The medium-term consequences of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle among Spanish older people with hypertension, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal-diseases, depression, and cancer

• Published in: Epidemiology and health p. e2022026
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Gómez, Irene, Sánchez-Martín, Coral, García-García, Francisco J, García-Esquinas, Esther, Miret, Marta, Vicente-Rodriguez, Germán, Gusi, Narcís, Mañas, Asier, Carnicero, José A, Gonzalez-Gross, Marcela, Ayuso-Mateos, José L, Rodríguez-Artalejo, Fernando, Rodríguez-Mañas, Leocadio, Ara Royo, Ignacio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 21.02.2022
• Subjects: Ageing; Chronic diseases; Anxiety; Sedentary time; Quality of life
• ISSN: 2092-7193

To assess the influence of different chronic diseases on lifestyle and health behaviours changes after COVID-19 lockdown in Spanish older people compared to people without these diseases and compare the differences in these changes between both periods. 1092 participants (80.3±5.6y;66.5%women) from two Spanish cohorts were included. Telephone-based questionaries were used to evaluate health risk behaviours and lifestyle during lockdown and 7-months later. Self-reported physician-based diagnosis of chronic diseases was also reported. Cox-proportional models adjusted for main confounders were applied. Improvements concerning lifestyle were found in older people with chronic diseases, although they worsened the physical component (except cancer). When they were compared to those without these diseases, hypertension was associated with a lower frequency of increased alcohol consumption (Hazard ratio:0.73[95% confidence interval:0.55;0.99]). Pulmonary diseases were associated with a lower risk of both decreased sedentary time (0.58[0.39;0.86]) and worsening sleep quality (0.56[0.36;0.87]), while CVD was only associated with a lower frequency of decreased sedentary time (0.58[0.38;0.88]). Depression was linked to a higher risk of increasing diet quality (1.53[1.00;2.36]). Cancer was less likely to worsen sleep quality (0.44[0.22;0.89]), but more likely to worsen their social contact frequency (2.05[1.05;3.99]). No significant association related to musculoskeletal diseases. Beneficial changes in health risk behaviours and lifestyle after the COVID-19 lockdown in older people with chronic diseases were found. Particularly, older people with hypertension, pulmonary disease and cancer showed beneficial changes after lockdown compared to their counterparts without diseases. Those with CVD and depression showed lifestyles that could involve a health risk.