Using a web-based global survey, an international team of researchers found that COVID-19 had an outsized impact on healthy behaviors in people with disabilities, compared with people without disabilities. The overall impact of COVID-19 pandemic among the 2689 responses with full data available for analysis was reported as:
- >90% of people wore masks in public and were required to maintain social distancing
- 53% experienced lockdown or “shelter in place”
- 35% lost their jobs and/or lost source of income.
These metrics varied drastically country to country, but these experiences are known to have risen during the pandemic globally.
The research team found that people with disabilities were more likely to report worsening physical and mental health and dietary habits when compared with pre-pandemic levels (Table). Furthermore, perceived effects on physical health had significant impact on the reported degree of disability.
Table. Perceived physical and mental health, eating habit, body weight, and smoking pattem changes in people with and without disabilities during the pandemic
Source: Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Wang K, Fourtassi M, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perceived physical and mental health and healthy lifestyle behaviors of people with disabilities. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Feb 1;102(2):144-150. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002056.
