Aim: The purpose of this study was to categorize and clarify transitions in the health status of older adults living in the community during the coronavirus disease (coronavirus disease 2019: COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: The participants were older adults (≥65 years of age) who lived in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. The survey items included basic information and subjective health perception (questionnaire for medical checkup of old-old). Latent class analyses were conducted for the first (baseline) and second surveys (6 months). The scores for each item were compared to identify the characteristics of each class at baseline and at 6 months. In addition, transitions in class affiliation from baseline to 6 months were summarized.
Results: A total of 434 of 1,953 participants (mean age: 79.1 years, 98 males and 336 females) completed the survey (22.2%). In both time periods, the responses were categorized into four classes: 1) good, 2) poor physical, oral and cognitive function, 3) poor social status and lifestyle, and 4) poor in all except social status and lifestyle. During 6 months of follow-up, a transition from the generally good class to the poor physical, oral and cognitive functions class was observed in many cases.
Conclusions: The health status of the older adults living in the community was classified into four classes, and changes in health status occurred even within a short period of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Categorization; Community-dwelling older adults; Frailty; Health status; Transition.