Descriptive Analysis of Six-Months of Nutrition Change During COVID-19 in a Vulnerable Rural Population Over 80 Years Old.

Background: Isolation mitigated the risks of COVID-19 infection. For older adults, isolation itself can be harmful. Isolation and loneliness impact nutritional status which leads to other health consequences. This study identified the changes of 167 individuals 80+ years old pre and post COVID-19 isolation and the association of habitation and location.

Methods: We collected demographic (age, gender, cohabitation, and isolation) and clinical (BMI and nutritional) information from patients 80+ years old prior to and 6 months after COVID-19 began in the region. We collected nutritional data using the mini-nutritional assessment short form (MNA-SF).

Results: Averages for the studied cohort (n = 167) were age = 85.1, BMI = 26.5, and MNA-SF = 11.8. Females (-0.51; P = 0.015) and those living alone (-0.66; P < 0.001) had greater decreases in BMI after 6 months. Nutritional status worsened significantly for females (-0.74; P < 0.001), those living alone (-0.82; P = 0.015), and those in rural (-0.70; P < 0.001) and isolated (-0.61; P = 0.031) locations.

Conclusion: Females, those living alone, and those in rural and isolated locations had a greater decline in nutritional status during the COVID-19 isolation period. This identifies a disparity in an already vulnerable population of older adults that should be addressed with further research targeted toward prevention and treatment.