scholarly journals Association between Daily Living Walking Speed and Walking Speed in Laboratory Settings in Healthy Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2707
Author(s):  
Hisashi Kawai ◽  
Shuichi Obuchi ◽  
Yutaka Watanabe ◽  
Hirohiko Hirano ◽  
Yoshinori Fujiwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Average Maximum

Although there is evidence on the predictors of adverse health outcomes in older individuals, walking speed has typically been measured in laboratory settings (LWS); LWS may be distinct from individuals’ actual walking speed in their daily lives (DWS). We examined whether DWS differs from LWS among older adults, and its association with physical frailty. Participants were 90 community-dwelling older adults. A five-meter normal (LWSnor) and maximum (LWSmax) walking speed was measured with a stopwatch. DWS was measured using a global positioning system-related smartphone application for one month during their daily lives. DWSavr, DWSmax, and DWSsd were defined as the average, maximum, and standard deviation of walking speed for one month. Participants’ mean DWSavr and DWSmax were 1.28 m/s and 2.14 m/s, respectively, significantly slower than the mean LWSnor (1.42 m/s) and LWSmax (2.24 m/s); the intraclass correlation coefficient between DWS and LWS were 0.188 to 0.341. DWS was significantly correlated with grip strength, one-legged stance, and LWS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of DWSsd concerning pre-frailty was largest among DWSs, at 0.615, while that of LWSnor was 0.643. The findings suggest that DWS differs from LWS and is associated with physical function and pre-frailty.

scholarly journals Perceived Neighborhood Environmental Factors Related to Sarcopenia in Urban-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 439-439
Author(s):  
Yuri Seo ◽  
Miji Kim ◽  
Hayoung Shim ◽  
Heeeun Jung ◽  
Seoyoon Jane Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Sarcopenia is common among older individuals and has adverse health outcomes. However, little is known about its association with neighborhood environmental factors. We explored the relationship between sarcopenia and neighborhood environmental factors among community-dwelling older adults aged 70–84 years in urban areas in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. There were 1,776 participants in this cross-sectional study (mean age 75.9±3.8 years, 54.1% women). Sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines. The neighborhood environmental factors were assessed using the 17-item Environmental Module of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-E). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 22.5%. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders, compared to the 5th quintile of the IPAQ-E score, the odds ratio (OR and 95% confidence interval [CI]) for sarcopenia in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quintile were 2.14 (1.41-3.26), 1.70 (1.11-2.61), 1.76 (1.16-2.68) and 1.62 (1.07-2.47), respectively. Sarcopenia was associated with environmental factors including access to destinations (β = -0.015) and neighborhood safety (β = -0.008) (all p<0.05). Furthermore, no access to public transportation (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.20-3.50), poor access to recreational facilities (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02-1.92), no presence of destination (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.07-2.21), hill hazard (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.02-1.77), and lack of safety from traffic (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.79) was associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia. Our study suggests that neighborhood environmental characteristics are associated with sarcopenia and better neighborhood environmental strategies can help prevent sarcopenia among older adults.

scholarly journals Perceived Neighborhood Environment Associated with Sarcopenia in Urban-Dwelling Older Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6292
Author(s):  
Yuri Seo ◽  
Miji Kim ◽  
Hyung-Eun Shin ◽  
Chang-Won Won
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes

Sarcopenia is associated with adverse health outcomes among older individuals. However, little is known about its association with neighborhood environmental factors. We explored the relationship between sarcopenia and perceived neighborhood environmental factors among community-dwelling older adults aged 70–84 years. We analyzed 1778 participants (mean age of 75.9 ± 3.8 years; 54.0% women) who lived in urban areas and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 definition. Perceived neighborhood environmental factors were assessed using the Environmental Module of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-E). In the multivariate analysis, compared to the fifth quintile of the IPAQ-E score, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sarcopenia in the first, second, third, and fourth quintiles were 2.13 (1.40–3.24), 1.72 (1.12–2.64), 1.75 (1.15–2.66), and 1.62 (1.06–2.47), respectively. These neighborhood environmental characteristics were linked with an increased likelihood of sarcopenia: no public transportation access (OR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.19–3.48), poor recreational facilities access (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.01–1.90), absence of destination (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.06–2.20), many hill hazards (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.03–1.78), and lack of traffic safety (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.02–1.78). Thus, better neighborhood environmental strategies may help prevent sarcopenia among urban-dwelling older adults.

Perceived Voice Disorders in Older Adults and Impact on Social Interactions

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Connie K. Porcaro ◽  
Clare Singer ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Ali A. Danesh ◽  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Voice Disorders ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Vocal Performance ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Cross Sectional

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.

scholarly journals Changes in Health Behaviors, Mental and Physical Health among Older Adults under Severe Lockdown Restrictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7067
Author(s):  
Esther García-Esquinas ◽  
Rosario Ortolá ◽  
Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽  
José A. Carnicero ◽  
Asier Mañas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Lifestyle Risk Factors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Lifestyle Risk

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.

scholarly journals Prediction of 11-year incidence of psychophysically dependent status or death among community-dwelling younger elderlies: from an age-specified community-based cohort study (the NISSIN project)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoe Okabayashi ◽  
Takashi Kawamura ◽  
Hisashi Noma ◽  
Kenji Wakai ◽  
Masahiko Ando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Regression Analyses

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.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Treadmill and Overground Walking Effects on Step Cycle Asymmetry in Young and Older Individuals

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanatsu Nagano ◽  
Rezaul K. Begg ◽  
William A. Sparrow ◽  
Simon Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Treadmill Walking ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Overground Walking ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Step Velocity

Although lower limb strength becomes asymmetrical with age, past studies of aging effects on gait biomechanics have usually analyzed only one limb. This experiment measured how aging and treadmill surface influenced both dominant and nondominant step parameters in older (mean 74.0 y) and young participants (mean 21.9 y). Step-cycle parameters were obtained from 3-dimensional position/time data during preferred-speed walking for 40 trials along a 10 m walkway and for 10 minutes of treadmill walking. Walking speed (young 1.23 m/s, older 1.24 m/s) and step velocity for the two age groups were similar in overground walking but older adults showed significantly slower walking speed (young 1.26 m/s, older 1.05 m/s) and step velocity on the treadmill due to reduced step length and prolonged step time. Older adults had shorter step length than young adults and both groups reduced step length on the treadmill. Step velocity and length of older adults’ dominant limb was asymmetrically larger. Older adults increased the proportion of double support in step time when treadmill walking. This adaptation combined with reduced step velocity and length may preserve balance. The results suggest that bilateral analyses should be employed to accurately describe asymmetric features of gait especially for older adults.

scholarly journals Gait Analysis Using Accelerometry Data from a Single Smartphone: Agreement and Consistency between a Smartphone Application and Gold-Standard Gait Analysis System

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 7497
Author(s):  
Roy T. Shahar ◽  
Maayan Agmon
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Human Gait ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Spatio-temporal parameters of human gait, currently measured using different methods, provide valuable information on health. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are one such method of gait analysis, with smartphone IMUs serving as a good substitute for current gold-standard techniques. Here we investigate the concurrent validity of a smartphone placed in a front-facing pocket to perform gait analysis. Sixty community-dwelling healthy adults equipped with a smartphone and an application for gait analysis completed a 2-min walk on a marked path. Concurrent validity was assessed against an APDM mobility lab (APDM Inc.; Portland, OR, USA). Bland–Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (agreement and consistency) for gait speed, cadence, and step length indicate good to excellent agreement (ICC2,1 > 0.8). For right leg stance and swing % of gait cycle and double support % of gait cycle, results were moderate (0.52 < ICC2,1 < 0.62). For left leg stance and swing % of gait cycle left results show poor agreement (ICC2,1 < 0.5). Consistency of results was good to excellent for all tested parameters (ICC3,1 > 0.8). Thus we have a valid and reliable instrument for measuring healthy adults’ spatio-temporal gait parameters in a controlled walking environment.

scholarly journals Day-to-Day Variability and Year-to-Year Reproducibility of Accelerometer-Measured Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Transitions Volume and Intensity among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6068
Author(s):  
Antti Löppönen ◽  
Laura Karavirta ◽  
Erja Portegijs ◽  
Kaisa Koivunen ◽  
Taina Rantanen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Angular Velocity ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the day-to-day variability and year-to-year reproducibility of an accelerometer-based algorithm for sit-to-stand (STS) transitions in a free-living environment among community-dwelling older adults. (2) Methods: Free-living thigh-worn accelerometry was recorded for three to seven days in 86 (women n = 55) community-dwelling older adults, on two occasions separated by one year, to evaluate the long-term consistency of free-living behavior. (3) Results: Year-to-year intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the number of STS transitions were 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.70–0.86, p < 0.001), for mean angular velocity—0.81 (95% ci, 0.72–0.87, p < 0.001), and maximal angular velocity—0.73 (95% ci, 0.61–0.82, p < 0.001), respectively. Day-to-day ICCs were 0.63–0.72 for number of STS transitions (95% ci, 0.49–0.81, p < 0.001) and for mean angular velocity—0.75–0.80 (95% ci, 0.64–0.87, p < 0.001). Minimum detectable change (MDC) was 20.1 transitions/day for volume, 9.7°/s for mean intensity, and 31.7°/s for maximal intensity. (4) Conclusions: The volume and intensity of STS transitions monitored by a thigh-worn accelerometer and a sit-to-stand transitions algorithm are reproducible from day to day and year to year. The accelerometer can be used to reliably study STS transitions in free-living environments, which could add value to identifying individuals at increased risk for functional disability.

scholarly journals Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-speaking Adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 702-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Apolinario ◽  
Rafaela de Castro Oliveira Pereira Braga ◽  
Regina Miksian Magaldi ◽  
Alexandre Leopold Busse ◽  
Flavia Campora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Inadequate Health Literacy

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a short health literacy assessment tool for Portuguese-speaking adults. METHODS: The Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Portuguese-speaking Adults is an assessment tool which consists of 50 items that assess an individual's ability to correctly pronounce and understand common medical terms. We evaluated the instrument's psychometric properties in a convenience sample of 226 Brazilian older adults. Construct validity was assessed by correlating the tool scores with years of schooling, self-reported literacy, and global cognitive functioning. Discrimination validity was assessed by testing the tool's accuracy in detecting inadequate health literacy, defined as failure to fully understand standard medical prescriptions. RESULTS: Moderate to high correlations were found in the assessment of construct validity (Spearman's coefficients ranging from 0.63 to 0.76). The instrument showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.93) and adequate test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.95). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detection of inadequate health literacy was 0.82. A version consisting of 18 items was tested and showed similar psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS: The instrument developed showed good validity and reliability in a sample of Brazilian older adults. It can be used in research and clinical settings for screening inadequate health literacy.

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