认知和身体功能下降的高患病率在第二次调查中相似。
COVID-19 大流行的长期持续对住院和居家 PWD 的生活产生了变化，对他们造成了广泛的负面影响。我们的研究结果对于考虑预防支持措施以减轻或避免 COVID-19 时代 PWD 因生活环境和所接受护理的变化而导致的功能下降和症状恶化是有用的。老年医学与老年病学国际 2022；22：832-838。
