Functional Decline in Long-Term Care Homes in the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-based Longitudinal Study in Five Canadian Provinces

Objective: We aimed to examine whether functional decline accelerated during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March to June 2020) for persons in long-term care facilities (LTCs) in Canada compared with the pre -pandemic period. Design: We conducted a population -based longitudinal study of persons receiving care in LTC homes in 5 Canadian provinces before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting and Participants: Residents in 1326 LTC homes within the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Ontario between January 31, 2019, and June 30, 2020, with activities of daily living Hierarchy scale less than 6 and so, who still have potential for decline (6 being the worst of the 0-6 scale). Methods: We fit a generalized estimating equation model with adjustment for repeated measures to obtain the adjusted odds of functional decline between COVID period exposed and unexposed prepandemic residents. Results: LTC residents experienced slightly higher rates of functional decline during the first wave of the COVD-19 pandemic compared with the pre -pandemic period (23.3% vs 22.3%; P < .0001). The adjusted odds of functional decline were slightly greater during the pandemic (odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.15 -1.20). Likewise, residents receiving care in large homes (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.24) and urban -located LTC homes (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.23), were more likely to experience functional decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The odds of functional decline were also only significantly higher during the pandemic for LTC home residents in British Columbia (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.23) and Ontario (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.21-1.29). Conclusions and Implications: This study provides evidence that the odds of experiencing functional decline were somewhat greater during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the need to maintain physical activity and improve nutrition among older adults during periods of stress. The information would be helpful to health administrators and decision -makers seeking to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures affected LTC residents' health outcomes. (c) 2023 AMDA - The Society for Post -Acute and Long -Term Care Medicine.