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. 2024 Apr 1;36(1):85.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-024-02734-6.

Longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and autonomy in participation outdoors among Finnish community-dwelling older adults from pre-COVID-19 to through the pandemic

Katja Lindeman  1 , Laura Karavirta  2 , Kaisa Koivunen  2 , Kirsi E Keskinen  2 , Johanna Eronen  2 , Erja Portegijs  3 , Taina Rantanen  2
Affiliations

Longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and autonomy in participation outdoors among Finnish community-dwelling older adults from pre-COVID-19 to through the pandemic

Katja Lindeman et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. .

Abstract

Background: Among older people, community mobility was reduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the longer-term changes are unclear.

Aims: To study lower extremity performance and car driving as predictors of changes in older adults' life-space mobility, autonomy in participation outdoors, and the risk of developing restricted life-space mobility from 2017 to 2022.

Methods: Life-space mobility (scoring range 0-120) and autonomy in participation outdoors (scoring range 0-20) were assessed in community-dwelling individuals (n = 657) in 2017-2018 (baseline age 75, 80, or 85 years), during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, and in 2021-2022. Lower extremity performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery, and car driving was self-reported at baseline. Data were analysed using generalized estimating equations and Cox regression.

Results: During the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, life-space mobility decreased on average by 10.3 (SD 21.6) points and partially recovered in 2021-2022 (+ 2.7, SD 21.8). The same pattern was observed for autonomy in participation outdoors. Non-drivers and those with impaired lower extremity performance had a 2.4-to-3.6-fold adjusted risk of developing restricted life-space mobility over the follow-up period compared to drivers with intact lower extremity performance.

Conclusions: For older people, the recovery of community mobility was incomplete after the restrictions stemming from the pandemic were lifted. Older adults with impaired lower extremity performance and who did not drive were particularly vulnerable to developing restricted life-space mobility, a situation that could lead to social isolation and reduced well-being.

Keywords: Ageing; COVID-19; Driving; Mobility; Physical performance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The flow chart of the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(A) Life-space mobility (higher scores indicate greater life-space mobility) and (B) autonomy in participation outdoors (higher scores indicate weaker autonomy) at baseline (BL) in 2017–2018, during the Emergency Powers Act (EPA) in 2020, and at the second follow-up (FU) in 2021–2022 according to the SPPB total score and driving status categories. Data are presented as estimated marginal means (adjusted for sex, age, years of education, perceived economic situation, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic diseases) with 95% confidence intervals. SPPB ≥ 10 and driving are used as a reference group (REF)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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