Association of Global Cognitive Function With Psychological Distress and Adherence to Public Health Recommendations During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: The Women's Health Initiative. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022 Dec 06;77(Suppl 1):S42-S50
Date
03/03/2022Pubmed ID
35235646Pubmed Central ID
PMC8903468DOI
10.1093/gerona/glac053Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85133327333 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: The association of cognitive function with symptoms of psychological distress during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic or adherence to COVID-19 protective health behaviors is not well-understood.
METHODS: We examined 2 890 older women from the Women's Health Initiative cohort. Prepandemic (ie, within 12 months prior to pandemic onset) and peripandemic global cognitive function scores were assessed with the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m). Anxiety, stress, and depressive symptom severity during the pandemic were assessed using validated questionnaires. We examined adherence to protective behaviors that included safe hygiene, social distancing, mask wearing, and staying home. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, education, region of residence, alcohol intake, and comorbidities.
RESULTS: Every 5-point lower prepandemic TICS-m score was associated with 0.33-point mean higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20, 0.45) perceived stress and 0.20-point mean higher (95% CI, 0.07, 0.32) depressive symptom severity during the pandemic. Higher depressive symptom severity, but not anxiety or perceived stress, was associated with a 0.69-point (95% CI, -1.13, -0.25) mean decline in TICS-m from the prepandemic to peripandemic period. Every 5-point lower peripandemic TICS-m score was associated with 12% lower odds ratio (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80, 0.97) of practicing safe hygiene.
CONCLUSIONS: Among older women, we observed that: (a) lower prepandemic global cognitive function was associated with higher stress and depressive symptom severity during the pandemic; (b) higher depressive symptom severity during the pandemic was associated with cognitive decline; and (c) lower global cognitive function during the pandemic was associated with lower odds of practicing safe hygiene.
Author List
Shadyab AH, Larson JC, Rapp SR, Shumaker SA, Kroenke CH, Meliker J, Saquib N, Ikramuddin F, Michael YL, Goveas JS, Garcia L, Wactawski-Wende J, Luo J, Hayden KM, Chen JC, Weitlauf J, Baker LDAuthor
Joseph S. Goveas MD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedCognition
Depression
Female
Humans
Pandemics
Public Health
Stress, Psychological
Women's Health
