Kihon Checklist items associated with the development of frailty and recovery to robust status during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Aim The Kihon Checklist (KCL) is used to assess frailty in daily life. We aimed to identify KCL items associated with the development of frailty and recovery to robust status during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a 1‐year prospective cohort study of community‐dwelling adults aged 70 and 75 years in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Information regarding age, sex, presence of disease and KCL items was collected in May 2020 (baseline) and June 2021 (follow‐up) using a mailed questionnaire. Changes in frailty status as determined by the KCL at baseline and follow‐up were evaluated. To clarify factors related to changes in the frailty status, we conducted two sets of binomial logistic regression analyses with the presence/absence of development of frailty and presence/absence of recovery to robust status at follow‐up as the dependent variables and the KCL items as the independent variables. Results The analysis included 716 participants who provided complete responses to both questionnaires. The KCL Items 6, 10, 20, 23 and 24 were related to the development of frailty, and the KCL Items 6, 15, 21 and 23 were associated with the recovery to robust status. Conclusions The baseline KCL items regarding physical function and associated mental aspects were related to both development of frailty and recovery to robust status during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Cognitive and depressive declines were associated with the development of frailty, while good oral environment and sense of fulfillment in life were associated with the recovery to robust status. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 745–752. To our knowledge, this is the first study to clarify the Kihon Checklist items that are related to the development of frailty and recovery to robust status during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The baseline Kihon Checklist items regarding physical function and associated mental aspects were related to both development of frailty and recovery to robust status. Cognitive and depressive declines were associated with the development of frailty, while good oral environment and sense of fulfillment in life were associated with the recovery to robust status.