The The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical fragility and functional capacity of the elderly.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical fragility and functional capacity of the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic requires increased mechanisms and health care. The recommendation of social distance to avoid the spread of the virus can have consequences in the aging process. Objective: To evaluate physical-functional capacities among frail and non-frail elderly people during the pandemic period. Method: Observational and longitudinal, descriptive and analytical research, approved by the REC of Unoesc, campus Joaçaba. Sample was composed of elderly people involved in an extension project at the Clinical School of Research and Care in Phisiotherapy. The data collection procedure took place through telephone contact in two moments with an interval of 3 (three) months, using a structured anamnesis for this purpose and part of the frailty phenotype, composed by CES-D, Minesotta and loss assessment instruments unintentional weight. Results: 25 elderly people met the inclusion criteria, the average age was 68.6 (+/- 5.5) years old, 72% female, 56% overweight and 80% declared to be sedentary. The drop in physical activity levels occurred significantly in the elderly initially classified as not fragile, so that the pandemic contributed to a decrease in conditions in this group. In the pre-pandemic period, non-frail elderly people had a higher level of weekly caloric expenditure than frail elderly people, whereas in the pandemic period, weekly caloric expenditure between the groups approached. Conclusion: The period of social isolation contributes to the decrease in daily caloric expenditure and physical inactivity, conditions associated with implementation the classification of frailty in the studied population.