The relationship between dietary variety and frailty in Japanese older adult women during the period of restriction on outings due to COVID-19

Otaki, Naoto; Yano, Megumu; Yokoro, Miyuki; Tanino, Norikazu; Fukuo, Keisuke

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between diet and frailty in community-dwelling older adults during the period of restriction on outings due to COVID-19. A population of 322 women aged 65 years or older living in the community was recruited for the study, of whom 253 were analyzed. METHOD: A mail survey was carried out in May 2020, targeting adults aged 65 years or older. The survey included questions regarding sex, age, height, weight, and social participation. Dietary variety score and frailty score were also calculated. RESULTS: Mean age for the 253 participants was 80.0±6.4 years. Dietary variety score and frailty score were significantly correlated under linear regression analysis (β :-0.224, P < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, these factors remained significantly correlated in Model 2 , which was adjusted for age (β :-0.229, P < 0.001), and Model 3, which was adjusted for age, BMI, and other confounding factors (β :-0.208, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Diet was correlated with frailty in older adults living in the community during the period of restriction on outings due to COVID-19.