Distancing Measures in COVID-19 Pandemic: Loneliness, More than Physical Isolation, Affects Health Status and Psycho-Cognitive Wellbeing in Elderly Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020, many governments have been imposing confinement and physical distancing measures. No data exist on effects lockdowns health status patients affected by chronic pathologies, specifically those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Our study aims to establish variations across psychological cognitive profile during isolation period Italy, a cohort COPD, between February May 2020. Forty established COPD were comprehensively evaluated geriatric multidimensional assessment before spread epidemic submitted second evaluation subsequent lockdown. We assessed functional ability, basic instrumental Activities Daily Living (ADL IADL), cognition mood status. compared scores obtained at baseline against pandemic, used mean differences for correlation major clinical indexes. The score from MMSE, ADL IADL statistically significant. Such correlated presence caregiver total number family members living together. Remarkably, loneliness dimension, more than restrictions themselves, seemed represent determinant altered depressed psycho-cognitive our population. Also remarkably, we detected no variation respiratory function indexes disease severity. measures adopted triggered classic string associated isolation, which leads deterioration functions, independence frailty levels population degenerative disease, such as COPD. If considered point view, individual benefit could be small or non-existent.