Depressive symptoms and frailty, effects of social distancing and isolation in older adults.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the effects of social distancing and isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic on depressive symptoms and frailty in older adults in Primary Health Care.

Methods: Prospective cohort study, using the following data collection instruments: Center for Epidemiological Studies depression scale, adherence to social distancing and isolation, and markers of the physical frailty phenotype. Descriptive statistical analysis, association and proportional hazards regression were performed.

Results: 51.8% of the older adults progressed to pre-frailty, 14.1% had depressive symptoms, and a low de-gree of adherence to social distancing and isolation (69.4%). There was no association between dis-tancing and isolation and depressive symptoms (p=0.748) and physical frailty (p=0.5). Single, sepa-rated, divorced or widowed people have 62% (HR=0.38; 95%CI 0.15-0.96) less risk of being classified as frail and 57% (HR=0.43; 95%CI 0.21- 0.9) less chance of presenting depressive symptoms com-pared to married people.

Conclusion: the low degree of adherence to social distancing and isolation showed no association with depressive symptoms and physical frailty. Sociodemographic factors highlighted risks of frailty and depressive symptoms that require attention and an individualized gerontological care plan.