Aim This study aimed to clarify the association between frailty and changes in lifestyle and physical or psychological conditions among community‐dwelling older adults affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 countermeasures in Japan. Methods This cross‐sectional study was carried out between 8 May and 12 June 2020 in Japan. Self‐reported questionnaires were distributed among 1353 older adults. To assess frailty, we used the frailty screening index. To assess changes in lifestyle and physical or psychological conditions, we developed the Questionnaire for Change of Life (QCL), which comprised five items related to frailty. Cronbach's α was calculated as a measure of internal consistency of QCL. We compared the score for each item in the QCL between the frailty and non‐frailty groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to show the factors that affect frailty status. Results In total, 856 older adults (63.3%) were analyzed. A total of 83 participants (9.7%) had frailty, and 755 participants (90.3%) had non‐frailty. Cronbach's α for QCL was 0.552. We observed a significant decrease in daily movement, leg muscle strength and meal size among older adults with frailty compared with non‐frailty ( P < 0.001). Subjective leg muscle strength (odds ratio 3.257, 95% confidence interval 2.236–4.746) was negatively correlated with frailty. Conclusions We suggest that each individual QCL item should be used in analyses involving the QCL. This report showed that subjective lifestyle changes affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 countermeasures were associated with frailty status. In particular, as older adults were aware of a decrease in their leg muscle strength, they were significantly more frail. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–•• .

No abstract

Key summary points Aim This study aimed to clarify the actual frail status over 6 months with the COVID-19 countermeasures based on a prospective cohort study. Findings Pre-frailty and frailty prevalences among Japanese community-dwelling, older adults were 55.0 and 7.9% at the baseline, and 57.3 and 11.8% at the follow-up respectively. Frailty over the 6 months could be predicted by increasing age and multimorbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Message We should prevent frailty affected by the implementation of COVID-19 countermeasures.

IntroductionLocal activities that functioned to prevent frailty in the elderly have been suspended or reduced as a countermeasure against COVID-19. As a result, frailty rates are expected to increase, and frailty is expected to worsen as a secondary problem associated with COVID-19 countermeasures. Therefore, this study aims to determine the extent of frailty in the elderly associated with lifestyle changes implemented as COVID-19 countermeasures, to ascertain actual lifestyle changes and clarify the existence of Corona-Frailty. We will also conduct Corona-Frailty screening to verify the effect of support provided as feedback to supporters of the elderly.Methods and analysisThe survey target area is Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Phase I aims to verify the short-term effects of COVID-19. A questionnaire will be distributed to 465 community-dwelling elderly people, and responses will be obtained by post. Frailty will be evaluated using the Frailty Screening Index. Respondents who are frail and have had many changes in their lifestyle will be screened as high-risk people, and feedback will be provided to local supporters. The aim of Phase II will be to verify the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the effect of screening. A similar survey will be distributed twice after the first survey, once after 6 months and again after 1 year and the frailty rate will be tested. Furthermore, out of the subjects identified with frailty in Phase I, the progress of those who were screened and those who were not screened will be compared between groups.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Takasaki University of Health and Welfare (approval number: 2009). The results of this study will be reported to the policymaker, presented at academic conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberUMIN000040335.

No abstract