Title:

Changes in the physical, social, and mental health among community-dwelling elderly from
2016 to 2022 in Japan.

Abstract
Introduction: In Japan, because the COVID-19 pandemic has exhibited a repeated pattern of
expansion and contraction, mild lockdowns have been implemented intermittently from 2020 to
2021. There is the possibility that movement restrictions under the mild lockdown have some
influence on the elderly.
Objectives: The present study aimed to explore changes in physical, social, and psychological
health among community-dwelling elderly under the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: From 2016 to 2021, 8 surveys were conducted (wave 1 to 8). Physical health was
measured height, weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, grip strength, calf
circumference (CC), knee extension strength (KES), skeletal muscle mass index, chair stand
test, and timed up & go test. Social health was measured Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of
Gerontology index of competence. Mental health was measured by Trail Making Test - A and
Geriatric Depression Scale-5.
Results: The participants were 73 community-dwelling elderlies and mean age in 2022 was
76.74 ± 4.54. Results of linear mixed models showed that CC and KES declined significantly
pre (wave 7) and post (wave 8) the pandemic even though these had modest declined before the
pandemic (wave 1 to wave 7). Some of the other scores were declined pre and post the
pandemic, however, decline levels were the same decline as 2016 to 2019.
Conclusion: The movement restrictions due to the pandemic have not influenced on social
health and mental health immediately, however, the influence might interfere with daily life in a
few years, because muscle strength had declined.

Key Words: influence of the COVID-19, healthy elderly, physical function, muscle strength,
social and mental health