Physical health, wellbeing, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in older adults: results from the LAB60+ Study in Dresden

Research output: Contribution to conferencesAbstractContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Einleitung As the proportion of older people is increasing, it is necessary to evaluate their physical health and mental wellbeing in order to identify necessary measures to promote healthy ageing. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted older adults' health- not just through the infection itself, but also due to the infection protection ordinances. Methoden The study 'Life Situation of Dresden Residents from Age 60 Years' (LAB60+) is a population-based crosssectional study investigating, among other things, the physical and mental health of older adults. Residents of Dresden aged 60 years and older were invited to participate in the first half of 2021. All districts and age groups in five-year categories were represented using stratified random sampling. Most participants completed either a paper or online questionnaire (99%), while a small proportion answered questions during a telephone interview. Participants were asked questions about their habits, health status and well-being, using, among others, the Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8) and 5-item WHO well-being index (WHO5). Ergebnisse 2399 people aged 60 years and older participated in the study, resulting in a response of 40%. The assessment of the participants regarding their own physical health through the SF-8 was comparable to the assessment of physical health in the German population as a whole. 91% of participants had at least one chronic condition, and the most common were hypertension (54%), chronic pain (32%) and osteoarthritis (31%). 42% of the participants were overweight, and 20% were obese. One-fifth did not engage in physical activity, and this number increased with age and decreasing socioeconomic status. Overall, participants reported lower levels of subjective well-being compared to the German population as a whole (58 points vs. 67 points). The scores indicated higher levels of depressiveness in about one-third of the respondents. Half of the participants reported an increase in their experienced loneliness due to the pandemic. About one-third participated in risky alcohol consumption, but alcohol consumption did not markedly change during the pandemic. Those who smoked tended to have increased their smoking habit during the pandemic. The greatest negative impact on health behaviors was on physical activity, as more than one-third exercised less compared to the time before the pandemic. Schlussfolgerung The physical health of older adults in Dresden was comparable to the German population, while there was an increased depressivity observed, perhaps due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Age-appropriate interventions should especially target an increase in physical activity. It is important to take measures to reduce or compensate for the possible negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increased loneliness or reduced physical activity, through services such as the 'senior-citizens telephone hotline' online psychotherapy, and group-appropriate sports courses. .

Details

Original languageEnglish
PagesV-034
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Symposium

TitleGemeinsame Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Sozialmedizin und Prävention (DGSMP e.V.) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Soziologie (DGMS) 2022
SubtitleSoziale Gesundheit neu denken: Herausforderungen für Sozialmedizin und medizinische Soziologie in der digitalen Spätmoderne
Abbreviated titleDGSMP-DGMS-2022
Duration7 - 9 September 2022
Website
Degree of recognitionNational event
LocationHochschule Magdeburg Stendal
CityMagdeburg
CountryGermany

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-0015-5120/work/142239864
ORCID /0000-0002-0241-7032/work/142251547
ORCID /0009-0006-4498-7267/work/157768259
Mendeley a9cbfb82-eda5-3623-9eb4-923bab314fe8

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Library keywords