scholarly journals Socioeconomic Status and Life-Space Mobility in Old Age

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Eronen ◽  
Mikaela von Bonsdorff ◽  
Merja Rantakokko ◽  
Erja Portegijs ◽  
Anne Viljanen ◽  
...  

Life-space mobility describes the extent of community mobility of older persons. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and life-space mobility and to investigate whether associations might be explained by SES-related disparities in health and functioning. The participants (n = 848) were community-dwelling adults aged 75–90. Education and occupation were used to indicate SES. Life-space assessment (range 0–120) was used to indicate distance and frequency of moving and assistance needed in moving. People with low education had lower life-space mobility scores than those with intermediate or high education: marginal means 63.5, 64.8, and 70.0 (p = .003), respectively. SES-related health disparities, i.e., higher body mass index, poorer cognitive capacity, and poorer physical performance explained the association, rendering it nonsignificant (marginal means 65.2, 65.3, and 67.5, p = .390). Low SES and restricted life-space mobility often coexist with overweight, reduced cognition, and poorer physical performance.

Author(s):  
Seon A Chae ◽  
Hee-Sang Kim ◽  
Jong Ha Lee ◽  
Dong Hwan Yun ◽  
Jinmann Chon ◽  
...  

Vitamin B12 (B12) is involved as a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin. A lack of B12 impairs peripheral nerve production, which can contribute to sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between B12 insufficiency and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults. A total of 2325 (1112 men; 1213 women) adults aged 70–84 years were recruited. The tools used for sarcopenia were based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guidelines. Individuals with low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (<7.0 kg/m2 for men; <5.4 kg/m2 for women) and low hand grip strength (HGS) (<28 kg for men; <18 kg for women) were defined as the sarcopenia group. Among this group, those who showed low physical performance (≤9 points on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) were defined as the severe sarcopenia group. B12 concentrations were classified into insufficient (<350 pg/mL) and sufficient (≥350 pg/mL). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia and B12 levels. Low ASMI showed a high incidence in the B12-insufficient group. However, HGS, SPPB, and the severity of sarcopenia showed no correlation with B12. Further, insufficient B12 may affect muscle quantity rather than muscle strength or physical performance.


Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Kugimiya ◽  
Masanori Iwasaki ◽  
Yuki Ohara ◽  
Keiko Motokawa ◽  
Ayako Edahiro ◽  
...  

Oral hypofunction, resulting from a combined decrease in multiple oral functions, may affect systemic-condition deterioration; however, few studies have examined the association between oral hypofunction and general health among older adults. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between oral hypofunction and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. We included 878 adults (268 men and 610 women, mean age 76.5 ± 8.3 years). Tongue coating index, oral moisture, occlusal force, oral diadochokinesis (/pa/,/ta/,/ka/), tongue pressure, mas-ticatory function, and swallowing function were evaluated as indicators of oral hypofunction. Grip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle mass index were measured as diagnostic sarcopenia parameters. The association between oral hypofunction and sarcopenia was examined via logistic regression using sarcopenia as the dependent variable. Oral hypofunction prevalence was 50.5% overall, 40.3% in men, and 54.9% in women. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 18.6% overall, 9.7% in men, and 22.5% in women. A logistic regression showed oral hypofunction, age, body mass index, higher-level functional capacity, and serum albumin level were significantly associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia occurred at an increased frequency in patients diagnosed with oral hypofunction (odds ratio: 1.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–2.47); accordingly, oral hypofunction appears to be significantly associated with sarcopenia.


Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kensuke Tashiro ◽  
Sakiko Soutome ◽  
Madoka Funahara ◽  
Yumiko Kawashita ◽  
Masayasu Kitamura ◽  
...  

Introduction: Reduced tongue pressure is one of the causes of dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental findings and tongue pressure, and whether prosthetic treatment prevents reduced tongue pressure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 745 community-dwelling adults and elderly persons in the Goto Islands in Nagasaki, who underwent a health checkup for residents in 2015 and 2016. Data were collected on gender; age; grip strength; hemoglobin; Creatinine (Cr); glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); history of stroke; smoking, drinking, exercise, and walking habits; number of teeth; wearing of removable dentures; functional units of natural teeth (n-FTUs), fixed prostheses (nif-FTUs), and removable dentures (t-FTUs); and tongue pressure. The associations between each variable and tongue pressure were examined using multiple regression analysis. Next, those with 3 or fewer n-FTUs were selected, and differences in tongue pressure were compared between those with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs and those with 4 or more nif-FTUs, using a propensity score matching method. Results: Male gender, weak grip strength, low HbA1c, no drinking, and a low number of teeth were independent factors significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. Among participants with 3 or fewer n-FTUs, the 43 with 4 or more nif-FTUs showed significantly higher tongue pressure than the 43 with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs after propensity score matching, although the number of t-FTUs was not associated with tongue pressure. Discussion/Conclusion: Tooth loss was significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. It was suggested that fixed prosthesis treatment might prevent the reduction of tongue pressure, but removable dentures did not have such an effect.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen I Liu ◽  
Wen Ling Hsieh ◽  
Shih Kai Lee ◽  
Kuen-Tai Lee

Abstract Background: Functional degradation among community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia can negatively influence their recovery. Given the importance of patient empowerment during recovery, the current study aimed to examine the mediating effects of patient empowerment on the relationship between global function and recovery among such patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia from northern and central Taiwan. Questionnaires with verified reliability and validity were provided and collected on site by trained nurses. The causal steps approach proposed by Baron and Kenny and the Sobel test were utilized to verify the mediation effect.Results: A total of 373 participants completed the survey. After controlling for factors associated with recovery, empowerment was determined to exert “full mediation” over the effects of global function on patient recovery, with the mediation effect reaching 85.9% and the Sobel test indicating significant mediation.Conclusions: Although improving the global function of community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia could likely encourage recovery, the present study suggested that offering empowerment-oriented care services may be more effective than global function improvement on recovery among these patients.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Pérez-Ros ◽  
Rafael Vila-Candel ◽  
Lourdes López-Hernández ◽  
Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau

Objective: This study aims to assess the relationship that frailty has with nutritional status and functional risk factors in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study in community-dwelling older people, independent for walking and without impaired cognition. Frailty was assessed by Fried criteria. Nutritional status was analyzed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), biochemical markers (albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin); and anthropometric parameters (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage, handgrip, and perimeters). A comprehensive geriatric assessment analyzed other risk factors: functionality, cognition, falls, comorbidity, polypharmacy, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL). Results: We included 564 elderly people with a mean age of 76.05 (standard deviation 3.97) years; 63.1% (n = 356) were women, and 83.9% (n = 473) were prefrail, and frail. The sample presented high functionality and a nutritional status with a predominance of overweight and obesity. Factors associated with frailty (R2 = 0.43) were age over 75 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76, 6.21; p < 0.001), female gender (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.24, 4.52; p = 0.009), anemia (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.19, 5.02; p = 0.015), falls (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.12, 3.25; p = 0.016) and the fear of falling (OR 4.01: 95% CI 1.76, 9.16; p = 0.001). Performing more than 3 weekly hours of physical activity was found to be a protective factor (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.15, 0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The relationship between frailty and malnutrition in functionally independent community-dwelling older people is unclear. More studies are needed to know what nutritional markers are related to frailty, cognition, and functionality in order to discriminate the risk factors for community-dwelling older people at risk of malnutrition and dependency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo A. Lizana ◽  
Sofia González ◽  
Lydia Lera ◽  
Bárbara Leyton

SummaryThis study examined the association between body composition, somatotype and socioeconomic status (SES) in Chilean children and adolescents by sex and school level (grade). The cross-sectional study was conducted on 1168 schoolchildren aged 6–18 years (572 males) from Valparaíso, Chile. Body composition, as assessed by percentage body fat (BF%) and somatotype, was evaluated using Ellis equations and the Heath–Carter method, respectively. The socioeconomic status of respondents was assessed using the ESOMAR survey. Obesity was defined as BF% ≥25 for boys and ≥30 for girls; ‘high endomorph’ somatotype was defined as a somatotype endomorph component (EC) of at least 5.5. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between high adiposity and SES, potential confounding factors and school level. In females, the results indicated that the groups with lower SES had higher EC. At the 1st(youngest) school level (1–4thgrades), males exhibited similar trends in their BF% and EC. High adiposity was associated with the female sex (BF%: OR=3.39; 95% CI 2.60, 4.41; high EC: OR=2.31; 95% CI 1.80, 2.98). In addition, low SES increased the risk of high adiposity compared with high SES (BF%: OR=2.25; 95% CI 1.40, 3.61; high EC: OR=2.19; 95% CI 1.37, 3.47). An association was observed between increased adiposity and lower SES, mainly in females, which indicates that females with low SES might be at greater risk of obesity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Masuda ◽  
Tomohiro Ishimaru ◽  
Ayako Hino ◽  
Hajime Ando ◽  
Seiichiro Tateishi ◽  
...  

Background: We examined the relationship between socioeconomic and health status, and lifestyle habits and sickness presenteeism among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study using Internet monitors was conducted in December, 2020 in Japan. Of 33,302 survey participants, we analysed 27,036 (13,814 males and 13,222 females) who reported experience with sickness presenteeism. Results: The OR of sickness presenteeism associated with unmarried versus married status was 1.15. Respective figures for other variables were 1.11 for manual laboring work compared to desk work; 1.79 and 2.29 for loss of employment at the time the pandemic began and continuation of unemployment compared to maintaining employment during the pandemic; and 3.34 for a feeling of financial instability compared to stability. Conclusion: The issue of sickness presenteeism has been highlighted by COVID-19.


Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 835-841
Author(s):  
Luke Evan Barry ◽  
Ciaran O’Neill ◽  
Liam G Heaney

BackgroundAllostatic load, a measure of early ageing or ‘wear and tear’ from adapting to environmental challenges, has been suggested as a framework with which to understand the stress-related disruption of multiple biological systems which may be linked to asthma. Considering the socioeconomic context is also critical given asthma and allostatic overload are more common in lower socioeconomic groups.AimsEstimate the relationship between allostatic load and its constituent biomarkers, asthma and corticosteroid prescribing while controlling for socioeconomic status.MethodsData from Understanding Society (a nationally representative survey of UK community-dwelling adults) waves 1–3 (2009–2012) allowed the identification of a sex-specific risk profile across 12 biomarkers used to construct an Allostatic Load Index for a sample of 9816 adults. Regression analyses were used to examine the association of asthma status and corticosteroid prescriptions with allostatic load and its constituent biomarkers while controlling for socioeconomic status (n=9805).ResultsSubjects with currently treated asthma and no corticosteroid prescription have an allostatic load 1.21 times higher than those without asthma (p<0.001). Asthmatic subjects in receipt of inhaled corticosteroids had an allostatic load, approximately 1.12 times higher than those without asthma (p<0.001). This association persisted in sensitivity analyses and appeared to be driven by an association with specific biomarkers (dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, waist-to-height ratio and C-reactive protein).ConclusionEarly ageing, in the form of a higher allostatic load, was present even in the mildest asthma group not receiving inhaled corticosteroids. Allostatic load is helpful in understanding the increased all-cause mortality and multimorbidity observed in asthma.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document