COVID-19 pandemic impact on trajectories in cardiometabolic health, physical activity and functioning among adults from the 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study.

TitleCOVID-19 pandemic impact on trajectories in cardiometabolic health, physical activity and functioning among adults from the 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsBeydoun, HA, Beydoun, MA, Gautam, RS, Alemu, BT, Weiss, J, Hossain, S, Zonderman, AB
JournalThe Journal of Gerontology, Series A
Volume77
Issue7
Pagination1371-1379
ISSN Number1758-535X
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, COVID-19, lifestyle, Obesity, Statistical models
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trajectories in cardiometabolic health, physical activity and functioning among U.S. older adults, overall and according to selected baseline socio-demographic characteristics.

METHODS: We performed secondary analyses using longitudinal data on 1,372 participants from the 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study. Pre-post COVID-19 pandemic onset was examined in relation to body mass index (BMI), number of cardiometabolic risk factors and/or chronic conditions, physical activity, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) using mixed-effects regression models and group-based trajectory models.

RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significantly increased BMI (β=1.39, 95% CI: 0.74, 2.03). Furthermore, the odds of having at least one cardiometabolic risk factor and/or chronic disease increased pre-post COVID-19 onset (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.36), whereas physical functioning worsened pre-post COVID-19 onset (ADL: β=1.11, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.28; IADL: β=0.59, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.73). The pre-post COVID-19 period (2018-2020) showed a stable group of trajectories, with low, medium and high levels of the selected health indicators. Health disparities according to sex, race/ethnicity, educational level, work status and total wealth are highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic onset appears to worsen cardiometabolic health and physical functioning among U.S. older adults, with clusters of individuals defined by selected socio-demographic characteristics experiencing distinct trajectories pre-post COVID-19 pandemic onset.

DOI10.1093/gerona/glac028
Citation Key12428
PubMed ID35106581
PubMed Central IDPMC8903316