scholarly journals Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of muscle weakness and slow gait speed: A cross-sectional analysis from the NHANES (2001-2002 and 2011-2014)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
J.J. Aziz ◽  
K.F. Reid ◽  
J.A. Batsis ◽  
R.A. Fielding
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Muscle Weakness ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Comorbidity Burden ◽  
Urban Rural

Background: Older adults living in rural areas suffer from health inequities compared to their urban counterparts. These include comorbidity burden, poor diet, and physical inactivity, which are also risk factors for sarcopenia, for which muscle weakness and slow gait speed are domains. To date, no study has examined urban-rural differences in the prevalence of muscle weakness and slow gait speed in older adults living in the United States. Objective: To compare the prevalence of grip strength weakness and slow gait speed between urban and rural older adults living in the United States. Design: A cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of two cohorts from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using gait speed or grip strength data, and urban-rural residency, dietary, examination, questionnaire and demographic data. Participants: 2,923 adults (≥ 60 yrs.). Measures: Grip weakness was defined as either, an absolute grip strength of <35 kg. and <20 kg. or grip strength divided by body mass index (GripBMI) of <1.05 and <0.79 for men and women, respectively. Slow gait speed was defined as a usual gait speed of ≤0.8m/s. Results: The prevalence of GripBMI weakness was significantly higher in urban compared to rural participants (27.4% vs. 19.2%; p=0.001), whereas their absolute grip strength was lower (31.75(±0.45) vs. 33.73(±0.48)). No urban-rural differences in gait speed were observed. Conclusions: Older adults residing in urban regions of the United States were weaker compared to their rural counterparts. This report is the first to describe urban-rural differences in handgrip strength and slow gait speed in older adults living in the United States.

scholarly journals Urban-Rural Differences in Sarcopenia Prevalence and Nutritional Risk Factors: The NHANES (2001–2002 and 2011–2014)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 272-272
Author(s):  
Jason Aziz ◽  
Kieran Reid ◽  
John Batsis ◽  
Roger Fielding
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rural Residency ◽  
Urban Rural

Abstract Background: Older adults living in rural areas experience health inequities compared to their urban counterparts. These include comorbidities, poor diet and physical inactivity; known risk factors for sarcopenia. No studies examining urban-rural differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed among older adults in the United States exist. Objective: To compare the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed between urban and rural older adults living in the United States. As a secondary aim, we examined relationships between rural residency, total energy and total protein on gait speed and grip strength. Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis of two cohorts in the continuous NHANES (2001-2002 and 2011-2014), using gait speed or grip strength data, along with urban-rural status, dietary, examination, questionnaire and demographic data in older (≥ 60 yrs.) adults. Results: The prevalence of GripBMI weakness was higher in urban vs. rural participants (27.4% vs. 19.2%), whereas their absolute grip strength was lower (31.75(±0.45) vs. 33.73(±0.48)). Total energy, total protein and relative protein intakes were similar between urban and rural participants. Total energy intake was associated with gait speed and grip strength. Conclusions: Older adults living in urban areas of the United States, were weaker compared to their rural counterparts. Rural residency was not associated with gait speed or grip strength. Total energy intake was associated with slower gait speed but higher grip strength. This report is the first to examine urban-rural differences in sarcopenia and slow gait speed in older adults living in the United States.

scholarly journals Multidimensional Sleep Health and Physical Functioning in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 428-428
Author(s):  
Caitlan Tighe ◽  
Ryan Brindle ◽  
Sarah Stahl ◽  
Meredith Wallace ◽  
Adam Bramoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Health ◽  
Lower Extremity Strength ◽  
Sleep Parameters

Abstract Prior studies link specific sleep parameters to physical functioning in older adults. Recent work suggests the utility of examining sleep health from a multidimensional perspective, enabling consideration of an individual’s experience across multiple different sleep parameters (e.g., quality, duration, timing). We examined the associations of multidimensional sleep health with objective, performance-based measures of physical functioning in older adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of 158 adults (Mage=71.8 years; 51.9% female) who participated in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) 2 and MIDUS Refresher studies. We used data from daily diaries, wrist actigraphy, and self-report measures to derive a composite multidimensional sleep health score ranging from 0-6, with higher scores indicating better sleep health. Physical function was assessed using gait speed during a 50-foot timed walk, lower extremity strength as measured by a chair stand test, and grip strength assessed with dynamometers. We used hierarchical regression to examine the associations between sleep health and gait speed, lower extremity strength, and grip strength. Age, sex, race, education, depression symptoms, medical comorbidity, and body mass index were covariates in each model. In adjusted analyses, better multidimensional sleep health was significantly associated with faster gait speed (B=.03, p=.01). Multidimensional sleep health was not significantly associated with lower limb strength (B=-.12, p=.89) or grip strength (B=.45, p=.40). Gait speed is a key indicator of functional capacity as well as morbidity and mortality in older adults. Multidimensional sleep health may be a therapeutic target for improving physical functioning and health in older adults.

scholarly journals Education-Related Inequalities in Dental Services Use among Older Adults in 23 Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (12) ◽  
pp. 1341-1347
Author(s):  
F. Bof de Andrade ◽  
J.L.F. Antunes ◽  
F.C.D. Andrade ◽  
M.F.F. Lima-Costa ◽  
J. Macinko
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
South Korea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relative Index ◽  
Index Of Inequality

This study aimed to measure the magnitude of education-related inequalities in the use of dental services among older adults (aged 50 y or older) from a sizable multicountry sample of 23 upper-middle- and high-income countries. This study used cross-sectional data from nationally representative surveys of people aged 50 y and over. Countries included in the Health and Retirement Study surveys were the following: Brazil, China, South Korea, Mexico, United States, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Israel, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The dependent variable was the use of dental services, based on the self-report of having had a dental visit within the previous year, except for the United States and South Korea, which used 2-y recall periods. Educational level was used as the measure of socioeconomic position and was standardized across countries. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the factors associated with the use of dental services, and the magnitude of education inequalities in the use of dental services was assessed using the slope index of inequality (SII) to measure absolute inequalities and the relative index of inequality for relative inequalities. The pooled prevalence of the use of dental services was 31.7% and ranged from 18.7% in China to 81.2% in Sweden. In the overall sample, the absolute difference in the prevalence of use between the lowest and highest educational groups was 20 percentage points. SII was significant for all countries except Portugal. Relative educational inequalities were significant for all countries and ranged from 3.2 in Poland to 1.2 in Sweden. There were significant education-related inequalities in the use of dental care by older adults in all countries. Monitoring these inequalities is critical to the planning and delivery of dental services.

scholarly journals Acceptability and Results of Dementia Screening Among Older Adults in the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Harrawood ◽  
Nicole R. Fowler ◽  
Anthony J. Perkins ◽  
Michael A. LaMantia ◽  
Malaz A. Boustani
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Screening ◽  
Positive Screen ◽  
Dementia Screening ◽  
Primary Care Patients

Objectives: To measure older adults acceptability of dementia screening and assess screening test results of a racially diverse sample of older primary care patients in the United States. Design: Cross-sectional study of primary care patients aged 65 and older. Setting: Urban and suburban primary care clinics in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2008 to 2009. Participants: Nine hundred fifty-four primary care patients without a documented diagnosis of dementia. Measurements: Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Telephone Instrument for Cognitive Screening. Results: Of the 954 study participants who consented to participate, 748 agreed to be screened for dementia and 206 refused screening. The overall response rate was 78.4%. The positive screen rate of the sample who agreed to screening was 10.2%. After adjusting for demographic differences the following characteristics were still associated with increased likelihood of screening positive for dementia: age, male sex, and lower education. Patients who believed that they had more memory problems than other people of their age were also more likely to screen positive for dementia. Conclusion: Age and perceived problems with memory are associated with screening positive for dementia in primary care.

Prevalence of Tympanic Membrane Perforations Among Adolescents, Adults, and Older Adults in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110621
Author(s):  
Alexander S. Kim ◽  
Joshua F. Betz ◽  
Nicholas S. Reed ◽  
Bryan K. Ward ◽  
Carrie L. Nieman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Tympanic Membrane ◽  
Population Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tympanic Membrane Perforations ◽  
The Life Course

Tympanic membrane (TM) perforations can occur at any age, but limited population-level data are available. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence and population estimates for TM perforations among individuals ≥12 years old in the United States. Overall, TM perforations have a prevalence of 2.1% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.6%), corresponding to 5.8 million Americans. Across the life course, older adults have the highest prevalence of TM perforations at 6.1% (95% CI, 4.7%-7.6%), corresponding to nearly 3 million Americans, as opposed to a prevalence of 0.6% (95% CI, 0.3%-0.9%) in adolescents, which equates to 0.2 million Americans. Males and females have a similar prevalence at 2.3% (95% CI, 1.6%-3.0%) among males and 2.0% (95% CI, 1.4%-2.6%) among females. These prevalence and population estimates provide the first US-based population estimates of the burden of TM perforations over the life course.

scholarly journals Coping With and Adapting to COVID-19 in Rural United States and Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Donna Wang ◽  
Jill M. Chonody ◽  
Kathryn Krase ◽  
Leina Luzuriaga
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personal Impact ◽  
Levels Of Support

Guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 resulted in major changes in people’s lives. A cross-sectional online survey, completed by 1,405 adults in Canada and the United States in June 2020, found respondents from rural areas/small towns reported better coping and adjustment (i.e., less use of substances for support), less personal impact, less life disruption, and fewer challenges with transportation and health care, than urban and suburban respondents. Those in rural areas were less likely to use the newspaper, but more likely to use social media, for information. Finally, rural respondents reported higher levels of support for their national leadership’s response to the pandemic. The needs and strengths of rural areas, as well as approaches to serve rural areas are discussed.

scholarly journals Demographic and Disease Characteristics of People With Multiple Sclerosis Living in Urban and Rural Areas

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Buchanan ◽  
Randolph Schiffer ◽  
Alexa Stuifbergen ◽  
Li Zhu ◽  
Suojin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Disease Characteristics ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Disease Modifying ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

This study compares demographic and disease-related characteristics of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living in urban and rural areas. The data analyzed for this study were collected from a survey of 1518 people with MS living throughout the United States from October 2004 through January 2005. We found significant urban-rural differences in various MS characteristics, including type of MS. A significantly larger proportion of people with MS in remote rural areas than their urban counterparts responded that they had primary progressive MS. People with MS in rural areas were significantly more likely than those in urban areas to report that MS symptoms interfered with their independence. A significantly larger proportion of people with MS in remote rural areas than in urban areas were not receiving disease-modifying medications. Our results suggest that MS disease expression varies across urban-rural gradients. Although the findings are not definitive, we hope that other investigative groups will build on these results and work toward confirming and understanding them.

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