AUTHOR=Cameselle-Lago Candela , Rico-Blázquez Milagros , Sánchez-Ruano Raquel , Ayala Alba , Pascual-García Marcos , Solé-Agustí María , Gimeno-Pi Iraida , Echevarria-Echevarria Aitziber , González-Chordá Víctor M. , Esteban-Sepúlveda Silvia , Pedraz-Marcos Azucena , Company-Sancho María Consuelo , Cidoncha-Moreno María Ángeles , Vidal-Thomas María Clara , Taltavull-Aparicio Joana Maria , Moreno-Casbas María Teresa ,  CUIDAMOS+75 Group , Avendaño Céspedes Almudena , Cortés Zamora Elisa Belén , Hidalgo Alsina Gemma , Puig Fitó Marta , Rami Badia Maria Rosa , Obis Aguilar Maria Eugènia , Guiu Bueria Anna , Palau Morales Maria Teresa , Fabregat Julvé Inmaculada , Bernabeu Aicart Clara , Mestre Tena Juan Miguel , Tomas Brea Marta , Parreño Membrado María Dolores , Gimeno Escuder Carla , Moliner Monedero Ana , Cano Pérez Alberto , Martínez Arroyo Anunciación , Sánchez Ramos Carmen Luzdivina , Regacho Ramírez Carolina , Carretero Sierra Consuelo , Villanueva Sanz Cristina , Verdagay Romero David , Ruiz García Diego , Monteagudo García Elena , Rojas Barra Elena , Herrero Sancho Elvira , Luna Espejo Esther , Díez Rodríguez Gema , Leyva Vera Gloria , Nuevo Pozo Gonzalo , Melero Redondo Ines , Moreno García-Herrera Inmaculada , Careaga González Isabel , Villanova Cuadra Laura , Ríos Ruiz Lorena , Huerta Galindo Luis , Almodovar López María Ángeles , Hernández de Luna María Concepción , Adillo Montero María Isabel , Santamaría Martín María Jesús , Romero Molina María Luisa , Kamal Moreno Nadia , Garrido Calleja Paloma , Vadillo Obesso Pedro , López Zarza Raquel , Razola Rincón Raquel , López Sánchez Rocío , Lobato Márquez Samuel , Criado Jorge Sara , Morcillo de la Cuadra Silvia , Susmozas Rodríguez Barbero Teresa , Carpio Ibáñez Ana María , García Gómez de Cadiñanos Elena , Company Sancho Maria Consuelo , Mendoza Sánchez Rita , García Delgado María José , Monzón Monzón Guillermo , Díaz Díaz Maria Isabel , Suárez Hernández María Dolores , Candela Angulo Beatriz , Martín Andrade Maria Paula , Jorge Araujo Pedro , Santana Aguiar Eduardo , Morales Montesdeoca Sandra , Figueroa Martín Laura , Galdona Luis Haridian , Martínez Mata Silvia , Mellado Tirado Rosa , Parrilla Suárez Irene , Ramos Santana Sara , Plasencia Delgado Victoria , Rodríguez Hernández Ingrid , Padilla Maestre Jorge Rafael , Garrido Bollo Sergio , Martínez de la Torre Teresa , Guzmán Castilla Inmaculada , Artieda Cadena María , Ayesa Urtiaga Vanesa , Berasain Erro Itziar , Zubillaga Beorlegui Anamaría , Ilundain Razquin Graciela , Gutiérrez Pardo María Carmen , Lucea Matinez Maite , Magno Villanueva Mónica , Martínez Zaborras María de Leyre , Martínez Cabodevilla María Jesús , Galán Espinilla María José , Ariztegui Echenique Ana María , Mateo Cervera Ana María , Cidoncha Moreno Mª Ángeles , Moreno Leal Maribel , Barrenetxea Lejarreta Ana Isabel , Albestegi Soto Asier , Iglesias Domínguez María Félix , Gallo Alcalá Ruth , Carrera Alfonso Elisabet , Pisà Gaia Mara , Miralles Xamena Jerónima , Sánchez Jiménez Milagros , Barea Mestre M. Josep , García Salom Elena , Garcia Duran Nuria , Pons Burguera Rosa María , Severi Wiliam Andres , Góméz Bermejo Tamara , Campos Guerrero Ana Belén , Perelló Fuster Marta , Hernandez Yeste M. Soledad , Terrón Rodriguez Elena , De la Rosa López Laura , Cantos Garcia Encarnación , Arjona Hernández Fuensanta , De Castro Día Maria Milagros , Polo Quiles Pilar , Soriano Campos Rita Isabel , Chumillas López Josefa , Fernandez Abellan Maria Jose , Valverde Jimenez Maria Rosario , Muñoz Garcia Maria Jose , Cerezo Sanmartin Margarita , Morales Nicolas Dolores , Laveda Lopez Maria Jose 

TITLE=Changes in daily routines and health-related quality of life among Spanish older adults after the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis from a gender perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1678003

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1678003

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=AimsTo examine the association between perceived changes in daily routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among community-dwelling adults aged 75 and older in Spain, through a gender-stratified analysis.DesignCross-sectional, community-based, multicentre study using baseline data from the CUIDAMOS+75 cohort.MethodsA total of 1,072 older adults over 75 from 11 Spanish regions were interviewed between June 2022 and June 2023. Data on SARS-CoV-2 exposure, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and perceived changes in daily routines (basic-needs, healthcare and social routines) were collected. HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L utility index. Gender-stratified linear regression models were used to examine associations between changes in routines and HRQoL.ResultsOver half of the participants (52%) reported considerable changes in their daily routines due to the pandemic, especially in social routines (48%). Women reported more frequent changes across all routine types. Although women had lower overall HRQoL scores, changes in routines were more strongly associated with poorer HRQoL among men, particularly when healthcare routines were affected. Among women, significant associations were observed for disruptions in combined basic and social routines as well as when all three routine types were simultaneously affected. Notably, COVID-19 infection status was not associated with HRQoL after adjustment.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic led to substantial and persistent changes in daily routines among older adults in Spain, with gender-specific patterns in their association with HRQoL. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating a gender perspective in public health responses to health crises, particularly in strategies aimed at preserving daily routines to support autonomy and wellbeing in older populations.