Relationship between changes in activities to prevent disability due to the COVID-19 pandemic and mental status or life-related functions among community-dwelling older adults

• Disability prevention is extremely important in an aging society. • Factors contributing to the decrease in disability prevention activities are unknown. • We investigated factors associated with changes in disability prevention activities. • Depression and activities before the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with changes. • This study identified characteristics of older adults in particular need of support. Disability prevention is important for older adults and the society at large. Despite its relevance, factors associated with changes in disability prevention activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which the implementation of disability prevention activities has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic among community-dwelling older adults, and to examine the relationship between these changes and mental status or life-related functions. This cross-sectional study used self-report questionnaires with a random sample of older adults in 10 locations. The mailing area was determined based on the regional characteristics and demographic changes. Participants were categorized into two groups: those who maintained their disability prevention activities and those who decreased such activities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental status and life-related functions were investigated using the Kihon Checklist. Of the 263 participants included in the analysis, 89 (33.8 %) decreased their disability prevention activities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors associated with a decrease in disability prevention activities were identified as those with a higher number of depressive items on the Kihon Checklist (aOR = 0.788, 95 % CI: 0.637–0.947, p = 0.027) and those with a higher total number of disability prevention activities before the COVID-19 pandemic (aOR = 0.653, 95 % CI: 0.476–0.896, p = 0.008). These findings suggest the characteristics of older adults that require special attention when taking steps to support the continuation of disability prevention activities in future events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.