Community-Dwelling Older Individuals Using Day Services: Prevalence and Associations between Walking, Toe-Grip Strength, and Foot Problems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashiko Fujii ◽  
Takuyuki Komoda ◽  
Ikumi Honda ◽  
Nozomi Kawabe ◽  
Ryouhei Nishimura ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kashiko Fujii ◽  
Takuyuki Komoda ◽  
Ikumi Honda ◽  
Nozomi Kawabe ◽  
Ryouhei Nishimura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Foot disorders in older individuals contribute to balance, posture, and gait instability, causing a decrease in activity of daily living and quality of life. However, the existing foot problems of older individuals in the community have not been studied well in Japan.Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed the foot-related data of 176 frail, old-aged participants who attended day service centers in Japan. Foot conditions were assessed and measured from various aspects, as was weight distribution to the floor. Multiple regression analysis was used to find foot item variables that correlated with toe-grip strength and walking speed.Results: Prevalence of skin dryness and suspected and existing nail fungal infection was high in both sexes regardless of care level. Prevalence rate of toe deformity and arch deformity was significantly higher in men and women requiring long-term care, respectively. The multiple regression analysis using stepwise method indicated the right toe-grip strength had a statistically significant association with the arch deformity, suspected or existing nail fungal infection, and nail thickness of the right sided foot (p-value, 0·012, 0·034, 0·040 respectively). Coefficients of all independent variables were negative. Any independent variables were not selected from the left foot. The corn, callus and toe deformity of right sided foot was significantly associated with walking test (p-value, 0·026, 0·033 respectively).Conclusions: Our study supported that individuals requiring more long-term care tend to have more foot problems. Some specific conditions were associated with toe-grip force and walking speed. This finding contributes to future strategies to protect foot health for community-dwelling older individuals, particularly the frail population. Trial registration: Not Applicable


2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
L. Murthy ◽  
P. Dreyer ◽  
P. Suriyaarachchi ◽  
F. Gomez ◽  
C.L. Curcio ◽  
...  

Background: Frailty is associated with poor outcomes hence identification of risks factors is pivotal. Since the independent role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in frailty remains unexplored, we aimed to determine this in a population of older individuals with a history of falling. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Falls and Fracture Clinic, Nepean Hospital (Penrith, Australia). Participants: 692 subjects (mean age=79, 65% women) assessed between 2009-2015. Measurements: Assessment included clinical examination, mood, nutrition, grip strength, gait velocity, bone densitometry and posturography. Chemistry included serum PTH, calcium, vitamin D (25(OH)D3), creatinine and albumin. Normocalcemic subjects were divided into 4 groups: (1) Normal: 25(OH)D3 >50nmol/L and PTH between 1.6-6.8pmol/L; (2) PTH responsive: low 25(OH)D3 (<50nmol/L) and high PTH (>6.8pmol/L); (3) PTH unresponsive: low 25(OH)D3 and normal PTH; (4) Hyper PTH (>6.8pmol/L) with normal 25(OH)D3. Frailty was defined using Fried’s criteria. Difference between the groups was assessed using one-way ANOVA and X2 analysis. Multinomial logistic regression evaluated the association between the groups and the number of Fried’s criteria adjusted for age, BMI, renal function, 25(OH)D3 levels, and albumin. Results: 22.6% subjects had high PTH levels (>6.8pmol/L). All subjects in the high PTH groups had significantly lower grip strength, gait velocity, limits of stability, and higher BMI. The PTH responsive group had a higher risk of pre-frailty (β=3.8, 95% CI = 3.42 – 5.22, p< 0.01) and frailty (β=8.26, 95% CI = 2.8-16.1, p<0.01). The risk of frailty was also higher in the Hyper PTH group (β=2.3, 95% CI = 1.74-4.32, p<0.01). Conclusion: We have reported an independent association of high PTH levels with high number of falls and with the clinical components of physical frailty in community dwelling older persons. Our results suggest a possible role of PTH in frailty that deserves further exploration.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taira Fukuda ◽  
Shigeru Toyoda ◽  
Shichiro Abe ◽  
Teruo Inoue ◽  
Toshiaki Nakajima

Introduction: Anemia and sarcopenia with renal dysfunction caused by cytokine imbalance can contribute to decreased quality of life for older individuals. Several studies showed that serum GDF-15 level, a member of the TGF-β cytokine superfamily, was negatively correlated with eGFR. In this study, we examined the association of GDF-15 with eGFR, hemoglobin (Hb) and sarcopenia in healthy community-dwelling older females. Methods: A total of 66 healthy older community-dwelling females (age: 75.8 ± 6.2 years) were enrolled for this study. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) by bioelectrical impedance analysis, hand-grip strength and walking speed were assessed, and sarcopenia was evaluated. Serum GDF-15 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hb, serum iron (Fe), serum albumin (Alb) and high-sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated. Multiple linear regression analyses with serum GDF-15 concentration, eGFR and Hb as the dependent variable were performed to identify influencing independent factors. Results: Among the study subjects, 4 (6%) had sarcopenia. The serum GDF-15 level was positively correlated with age (r = 0.486, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with walking speed (r = -0.363, p = 0.003), but there was no correlation between GDF-15 level and hand-grip strength or SMI. Serum GDF-15 level was also negatively correlated with eGFR (r = -0.535, p < 0.001) and serum Fe level, but had no correlation with hsCRP, Hb or Alb levels. In multiple regression analysis, eGFR and Hb were independent variables to predict serum GDF-15 level, even after adjusting for age and body mass index (eGFR: β = -0.423, p <0.001; Hb: β = -0.363, p=0.004). Serum GDF-15 level was an independent variable to predict eGFR and Hb. Conclusions: Serum GDF-15 level was negatively correlated with eGFR, although it had no correlation with muscle strength or mass. Both Hb and eGFR were predictors for serum GDF-15 concentration in healthy older females. In these community-dwelling older females, renal dysfunction via GDF-15 might be accompanied by anemia, but not sarcopenia.


Author(s):  
Connie K. Porcaro ◽  
Clare Singer ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Ali A. Danesh ◽  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
...  

Purpose Many aging individuals, even those who are healthy, report voice changes that can impact their ability to communicate as they once did. While this is commonly reported, most do not seek evaluation or management for this issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and differences in voice disorders in older adults, along with the effect of fatigue on their social interactions. Method This is a cross-sectional investigation of a community-dwelling sample of individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants completed the Questionnaire on Vocal Performance, the Social Engagement Index subset “Engagement in Social or Leisure Activities,” and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Results Results indicated 32.5% of the 332 participants reported symptoms of voice problems with no difference found between male and female respondents. A slight increase in report of voice problems was noted with each year of age. Participants who self-reported voice problems indicated less interaction in social activities involving communication than those who did not. Finally, as severity of self-reported voice problems increased, an increase was reported by the same individuals for signs of fatigue. Conclusions Voice problems and resulting decreased social interaction are commonly experienced by older individuals. Voice symptoms in older adults have been found to benefit from evidence-based treatment strategies. It is critical to provide education to encourage older individuals to seek appropriate evaluation and management for voice issues through a speech-language pathologist or medical professional.


Author(s):  
Esther García-Esquinas ◽  
Rosario Ortolá ◽  
Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽  
José A. Carnicero ◽  
Asier Mañas ◽  
...  

We used data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain collected through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. On average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet, or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Males, older adults with greater social isolation or greater feelings of loneliness, those with poorer housing conditions, as well as those with a higher prevalence of chronic morbidities were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health declines with confinement. On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement. If another lockdown were imposed during this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, sub-optimal housing conditions, and chronic morbidities because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoe Okabayashi ◽  
Takashi Kawamura ◽  
Hisashi Noma ◽  
Kenji Wakai ◽  
Masahiko Ando ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Predicting adverse health events and implementing preventative measures are a necessary challenge. It is important for healthcare planners and policymakers to allocate the limited resource to high-risk persons. Prediction is also important for older individuals, their family members, and clinicians to prepare mentally and financially. The aim of this study is to develop a prediction model for within 11-year dependent status requiring long-term nursing care or death in older adults for each sex. Methods We carried out age-specified cohort study of community dwellers in Nisshin City, Japan. The older adults aged 64 years who underwent medical check-up between 1996 and 2005 were included in the study. The primary outcome was the incidence of the psychophysically dependent status or death or by the end of the year of age 75 years. Univariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between candidate predictors and the outcome. Using the variables with p-values less than 0.1, multivariable logistic regression analyses were then performed with backward stepwise elimination to determine the final predictors for the model. Results Of the 1525 female participants at baseline, 105 had an incidence of the study outcome. The final prediction model consisted of 15 variables, and the c-statistics for predicting the outcome was 0.763 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714–0.813). Of the 1548 male participants at baseline, 211 had incidence of the study outcome. The final prediction model consisted of 16 variables, and the c-statistics for predicting the outcome was 0.735 (95% CI 0.699–0.771). Conclusions We developed a prediction model for older adults to forecast 11-year incidence of dependent status requiring nursing care or death in each sex. The predictability was fair, but we could not evaluate the external validity of this model. It could be of some help for healthcare planners, policy makers, clinicians, older individuals, and their family members to weigh the priority of support.


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.


Author(s):  
Young-Mee Kim ◽  
Sung-il Cho

Prior studies have found that exercise has a positive effect on depressive symptoms in the general population. For older individuals, however, the association between exercise and depressive symptoms is conclusive. We examined whether regular exercise is related to depressive symptoms in 5379 Korean adults aged ≥55 years using data from a 2016 survey administered in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. We used the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression scale to assess depressive symptoms. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between regular exercise and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health, number of chronic diseases, body mass index, hand-grip strength, physical disability, cognitive impairment, and health behavior. Interaction terms, including regular exercise and health-related factors, were also added. We found that a lack of regular exercise was significantly related to an increased frequency of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03–1.35). Moreover, hand-grip strength may increase the effect of regular exercise on depressive symptoms in individuals 65 years and older (OR = 1.01 vs. 1.70, 95% CI = 1.05–1.96). Our results suggest that it is important to encourage older individuals to exercise regularly as a means of relieving depressive symptoms.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi T. Taipale ◽  
J. Simon Bell ◽  
Sirpa Hartikainen

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili ◽  
Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx ◽  
Charlene Compher

Objective: To determine the nutritional, inflammatory, and functional aspects of unintentional weight loss after cardiac surgery that warrant further investigation. Research Methods and Procedures: Twenty community-dwelling adults > 65 years old undergoing cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] or CABG + valve) were recruited for this prospective longitudinal (preoperative and 4–6 weeks postdischarge) pilot study. Anthropometrics (weight, standing height, and mid-arm and calf circumference), nutritional status (Mini-Nutritional Assessment™ [MNA]), appetite, physical performance (timed chair stand), muscle strength (hand grip) and functional status (basic and instrumental activities of daily living), and inflammatory markers (plasma leptin, ghrelin, interleukin [IL]-6, high-sensitivity[hs] C-reactive protein, and serum albumin and prealbumin) were measured. Results: Participants who completed the study ( n = 11 males, n = 3 females) had a mean age 70.21 ± 4.02 years. Of these, 12 lost 3.66 ± 1.44 kg over the study period. Weight, BMI, activities of daily living, and leptin decreased over time ( p < .05). IL-6 increased over time ( p < .05). Ghrelin, hs-CRP, and timed chair stand increased over time in those who underwent combined procedures ( p < .05). Grip strength decreased in those who developed complications ( p = .004). Complications, readmission status, and lowered grip strength were found in those with low preoperative MNA scores ( p < .05). Conclusion: After cardiac surgery, postdischarge weight loss occurs during a continued inflammatory response accompanied by decreased physical functioning and may not be a positive outcome. The impacts of weight loss, functional impairment, and inflammation during recovery on disability and frailty warrant further study.


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