The resilience of elderly during the pandemic: data on mental health from the Italian surveillance

BACKGROUND: Among the elderly mental health is an essential but often underestimated issue. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on mental health but its effects on this population are still unclear. This study aims to describe the trend of depression in the elderly over the period 2016-2022 and its associated factors. METHODS: We used data on the elderly population (65+) collected from 2016 to 2021 by the Italian ongoing surveillance system PASSI d'Argento to analyse socio-demographic characteristics, isolation, and the prevalence of depression symptoms (through the Patient Health Questionnaire-2). In 2020-21 specific questions investigating the perception of the pandemic were introduced. RESULTS: Depression symptom prevalence decreased from 13.4%(IC:12.7-14.2) in 2016-2019 to 10,5%(IC:9,4-11,7) in 2020-21. People being female, aged over 85 years, having many economic difficulties and a low education level, and living alone and in a South region were at high risk of reported depressive symptoms in both periods. However, 66.6% reported being worried about COVID-19, and almost one-third of the sample had a painful experience related to the pandemic. Considering social isolation, people who didn't talk with anyone during a typical week decreased (20.4%,19.9-21 in 2016-19; 16.3%, 5.5-17.2 in 2020-21), while those who couldn't participate in social activities increased (70%,69.3-70.7 in 2016-19; 76.9%,75.8-78). CONCLUSIONS: The Italian elderly population showed a decreasing trend in the prevalence of depression symptoms, with a marked drop during the pandemic. At the same time, worries and stressful experiences related to the pandemic were highly reported and participation in social activities was significantly affected: it may have impacted mental health among the elderly, who seemed to show resilience. KEY MESSAGES: • The surveillance system is relevant to monitor changes in elderly health and the factors associated in order to implement targeted interventions. • Elderly Italians seem to have shown resilience with regard to mental health during the pandemic.