Correlates to psychological distress in frail older community-dwellers undergoing lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background This study identifies correlates of the lockdown’s psychological distress in frail older community-dwellers (Catalonia, Spain). Methods Participants from a community frailty intervention program, with a comprehensive geriatric assessment within the 12-months pre-lockdown and COVID-19 free during the first pandemic wave (March–May 2020), underwent a phone assessment past the lockdown to assess COVID-19-related emotional distress (DME) as well as other sociodemograhic, clinical and psychosocial factors. Results Of the 94 frail older adults (age = 82,34 ± 6,12 years; 68,1% women; 38,3% living alone), 84,9% were at risk of experiencing moderate-to-high psychological distress, according to the backward stepwise logistic regression model obtained (χ2 = 47,007, p < 0,001, Nagelkerke R2 = 0,528), based on the following factors: absence of depressive symptoms before lockdown (OR = 0,12, p = 0,014, 95%CI[0,023–0,647]), not carrying out leisure activities during lockdown (OR = 0,257, p = 0,023, 95%CI[0,079–0,832]) and currently experiencing high malaise due to COVID-19 situation (OR = 1,504, p < 0,001, 95%CI[1,241–1,822]). Discussion These findings suggest that it is necessary to favour a prior overall health status and to empower frail older community-dwellers in the use of a broad repertoire of coping strategies in the face of adversity to foster mental health and keep at bay the potential emotional impact of the situation generated by the COVID pandemic.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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