Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic could increase the mental health burden of family caregivers of older adults, but related reports are limited. We examined the association between family caregiving and changes in the depressive symptom status during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study included 957 (mean age [standard deviation] = 80.8 [4.8] years; 53.5% females) community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years from a semi-urban area of Japan, who completed a mailed questionnaire. Based on the depressive symptom status assessed with the Two-Question Screen between March and October 2020, participants were classified into four groups: "non-depressive symptoms," "incidence of depressive symptoms," "remission from depressive symptoms," or "persistence of depressive symptoms." Participants were assessed in October 2020 for the family caregiving status, caregiving role, the severity of care recipients' needs, and increased caregiver burden during the pandemic, each with the simple question. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied to obtain the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for changes in depressive symptom status. Compared to non-caregivers, family caregivers were associated with the incidence (OR [95% CI] = 3.17 [1.55-6.51], p < 0.01) and persistence of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI] = 2.39 [1.30-4.38], p < 0.01). Primary caregivers, caregivers for individuals with severe care needs, and caregivers with increased burden during the pandemic had a high risk of depressive symptoms. Family caregivers had a high risk of depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Our findings highlight the need for a support system for family caregivers.

Phase angle has been suggested as a useful, noninvasive, and objective index to evaluate the nutritional status of older people. However, there are no studies analyzing the relationship between nutritional status and phase angle in older patients, according to sex. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between phase angle and malnutrition, and to calculate cut-off points of malnutrition with phase angle in older inpatients, according to sex. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Participants were older inpatients of a rehabilitation unit, and data within 1 week of hospitalization were collected from the medical records. We collected data of demographics, phase angle, and the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index. Phase angle was measured with InBody S10. To confirm whether phase angle is an important factor in predicting malnutrition, we conducted binary logistic regression analysis. In addition, to determine the cut-off points of malnutrition in older inpatients, we used the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Participants included 59 men (mean age 76.5 years) and 101 women (mean age 78.8 years). As a result of statistical analysis, phase angle was an important factor related to malnutrition in both male and female inpatients. Our findings showed that cut-off points of 4.03 degrees (sensitivity; 87.0%, specificity; 75.9%) in male patients and 3.65 degrees (sensitivity; 78.6%, specificity; 60.5%) in female patients could be used to predict malnutrition. The results of this study suggest that phase angle may be useful as an indicator to predict the nutritional status of older inpatients.

We clarified the relationship between occupational dysfunction and social isolation among community-dwelling adults. We used a self-administered questionnaire with a cross-sectional study for 2879 independently living older adults in Kasama City, Japan. Participants responded to a self-reported questionnaire in November 2019. Occupational dysfunction and social isolation were assessed. The participants were classified into two groups: healthy occupational function group, and occupational dysfunction group. To examine the relationship between occupational dysfunction and social isolation, we performed a logistic regression analysis with social isolation as a dependent variable and occupational dysfunction as an independent variable. In the crude model, the occupational dysfunction group had a higher risk of social isolation than the healthy occupational function group (odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.63–2.55; p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, the occupational dysfunction group had a higher risk of social isolation than the healthy occupational function group (OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.17–1.94; p = 0.001). The results showed that occupational dysfunction was significantly associated with social isolation. These results can be used in constructing a support method for social isolation from a new perspective.

Background: Phase angle, which is associated with cellular health, has attracted attention as a noninvasive and objective method for nutritional assessment. However, the association between malnutrition and phase angle in older inpatients with hip fractures has not been reported. Therefore, this study investigated this association in older inpatients (aged ≥65 years) with hip fractures and determined the cutoff phase angle for determining malnutrition.Methods: This cross-sectional study retrospectively analyzed the data of 96 inpatients with hip fractures who were hospitalized in rehabilitation units after surgery (male, 29.4%; mean age, 82.4±6.2 years). Nutritional status was assessed using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), with malnutrition defined as a GNRI ≥98. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure phase angles. Results: The phase angle was associated with malnutrition (B=−1.173; odds ratio=0.310; 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.83; p=0.015). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.71. The cutoff phase angle for malnutrition was 3.96° (sensitivity=0.85, specificity=0.63). Conclusion: Phase angle could be an indicator of malnutrition in older inpatients with hip fractures. Our findings will help formulate rehabilitation strategies for these patients.