Association between eating alone and motor function among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the motor function and nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults. The relationship between motor function, depression, and nutritional status during the COVID-19 lockdown period was examined in community-dwelling older adults based on the Motor Fitness Scale (MFS) scores. Methods A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 900 community-dwelling older people aged 65 years and above. Of 400 people who responded to the questionnaire, 66 people with missing MFS responses, 45 people with a Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 8-items (DASC-8) score of 11 or more, 9 people with neurological and mental problems , and 43 people certified as requiring support or care were excluded. The remaining 237 people (mean age, 73.1±6.0 years) were included for analysis. Based on MFS cutoff points of 11 or less for men and 9 or less for women, the participants were divided into the low MFS group (n=65) and normal MFS group (n=172). Nutritional status was assessed using the mini nutritional assessment, short form (MNA^®-SF). Age, gender, household situation, education, eating alone , Geriatric Depression Scale15 (GDS15), and DASC-8 data were collected. Results Compared with the normal group, the group with reduced MFS score had a significantly higher proportion of those aged 75 years or older (p=0.001, Cramer’s V=0.215) and those who ate alone (p=0.052, Cramer’s V=0.135). Furthermore, a higher proportion of the participants were at risk of low nutrition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with lower MFS score as the outcome showed that dietary status: eating alone (odds ratio [OR]: 4.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–11.99) was independently associated with lower MFS scores. The presence of MNA^®-SF risk showed an OR of 2.27 and a 95% CI of 0.96–5.38, but it was not a significant factor. Conclusions Eating alone was independently associated with lower MFS scores in community-dwelling older people. To prevent the decline of motor function in older people, attention should be paid to their nutritional status and whether they eat alone or not. This study provides a research direction for surveys to be performed in settings where performing face-to-face surveys is challenging.