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Anales de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba
versión On-line ISSN 2304-0106
Resumen
LLIBRE RODRIGUEZ, Juan de J. et al. Loneliness and its connection with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in Cuban elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anales de la ACC [online]. 2021, vol.11, n.3 Epub 01-Dic-2021. ISSN 2304-0106.
Introduction:
COVID-19 has increased social distancing and the isolation of elderly people, which brings adverse effects to their physical and mental health. Objective: to study the influence of feelings of loneliness on Cuban elderly people’s mental health (depression, anxiety and sleep disorders) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method:
Observational study of 585 65 year old people and older ones included in the Aging and Alzheimer Longitudinal Study. The interviews were conducted from October 1 to November 30, 2020, during phase 3 of pandemic recovery in Havana province. The geriatric mental state (GMS) was used to identify feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.
Results:
Was found a high prevalence of feelings of loneliness (29,7 %), depression (37,9 %), anxiety (20,9 %), and insomnia (28,9 %). Loneliness increased the probability of depression, OR= 5,37 (IC 95 % from 3,66 to 7,89), anxiety 0R = 3,60 (IC 95 % from 2,38 to 5,46) and insomnia OR = 2,88 (IC 95 %; from 1,97 to 4,22), the connection remaining significantly in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions. Social distancing and restriction measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have brought negative consequences on elderly people’s mental health and well-being. Further studies are necessary to identify risk factors and develop procedures to reduce the effects of social distancing on elderly people’s mental health in situations like the pandemic and also in periods of normalcy.
Palabras clave : COVID-19; elderly people; social distancing; loneliness; mental health.