More Active Participation in Voluntary Exercise of Older Users of Information and Communicative Technology even during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Independent of Frailty Status

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine whether older users of information and communicative technology (ICT) participate in active behaviors, such as voluntary exercise, to maintain health, even under community containment to suppress the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community setting. PARTICIPANTS: Independent community-dwelling older residents aged ≥75 years. MEASUREMENTS: The municipality sent the Kihon Checklist (KCL) and Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) with several questions on lifestyle and health conditions under social restriction. RESULTS: Among 3199 responders (72.1%), we analyzed the data of 2304 residents who provided complete answers to the KCL and SNAQ and on ICT use, voluntary exercise, polypharmacy, and families. The mean age was 79.7 years (51.3% male). The percentages of frailty assessed by the KCL, voluntary exercise, and low SNAQ scores (≤14) were 16.0%, 61.4%, and 43.8% in 808 ICT users and 30.3%, 47.2%, and 54.1% in 1496 ICT non-users, respectively (p<0.001). ICT use was significantly associated with voluntary exercise even during social restriction, independent of age, sex, polypharmacy, low SNAQ scores, and frailty status (odds ratio, 1.503; 95% confidential interval, 1.246–1.813). CONCLUSION: Older ICT users are more active to maintain health even during social restriction, independent of frailty status.