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Aim: To determine whether self-reported mood or self-rated health were affected in community-dwelling adults with chronic illness following COVID-19 lockdown., Methods: This was a repeated cross-sectional study using secondary data. We included New Zealanders aged 40+ who underwent International Residential Instrument (interRAI) assessments in the year prior to COVID-19 lockdown (25 March 2019-24 March 2020) or in the year following COVID-19 lockdown (25 March 2020-24 March 2021). Pairwise comparisons were made between each pre-lockdown quarter and its respective post-lockdown quarter to account for seasonality patterns. Data from 45,553 (pre-lockdown) and 45,349 (post-lockdown) assessments were analysed. Outcomes (self-reported mood, self-rated health) were stratified by socio-demographic variables., Results: Self-reported mood improved in the first quarter post-lockdown among those aged 80+, as well as among women, people of European ethnicity, those living alone and those living in more deprived areas. Self-rated health improved in these same groups, as well as among those aged 65-79, and among men. No differences in self-reported mood or self-rated health were found in the second, third, or fourth quarters post-lockdown., Conclusions: Self-reported mood and self-rated health of community-dwelling adults with chronic illness were not negatively affected following COVID-19 lockdown, and temporarily improved among some sub-groups. However, the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic need to be closely monitored., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© PMA.)

Background: Many countries around the world have adopted social distancing as one of the public health measures to reduce COVID-19 transmissions in the community. Such measures could have negative effects on the mental health of the population. The aims of this study are to (1) track the impact of COVID-19 on self-reported mood, self-rated health, other health and psychosocial indicators, and health services utilization of people who have an interRAI assessment during the first year of COVID-19; (2) compare these indicators with the same indicators in people who had an interRAI assessment in the year before COVID-19; and (3) report these indicators publicly as soon as data analysis is completed every 3 months., Methods: interRAI COVID-19 Study (iCoS) is an observational study on routinely collected national data using the interRAI Home Care and Contact Assessment, which are standardized geriatric assessment tools mandated for all people assessed for publicly funded home support services and aged residential care in New Zealand. Based on the 2018/19 figures, we estimated there are 36,000 interRAI assessments per annum. We will compare the four post-lockdown quarters (from 25th March 2020) with the respective pre-lockdown quarters. The primary outcomes are self-reported mood (feeling sad, depressed or hopeless: 0 = no, 1 = yes) and self-rated health (0 = excellent, 1 = good, 2 = fair, 3 = poor). We will also analyze sociodemographics, other secondary health and psychosocial indicators, and health services utilization. Descriptive statistics will be conducted for primary outcomes and other indicators for each of the eight quarters. We will compare the quarters using regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics using weights or additional variables. Key health and psychosocial indicators will be reported publicly as soon as data analysis is completed for each quarter in the 12-month post-lockdown period by using a data visualization tool., Discussion: This rapid translation of routinely collected national interRAI data will provide a means to monitor the health and psychosocial well-being of vulnerable older New Zealanders. Insights from this study can be shared with other countries that use interRAI and prepare health and social services for similar epidemics/pandemics in the future.