scholarly journals Hypothetical Interventions for Falls Among Older Adults: An Application of the Parametric G-Formula

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaojiao Ren ◽  
Guangyou Li ◽  
Liju Zhang ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
Juan Ren
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Risk Of Falls

Introduction: Falls, which have a higher incidence and mortality due to accidental injuries, are a major global health challenge. The effects of lifestyle factor, health indicator, psychological condition, and functional status interventions on the risk of falls are unknown and the conventional regression model would not adjust for the confounders. This study aimed to evaluate the 4-year risk of falls on the basis of these hypothetical interventions among Chinese older adults.Methods: Data were obtained from 9,692 aged 65 years and over older adults in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study wave, from 2011 to 2015. We used the parametric g-formula to evaluate the risk of falls on the basis of independent hypothetical interventions of sleep duration, social activities, smoking status, drinking status, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), vision, depression, activities of daily living (ADL), and their different joint intervention combinations.Results: During the follow-up of 4 years, we documented 1,569 falls. The observed risk of falls was 23.58%. The risk ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of falls under the intensive hypothetical interventions on increasing sleep duration, participating in more social activities, quit smoking and drinking, reducing BMI and SBP, better vision, alleviating depressive symptoms, and improving ADL capability were 0.93 (0.87–0.96), 0.88 (0.79–0.92), 0.98 (0.95–1.03), 0.97 (0.95–1.02), 0.92 (0.86–1.03), 0.93 (0.87–1.04), 0.86 (0.74–0.91), 0.91 (0.85–0.96), and 0.79 (0.74–0.85), respectively. The feasible and intensive joint hypothetical intervention reduced the 4-year fall risk by 22% (95% CI: 0.52–0.91) and 33% (95% CI: 0.56–0.72), respectively.Conclusions: Hypothetical interventions for increasing sleep duration, participating in more social activities, better vision, alleviating depressive symptoms, and improving ADL capability help protect older adults from falls. Our findings suggest that a combination of lifestyle factors, health indicators, psychological conditions, and functional status may prove to be an effective strategy for preventing falls among older adults.

Subjective Age and Late-Life Functional Status: Mediating and Moderating Effects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel R Petashnick ◽  
Amit Shrira ◽  
Yaakov Hoffman ◽  
Yuval Palgi ◽  
Gitit Kavé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Longitudinal Relationships

Abstract Objectives The present study examined the longitudinal relationships between subjective age (SA) and future functional status in later life, via depressive symptoms. Additionally, we assessed the role of subjective nearness to death (SNtD) as a potential moderator within these pathways. Methods Older adults (average age 81.14 at T1) were interviewed once a year for three consecutive years (N=224 at T1, N=178 at T2, and N=164 at T3), Participants reported their SA, SNtD, depressive symptoms, and functional status. Additionally, grip strength was employed as an objective measure of functional status. Results Data analysis revealed distinct pathways leading from T1 SA to T3 functional status through T2 depressive symptoms. Moreover, T1 SNtD was found to significantly moderate most of these indirect pathways, so that the mediation model of T1 SA-T2 depressive symptoms-T3 functional status was mostly significant among those who felt closer to death. Discussion The findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanism through which SA predicts long-term functioning sequelae by underscoring the indirect effect of depressive symptoms. They further indicate the importance of gauging the effects of SNtD on these longitudinal relationships. Present results may further contribute to establishing an integrative model for predicting long-term functional outcomes based on older adults' earlier subjective views of aging.

scholarly journals HEARING IMPAIRMENT, DEPRESSION, AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S166-S167
Author(s):  
Shu Xu ◽  
Haowei Wang ◽  
Caitlin Connelly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Status ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Studies suggest that depression is closely linked to hearing impairment, which is highly prevalent among older adults in the United States. There is evidence that social engagement may be impacted by hearing impairment in older adults. However, there is relatively little research on these associations among Chinese older adults. This study examines the relationships between hearing impairment, social activities, and depressive symptoms among older adults in China. Using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011, we conducted cross-sectional analysis on adults age 60 years and older (n=10,994). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and we considered self-reported hearing status (if participants wear a hearing aid and how they would rate their hearing), and social activities (i.e., volunteering, dancing, attending courses, etc.). Models were controlled for age, gender, education, and other covariates. Descriptive analysis showed that 9% of older adults experienced hearing impairment. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that hearing impairment was positively associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults (β=1.32, p<.001). Social activities were found to partially mediate the relationship between hearing status and depressive symptoms. Respondents with hearing impairment were less likely to engage in social activities (OR=.78, p<.01) and those who did not participate in social activities reported more depressive symptoms (β=1.28, p<.001). These findings suggest that Chinese older adults experiencing hearing loss are at greater risk of depression and that social activities play an important role in the relationship between hearing status and depression.

scholarly journals SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN MEXICO: IMPLICATIONS OF GENDER AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S215-S215
Author(s):  
Maria Monserud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Studies in developed countries indicate that social activities can make a difference in mental health in later life. Yet, research on potential benefits of social activities for older adults in developing countries, including Mexico, has been scarce. This study uses the two most recent waves (2012, 2015) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study to investigate the impact of social activities on depressive symptoms among older men (n = 4, 749) and women (n = 6,527), aged 50+, in Mexico. The results of Ordinary Least Squares regressions indicate that it is important to differentiate among specific social activities in later life. Particularly, not only group-based but also solitary social activities were predictive of better mental health. Moreover, the findings demonstrate several gender differences and similarities. Participation in clubs, communication with relatives and friends, physical exercise, and watching television were beneficial for mental health among men, whereas volunteering, playing games, and making crafts were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women. At the same time, reading as well as doing household chores were related to better mental health among older Mexicans, regardless of gender. Furthermore, this study shows that self-reported health, functional limitations, chronic conditions, and frequent pain might shape the implications of social activities for depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico. The insights from this study can be helpful for intervention programs that are being developed to promote benefits of group-based and solitary social activities for mental health among older men and women with different levels of physical health.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Prescription Opioid Use in a Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort Study of Middle-Aged and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110393
Author(s):  
Kristin Y. Shiue ◽  
Nabarun Dasgupta ◽  
Rebecca B. Naumann ◽  
Amanda E. Nelson ◽  
Yvonne M. Golightly
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pain Catastrophizing ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Modifiable Factors

Objectives Identifying factors associated with opioid use in middle-aged and older adults is a fundamental step in the mitigation of potentially unnecessary opioid consumption and opioid-related harms. Methods Using longitudinal data on a community-based cohort of adults aged 50–90 years residing in Johnston County, North Carolina, we examined sociodemographic and clinical factors in non-opioid users ( n = 786) at baseline (2006–2010) as predictors of opioid use at follow-up (2013–2015). Variables included age, sex, race, obesity, educational attainment, employment status, household poverty rate, marital status, depressive symptoms, social support, pain catastrophizing, pain sensitivity, insurance status, polypharmacy, and smoking status. Results At follow-up, 13% of participants were using prescription opioids. In the multivariable model, high pain catastrophizing (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval = 2.14; 1.33–3.46), polypharmacy (2.08; 1.23–3.53), and history of depressive symptoms (2.00; 1.19–3.38) were independent markers of opioid use. Discussion Findings support the assessment of these modifiable factors during clinical encounters in patients ≥ 50 years old with chronic pain.

Longitudinal Impact of Frailty States and Sleep Duration on Subsequent Depressive Symptoms of Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1003-1011
Author(s):  
Huiying Liu ◽  
Danyu Li ◽  
Xinyi Zhao ◽  
Boye Fang ◽  
Quan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Longitudinal Impact

scholarly journals A Healthy Lifestyle in Old Age and Prospective Change in Four Domains of Functioning

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1297-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein Visser ◽  
Hanneke A. H. Wijnhoven ◽  
Hannie C. Comijs ◽  
Fleur G. C. F. Thomése ◽  
Jos W. R. Twisk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Social Contacts

Objective: The aim of this article is to study the associations between healthy lifestyle in old age and decline in physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning. Method: A population-based sample of 3,107 Dutch men and women aged 55 and 85 years (1992/1993; Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam) was used with five 3-yeary follow-up examinations. Lifestyle score, based on smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI), ranged from 0 ( unhealthy) to 4 ( healthy). Outcomes included gait speed, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, and social contacts. Results: Persons with a healthy lifestyle had a 10.6% slower decline in gait speed (0.04 m/s, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.03, 0.05]), 10.8% slower increase in depressive symptoms (–1.07 [–1.70, –0.44]), a 1.8% slower decline in cognitive functioning (0.47 [0.23, 0.70]), and a 4.9% slower decline in social contacts (0.58 [0.01, 1.15]) compared with persons with no or one healthy lifestyle factor. Discussion: A healthy lifestyle benefits physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning up to very old age.

scholarly journals Reported Needs and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Entering Long-Term Services and Supports

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Rivera ◽  
Karen B Hirschman ◽  
Mary D Naylor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Services And Supports

Abstract Background and Objectives Long-term services and supports (LTSS) are vital for older adults with physical and cognitive disabilities. LTSS can be provided in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living, or via community-based services. During the transition to LTSS, older adults are at risk of increased depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults may identify unmet needs despite having access to new LTSS resources. The goal of this study was to examine the factors associated with increased depressive symptoms among a pool of older adults, with a focus on change in reported needs after starting LTSS. Research Design and Methods This cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study included 352 older adults new to LTSS (R01AG025524). The outcome of depressive symptoms was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale—Short Form. Reported needs included supportive equipment, devices, transportation, and social activities. Bivariate and linear regression modeling using change in needs 3 months later were performed. Results Depressive symptoms were present among 40% of the LTSS recipients at enrollment and 3 months. At baseline, 29% of LTSS recipients reported a need for supportive equipment, 30% for transportation, and 23% for social activities. After 3 months, an average of 12% of LTSS recipients’ needs were met, 13% of LTSS recipients’ needs persisted, and 11% of LTSS recipients reported new needs. Depressive symptoms 3 months later were higher for those who reported persistent unmet needs compared with those who reported no needs at all, controlling for functional status and LTSS type. Discussion and Implications The transition to LTSS is a vulnerable time for older adults. Assessing the need for equipment, transportation, and social activities during this period may identify opportunities to improve the lives and emotional status of this population.

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