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

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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.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.