Tsekoura Maria, Fousekis K, Roukounaki M, Giannoulatou E, Kolokithas G, Sakellaropoulou Α, Gridelas An, Kastrinis A, Billis E, Tsepis E
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Rio, Greece.
Department of Elderly, Open Care Centres for the Elderly, Social Organization Municipality of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023;1425:353-358. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31986-0_34.
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity (PA), anxiety, and depression amongst Greek older adults. Participants were older adults (>60 years) recruited from community centers of Achaia (Open Care Centers for Older Adults), in Western Greek mainland during the period of December 2020-March 2021. The information was gathered through telephone interviews. Questions on social demographics, health history, diagnosis, quarantine, and hospitalization were asked, as well as impact of the pandemic health status and physical activity behavior. The level of PA was assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaire, while anxiety and depression via the Hospital and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Patras. Four-hundred eleven (411) older adults (306 women, 105 men; mean age of 72.47 ± 6.89 years years) completed the survey. About half of the sample (n = 179; 43.5%) reported a decrease in physical activity due to the pandemic and social isolation restrictions. From the total sample, 211 older adults (51.3%) recorded fear of COVID-19 infection and 9 participants (2.1%) reported to have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection. The findings of this study demonstrated that PA was associated with place of living (r = 0.55; p ≤ 0.001), incidence of falls (r = 0.45; p ≤ 0.001), COVID-19 infection (r = 0.6; p ≤ 0.001), fear of COVID-19 infection (r = 0.45; p ≤ 0.05), and anxiety (r = 0.5; p ≤ 0.001). In summary, a decline in PA due to COVID-19 pandemic was reported by the majority of Greek older adults. Results of the present study show that the COVID-19 pandemic may have induced PA behavior changes in many older adults, which may accelerate their risk of developing frailty, sarcopenia, and disability. Interventions to improve PA in older adults should take into account social and community factors and should be key components of current and future pandemic plans, particularly for vulnerable groups.
这项横断面研究的目的是调查新冠疫情对希腊老年人身体活动（PA）、焦虑和抑郁的自我报告影响。参与者为2020年12月至2021年3月期间从希腊大陆西部阿哈伊亚的社区中心（老年人开放护理中心）招募的老年人（>60岁）。信息通过电话访谈收集。询问了社会人口统计学、健康史、诊断、隔离和住院情况等问题，以及疫情对健康状况和身体活动行为的影响。通过国际身体活动问卷（IPAQ）评估身体活动水平，通过医院焦虑和抑郁量表（HADS）评估焦虑和抑郁情况。该研究方案已获得帕特雷大学伦理委员会的批准。411名老年人（306名女性，105名男性；平均年龄72.47±6.89岁）完成了调查。约一半的样本（n = 179；43.5%）报告称由于疫情和社会隔离限制，身体活动减少。在总样本中，211名老年人（51.3%）表示害怕感染新冠病毒，9名参与者（2.1%）报告被诊断感染了新冠病毒。本研究结果表明，身体活动与居住地点（r = 0.55；p≤0.001）、跌倒发生率（r = 0.45；p≤0.001）、新冠病毒感染（r = 0.6；p≤0.001）、害怕感染新冠病毒（r = 0.45；p≤0.05）和焦虑（r = 0.5；p≤0.001）有关。总之，大多数希腊老年人报告称由于新冠疫情身体活动减少。本研究结果表明，新冠疫情可能使许多老年人的身体活动行为发生了变化，这可能会加速他们出现虚弱、肌肉减少症和残疾的风险。改善老年人身体活动的干预措施应考虑社会和社区因素，并且应成为当前和未来疫情防控计划的关键组成部分，尤其是针对弱势群体。
