scholarly journals An Examination of Lower Extremity Function and Its Correlates in Older African American and White Men

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivio J. Clay, PhD ◽  
Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., PhD ◽  
Larrell L. Wilkinson, PhD ◽  
Eric P. Plaisance, PhD ◽  
Michael Crowe, PhD ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Maintaining functional status and reducing/eliminating health disparities in late life are key priorities. Older African Americans have been found to have worse lower extremity functioning than Whites, but little is known about potential differences in correlates between African American and White men. The goal of this investigation was to examine measures that could explain this racial difference and to identify race-specific correlates of lower extremity function.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were analyzed for a sample of community-dwelling men. Linear regres­sion models examined demographics, medical conditions, health behaviors, and perceived discrimination and mental health as correlates of an objective measure of lower extremity function, the Short Physi­cal Performance Battery (SPPB). Scores on the SPPB have a potential range of 0 to 12 with higher scores corresponding to better functioning.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of all men was 74.9 years (SD=6.5), and the sample was 50% African American and 53% rural. African American men had scores on the SPPB that were significantly lower than White men after adjusting for age, rural residence, marital status, education, and income dif­ficulty (<em>P</em>&lt;.01). Racial differences in cognitive functioning accounted for approximately 41% of the race effect on physical function. Additional models stratified by race revealed a pattern of similar correlates of the SPPB among African American and White men.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results of this investigation can be helpful for researchers and clinicians to aid in identifying older men who are at-risk for poor lower extremity function and in planning targeted interventions to help reduce disparities. <em>Ethn Dis.</em>2015;25(3):271- 278.</p>

Author(s):  
Jaclynn Hawkins ◽  
Karen Gilcher ◽  
Claudia Schwenzer ◽  
Michael Lutz

Extant research is growing in its ability to explain sex differences in novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis and mortality. Moving beyond comparisons based on biological sex is now warranted to capture a more nuanced picture of disparities in COVID-19 diagnosis and mortality specifically among men who are more likely to die of the illness. The objective of this study was to investigate racial disparities in COVID-19-related psychosocial, behavior and health variables among men. The present study utilizes a sample of 824 men who participated in a free health event held in a Midwestern state. Chi-square analysis showed that African American men were more likely to report an adverse impact of COVID-19 based on several factors including experiencing more COVID-19-related medical issues (χ2 = 4.60 p = 0.03); higher COVID-19 diagnosis (χ2 = 4.60 p = 0.02); trouble paying for food (χ2 = 8.47, p = 0.00), rent (χ2 = 12.26, p = 0.00), medication (χ2 = 7.10 p = 0.01) and utility bills (χ2 = 19.68, p = 0.00); higher fear of contracting COVID-19 (χ2 = 31.19, p = 0.00); and higher rates of death of close friends and family due to COVID (χ2 = 48.85, p = 0.00). Non-Hispanic white men reported more increased stress levels due to COVID-19 compared to African American men (χ2 = 10.21, p = 0.01). Regression analysis showed that race was a significant predictor of self-reported COVID-19 diagnosis (OR = 2.56, p < 0.05) after controlling for demographic characteristics. The results showed that compared to non-Hispanic White men, African American men were more likely to report an adverse impact of COVID-19 based on several factors including experiencing more COVID-19-related medical issues; higher COVID-19 diagnosis; trouble paying for food, rent, medication and utility bills; higher fear of contracting COVID-19; and higher rates of death of close friends and family due to COVID. Interestingly, non-Hispanic white men reported more increased stress levels due to COVID-19 compared to African American men.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-75
Author(s):  
HIRONORI OHSUGI ◽  
SHIN MURATA ◽  
ATSUKO KUBO ◽  
MIZUKI HACHIYA ◽  
AYA HIRAO ◽  
...  

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (15) ◽  
pp. e1291-e1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
So Young Moon ◽  
Philipe de Souto Barreto ◽  
Yves Rolland ◽  
Marie Chupin ◽  
Ali Bouyahia ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with decline in lower extremity function (LEF) over approximately 3 years in dementia-free older adults with memory complaints.MethodsWe obtained brain MRI data from 458 community-dwelling adults, aged 70 years or over, at baseline, and from 358 adults over an average follow-up of 963 days. We evaluated LEF using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). We related baseline WMH volumes and progression to SPPB scores over time, using mixed-effect linear regressions. For the secondary analyses, we categorized baseline WMH volume into quartiles, and dichotomized the WMH progression to compare fast and slow progression.ResultsBaseline WMH volume (β = −0.017, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.025 to −0.009), as well as WMH progression (β = −0.002, 95% CI −0.003 to −0.001), significantly associated with a decline in SPPB performance in adjusted analyses. Compared with the lowest quartile of baseline WMH volume, the highest quartile associated with a decline in SPPB performance (β = −0.301, 95% CI −0.558 to −0.044). Fast progression also associated with a decline in SPPB performance. We found clinically meaningful differences in the SPPB, with higher scores in participants with slow progression of WMH, at both 24 and 36 months.ConclusionsBaseline level and WMH progression associated with longitudinal decline in SPPB performance among older adults. We detected clinically meaningful differences in SPPB performance on comparing fast with slow progression of WMH, suggesting that speed of WMH progression is an important determinant of LEF during aging.


Author(s):  
Francisco Félix Caballero ◽  
Ellen A Struijk ◽  
Antonio Buño ◽  
Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo ◽  
Esther Lopez-Garcia

Abstract Background Higher levels of ceramides have been linked to several chronic diseases; also there is emerging cross-sectional evidence that ceramides are associated with lower physical functioning. This research assessed for the first time the prospective relationship between ceramide species and impaired lower-extremity function (ILEF) in older adults. Methods Case–control study with 43 cases of ILEF and 86 age- and sex-matched controls, which was nested in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort of community-dwelling older adults. Incident ILEF from 2015 to 2017 was ascertained with the Short Physical Performance Battery. In 2015, 27 ceramide species were measured in plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Conditional logistic regression models were used to assess the longitudinal relationship between ceramides concentration and incidence of ILEF. Results After adjusting for education level, body mass index, alcohol and total energy intake, physical activity, and presence of chronic conditions, some ceramide species were related to 2-year incidence of ILEF. Specifically, the odds ratios of ILEF per 1-SD increase in ceramide concentration were: 1.66 [95% CI = (1.03, 2.68)] for ceramide C14:0, 1.61 (1.00, 2.59) for ceramide C16:0, and 1.64 (1.03, 2.60) for ceramide C16:1 (n-7). In the case of ceramides C16:0 and C16:1 (n-7), a stronger relationship was found in those with a higher body mass index; systolic blood pressure could also mediate the relationship between ceramide C16:1 (n-7) and ILEF (p for interaction = .03). Conclusions Higher plasma levels of ceramides C14:0, C16:0, and C16:1 (n-7) are associated with higher risk of ILEF, and might serve as risk markers for functional decline in older adults.


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayathri Sridhar ◽  
Saba W. Masho ◽  
Tilahun Adera ◽  
Viswanathan Ramakrishnan ◽  
John D. Roberts

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between race and survival from prostate cancer. A systematic review of articles published from 1968 to 2007 assessing survival from prostate cancer was conducted. Analysis of unadjusted studies reported that African American men have an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31-1.65, p < .001). However, examination of adjusted studies identified no difference (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.94-1.22, p = .308). No statistically significant difference was observed in prostate cancer—specific survival in both analyses using unadjusted (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.94-1.31, p = .209) and adjusted studies (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.95-1.41, p = .157). This meta-analysis concludes that there are no racial differences in the overall and prostate cancer—specific survival between African American and White men.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanfen Yip ◽  
Lixia Ge ◽  
Bee Hoon Heng ◽  
Woan Shin Tan

AbstractLower extremity muscle strength, and functional limitations are important modifiable predictors of falls, but are often examined using performance based measures. We examined the association between self-reported physical function limitations, determined using Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument(LLFDI) and incident falls in community-dwelling elderly individuals. 283 older adults participants were included in this analysis. Physical function limitations were defined as a person’s difficulty in completing items of the lower extremity function domain and composite scores of the LLFDI. Information on falls was obtained through a standardised questionnaire. At one-year follow-up, 15.2% (43) of the participants experienced their first fall. In the multivariable analysis, individuals who reported difficulties in items of lower extremity function domain were more likely to experience a fall (incidence rate ratio[IRR]: ranging between 2.43 and 7.01; all P ≤ 0.046). In addition, decreasing advanced lower extremity function scores (IRR: 1.70, 95% confidence interval[CI]): 1.04, 2.78) and overall function component score (IRR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.22, 3.44) were associated with higher risk of incident falls. Physical function limitations, determined using LLFDI, were associated with incident falls. Our findings provide further evidence that the LLFDI function component has the potential to be used as a self-assessment tool for fall risk.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 191-191
Author(s):  
Lorraine Phillips ◽  
Mary Bowen

Abstract Early identification of functional decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) provides the opportunity to initiate behavioral interventions to slow decline. More frequent breaks in sedentary time has been associated with greater lower extremity function. This longitudinal study examined the effect of 6-month change in cognitive function on monthly sedentary time, controlling for lower extremity function, among community-dwelling older adults with MCI. Twenty adults with Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score (MoCA) between 19-25, who were age ≥ 60 years old, and ambulatory, wore an actigraph for 6 months and participated in monthly in-person assessments. Measures included MoCA change (baseline to month 6), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; baseline, months 3 and 6); sedentary time and physical activity intensity; and falls (monthly). The sample was 70% female, 60% non-Hispanic white, with a mean age of 77 years. Sixteen participants provided complete data for mixed-model analysis. Over 6 months, 11 falls occurred among 7 participants. The mean MoCA score declined from 22.7 to 21.9 while SPPB remained stable. Overall time spent in sedentary behavior was high (71%) and physical activity intensity was low (light and moderate combined= 26.1%). Results of multi-level analysis with sedentary time as a continuous Level-1 variable and MoCA change scores, SPPB scores, and age in Level-2 showed that negative change in MoCA (β=-0.11; p≤0.05) was associated with increased sedentary time. Given sedentary time increases as cognitive function declines, older adults with MCI could benefit from interventions designed to interrupt sedentary time as well as increase physical activity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. H2380-H2387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin S. Heffernan ◽  
Sae Young Jae ◽  
Kenneth R. Wilund ◽  
Jeffrey A. Woods ◽  
Bo Fernhall

Young African-American men have altered macrovascular and microvascular function. In this cross-sectional study, we tested the hypothesis that vascular dysfunction in young African-American men would contribute to greater central blood pressure (BP) compared with young white men. Fifty-five young (23 yr), healthy men (25 African-American and 30 white) underwent measures of vascular structure and function, including carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid artery β-stiffness via ultrasonography, aortic pulse wave velocity, aortic augmentation index (AIx), and wave reflection travel time (Tr) via radial artery tonometery and a generalized transfer function, and microvascular vasodilatory capacity of forearm resistance arteries with strain-gauge plethysmography. African-American men had similar brachial systolic BP (SBP) but greater aortic SBP ( P < 0.05) and carotid SBP ( P < 0.05). African-American men also had greater carotid IMT, greater carotid β-stiffness, greater aortic stiffness and AIx, reduced aortic Tr and reduced peak hyperemic, and total hyperemic forearm blood flow compared with white men ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, young African-American men have greater central BP, despite comparable brachial BP, compared with young white men. Diffuse macrovascular and microvascular dysfunction manifesting as carotid hypertrophy, increased stiffness of central elastic arteries, heightened resistance artery constriction/blunted resistance artery dilation, and greater arterial wave reflection are present at a young age in apparently healthy African-American men, and conventional brachial BP measurement does not reflect this vascular burden.


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