Predictive factors of nonfatal self-harm among community-dwelling older adults assessed for support services

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Gary Cheung ◽  
Yi Chai ◽  
M. Isabela Troya ◽  
Hao Luo

ABSTRACT Background: Older adults receiving support services are a population at risk for self-harm due to physical illness and functional impairment, which are known risk factors. This study aims to investigate the relative importance of predictive factors of nonfatal self-harm among older adults assessed for support services in New Zealand. Methods: interRAI-Home Care (HC) national data of older adults (aged ≥ 60) were linked to mortality and hospital discharge data between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016. We calculated the crude incidence of self-harm per 100,000 person-years, and gender and age-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). The Fine and Gray competing risk regression model was fitted to estimate the hazard ratio (HR; 95% CIs) of self-harm associated with various demographic, psychosocial, clinical factors, and summary scales. Results: A total of 93,501 older adults were included. At the end of the follow-up period, 251 (0.27%) people had at least one episode of nonfatal self-harm and 36,333 (38.86%) people died. The overall incidence of nonfatal self-harm was 160.39 (95% CI, 141.36–181.06) per 100,000 person-years and SIR was 5.12 (95% CI, 4.51–5.78), with the highest incidence in the first year of follow-up. Depression diagnosis (HR, 3.02, 2.26–4.03), at-risk alcohol use (2.38, 1.30–4.35), and bipolar disorder (2.18, 1.25–3.80) were the most significant risk factors. Protective effects were found with cancer (0.57, 0.36–0.89) and severe level of functional impairment measured by Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Hierarchy Scale (0.56, 0.35–0.89). Conclusion: Psychiatric factors are the most significant predictors for nonfatal self-harm among older adults receiving support services. Our results can be used to inform healthcare professionals for timely identification of people at high risk of self-harm and the development of more efficient and targeted prevention strategies, with specific attention to individuals with depression or depressive symptoms, particularly in the first year of follow-up.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro L Valenzuela ◽  
Nicola A Maffiuletti ◽  
Hugo Saner ◽  
Narayan Schütz ◽  
Beatrice Rudin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Falls are a major concern for older adults and their care givers. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is extensively used to identify individuals at risk of falling, but less is known about the validity of simple isometric strength measures for this purpose. We aimed to assess the potential of isometric strength measures and the different modalities of the TUG test to detect individuals at risk of falling. Methods: Twenty-four community-dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years, 19 females, 88±7 years) performed three variations of the TUG test (standard, cognitive, motor) and three isometric strength tests (handgrip, knee extension and hip flexion) at baseline and at several time points (every ~6 weeks) during a 13-month follow-up. Linear mixed model analyses were then performed to examine differences between those who sustained ≥1 fall during the follow-up and those who did not. Results: Fallers had a worse performance in all TUG variations and a lower strength in all tests than non-fallers in non-adjusted analyses (p<0.05). However, when adjusting for baseline variables (age, gender, body mass index, and previous history of falls), only differences in handgrip and knee extension isometric strength measures remained significant (p=0.019 and p=0.042, respectively). Isometric strength measures related to changes in TUG performance both at baseline and during the follow-up (p<0.05). Conclusions: Isometric strength measures has potential to serve as a simple tool to detect individuals at risk of falling as compared to functional mobility measures (i.e. TUG test).


2006 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Soto ◽  
Sandrine Andrieu ◽  
Sophie Gillette-Guyonnet ◽  
Christelle Cantet ◽  
Fati Nourhashemi ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. McCurry ◽  
Laura E. Gibbons ◽  
Gail E. Bond ◽  
Linda Teri ◽  
Walter A. Kukull ◽  
...  

Background: The study was conducted to examine the relationships between functional decline, health risk factors, lifestyle practices, and demographic variables in two culturally diverse, community-based samples of White and Japanese American older adults. Design: The study was an analysis of data from two ongoing studies of aging and dementia in King County, Washington. Functional status at baseline was evaluated, and factors associated with functional decline over a 4-year follow-up period were identified. The sample included 1,083 Japanese American and 1,011 White cognitively intact, community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, who had no functional limitations at baseline and participated in at least one follow-up examination. Results: In 4 years of follow-up, 70% of the subjects reported no increase in functional limitation, and fewer than 5% of subjects declined in five or more activities. Risk factors associated with functional decline included increased age, female gender, medical comorbidity (particularly cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and hypertension), elevated body mass index, poorer self-perceived health, and smoking. Depression and diabetes were also significant for persons with the greatest functional decline over the 4-year follow-up. Japanese speakers were significantly less likely to decline over the follow-up period than White or English-speaking Japanese American subjects. However, Japanese speakers were more likely to discontinue participation during the follow-up period, and may also have been more likely to underreport symptoms of functional decline. Conclusions: The present study provides further support that healthy lifestyle practices and prevention of chronic disease are important for maintaining functional independence in older adults. Japanese-speaking subjects were less likely to decline over time, although this could be due in part to differential dropout and reporting bias. These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of longitudinal studies of older adults. Researchers interested in the effects of ethnicity on health and aging should be cognizant of differences in recruitment and enrollment strategies among studies, and the ways in which these affect study findings. This study also demonstrates the importance of devoting adequate resources to minimize dropouts, and of including measures of health and functioning that are culturally equivalent and less reliant on self-report data.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1889-1896 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hamer ◽  
G. D. Batty ◽  
M. Kivimaki

BackgroundThe cross-sectional association between impaired glucose/diabetes and depression is inconsistent. We examined the longitudinal associations between diabetes, indicators of glucose metabolism and depressive symptoms over 2 years of follow-up.MethodParticipants were 4338 men and women from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a prospective study of community-dwelling older adults [aged 62.9 (s.d.=9.0) years, 45.2% men]. Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up using the eight-item Centre of Epidemiological Studies – Depression (CES-D) scale. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, fasting glucose and other biological and behavioural risk factors were also assessed at baseline.ResultsApproximately 11.5% of the sample were categorized with elevated depressive symptoms at follow-up (a score ⩾4 on the CES-D). There was an association between HbA1c and depressive symptoms at follow-up [per unit increase, odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.33] after adjustment for age and baseline CES-D. Cross-sectionally, the probability of depressive symptoms increased with increasing HbA1c levels until the value of 8.0% after which there was a plateau [p(curve)=0.03]. Compared with those with normal fasting glucose, participants with diabetes (confirmed through self-report or elevated fasting blood glucose) at baseline had an elevated risk of depressive symptoms at follow-up (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.30) after adjusting for depressive symptoms at baseline, behavioural and sociodemographic variables, adiposity and inflammation.ConclusionsThese data suggest that poor glucose metabolism and diabetes are risk factors for future depression in older adults. There was no evidence of a U-shaped association.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Félix Caballero ◽  
Ellen A. Struijk ◽  
Alberto Lana ◽  
Antonio Buño ◽  
Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo ◽  
...  

AbstractElevated concentrations of acylcarnitines have been associated with higher risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between L-carnitine and acylcarnitine profiles, and 2-year risk of incident lower-extremity functional impairment (LEFI). This case–control study is nested in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort of community-dwelling older adults, which included 43 incident cases of LEFI and 86 age- and sex- matched controls. LEFI was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery. Plasma L-carnitine and 28 acylcarnitine species were measured. After adjusting for potential confounders, medium-chain acylcarnitines levels were associated with 2-year incidence of LEFI [odds ratio per 1-SD increase: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 2.64; p = 0.02]. Similar results were observed for long-chain acylcarnitines [odds ratio per 1-SD increase: 1.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 2.80; p = 0.04]. Stratified analyses showed a stronger association between medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines and incidence of LEFI among those with body mass index and energy intake below the median value. In conclusion, higher plasma concentrations of medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines were associated with higher risk of LEFI. Given the role of these molecules on mitochondrial transport of fatty acids, our results suggest that bioenergetics dysbalance contributes to LEFI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1866
Author(s):  
Javier López ◽  
Maria Inés Serrano ◽  
Isabel Giménez ◽  
Cristina Noriega

A meta-analysis of the efficacy of forgiveness interventions in older adults was conducted. International databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for studies published from 1990 to 2020 that attempted to promote forgiveness in older adults. Most intervention studies are group treatments targeted towards community-dwelling older adults. Participants in these studies are mainly women. The intervention objectives and contents vary widely and often criteria are not well-defined. Participants that received forgiveness interventions reported significantly higher levels of forgiveness than participants that did not receive treatment. Additionally, forgiveness interventions resulted in more changes in depression, stress and anger than no intervention conditions. Forgiveness treatment also enhances positive states (satisfaction with life, subjective happiness, and psychological wellbeing). The reported effects are moderate. The specific treatment model (e.g., Enright’s, Worthington’s) and format (e.g., group-based interventions and individually delivered programs) do not differentially predict better outcomes. In conclusion, future intervention studies should include more male participants and utilize a broader range of follow-up periods. Caution must be exercised because of the limited number of studies developed to date; researchers must be cautious when generalizing the results.


Author(s):  
Niklas Sörlén ◽  
Andreas Hult ◽  
Peter Nordström ◽  
Anna Nordström ◽  
Jonas Johansson

Abstract Background We aimed to determine the effectiveness of 4 weeks of balance exercise compared with no intervention on objectively measured postural sway. Methods This was a single-center parallel randomized controlled, open label, trial. A six-sided dice was used for allocation at a 1:1-ratio between exercise and control. The trial was performed at a university hospital clinic in Sweden and recruited community-dwelling older adults with documented postural instability. The intervention consisted of progressively challenging balance exercise three times per week, during 4 weeks, with follow-up at week five. Main outcome measures were objective postural sway length during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Results Sixty-five participants aged 70 years (balance exercise n = 32; no intervention n = 33) were randomized. 14 participants were excluded from analysis because of early dropout before follow-up at week five, leaving 51 (n = 22; n = 29) participants for analysis. No significant differences were detected between the groups in any of the postural sway outcomes. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements in hand grip strength for the intervention group, while Timed Up & Go improvements were comparable between groups but only statistically significant in the control group. Conclusions Performing balance exercise over a four-week intervention period did not acutely improve postural sway in balance-deficient older adults. The lower limit in duration and frequency to achieve positive effects remains unclear. Trial registration Clinical trials NCT03227666, July 24, 2017, retrospectively registered.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 407
Author(s):  
Laetitia Lengelé ◽  
Olivier Bruyère ◽  
Charlotte Beaudart ◽  
Jean-Yves Reginster ◽  
Médéa Locquet

This study aimed to assess the impact of malnutrition on the 5-year evolution of physical performance, muscle mass and muscle strength in participants from the SarcoPhAge cohort, consisting of community-dwelling older adults. The malnutrition status was assessed at baseline (T0) according to the “Global Leadership Initiatives on Malnutrition” (GLIM) criteria, and the muscle parameters were evaluated both at T0 and after five years of follow-up (T5). Lean mass, muscle strength and physical performance were assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry, handgrip dynamometry, the short physical performance battery test and the timed up and go test, respectively. Differences in muscle outcomes according to nutritional status were tested using Student’s t-test. The association between malnutrition and the relative 5-year change in the muscle parameters was tested using multiple linear regressions adjusted for several covariates. A total of 411 participants (mean age of 72.3 ± 6.1 years, 56% women) were included. Of them, 96 individuals (23%) were diagnosed with malnutrition at baseline. Their muscle parameters were significantly lower than those of the well-nourished patients both at baseline and after five years of follow-up (all p-values < 0.05), except for muscle strength in women at T5, which was not significantly lower in the presence of malnutrition. However, the 5-year changes in muscle parameters of malnourished individuals were not significantly different than those of well-nourished individuals (all p-values > 0.05).


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