AUTHOR=Perracini Monica R. , de Amorim Juleimar Soares Coelho , Lima Camila Astolphi , da Silva Alexandre , Trombini-Souza Francis , Pereira Daniele Sirineu , Pelicioni Paulo Henrique Silva , Duim Etiene , Batista Patricia Parreira , dos Santos Renato Barbosa , de Lima Maria do Carmo Correia ,  The REMOBILIZE Research Network (CANSORT-SCI) 

TITLE=Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults Living in Brazil: REMOBILIZE Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.643640

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.643640

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil in a scenario of substantial socioeconomic and health inequalities. It is unknown the immediate impact of social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdown, stay-at-home) on the life-space mobility of older people.</p><p><bold>Objective:</bold> To investigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on life-space mobility of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults and examine the social determinants of health associated with change in life-space mobility.</p><p><bold>Design:</bold> Baseline data from a prospective cohort study (REMOBILIZE Study).</p><p><bold>Setting:</bold> Community.</p><p><bold>Subject:</bold> A convenience snowball sample of participants aged 60 and older (<italic>n</italic> = 1,482) living in 22 states in Brazil.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted an online and phone survey using an adapted version of the Life-Space Assessment (LSA). Linear regression models were used to investigate social determinants of health on the change in LSA score.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Regardless of their gender and social determinants of health, participants showed a significant reduction in life-space mobility since COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Life-space mobility reduction was higher among black individuals, those living alone and aged between 70 and 79. Other variables associated with change in life-space mobility, to a lesser extent, were sex, education and income.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Social restriction measures due to pandemic caused substantial reduction in older adults' life-space mobility in Brazil. Social inequalities strongly affected vulnerable groups. Concerted actions should be put in place to overcome the deterioration in life-pace mobility amongst these groups. Failure in minimizing health inequalities amplified by the pandemic may jeopardize the desired achievements of the Decade of Healthy Aging.</p>