Did frailty influence older adults' choices of communication methods during COVID-19?

BACKGROUND

Frailty affects not only the health outcomes of older adults but also their ability to maintain social connections, especially during public health crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study examined whether frailty status influenced older adults' choice of communication methods during the COVID-19 outbreak.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional dataset, we applied multivariate probit models to analyze the relationship between frailty status and the use of video calls, telephone calls, and face-to-face interactions among older adults. The sample comprised 5,115 community-dwelling older adults living in Sakai City (mean age: 74.66 years). In this study, older adults were defined as individuals aged 65 years and older. The participants' characteristics were assessed on November 1, 2020. Participants were categorized as frail, pre-frail, or robust based on frailty-related characteristics such as musculoskeletal function, nutritional status, oral function, confinement, and cognitive function. Frailty was assessed using a frailty index based on a 25-item checklist developed from the existing literature.

RESULTS

First, older adults with frailty were more likely to report a decrease in their use of telephone calls (0.296, p<.01) compared with their robust counterparts. Second, compared with those aged 80 years and above, younger respondents were more likely to report an increase in video calls (65-69 years: 0.393, p<.01) but less likely to report an increase in face-to-face interactions (65-69 years: -0.498, p<.01; 70-74 years: -0.302, p<.05). Third, a decrease in the report of using telephone calls was positively correlated with a reduction in the report of face-to-face interactions (p<.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the complex relationship between frailty and communication patterns. They underscore the need for inclusive interventions that address physical, age, and technological barriers to social connectivity.