Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2014
Sarcopenia and falls in community-dwelling elderly subjects in Japan: Defining sarcopenia according to criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People.
This study assessed the association between sarcopenia (using the definition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People) and fall in the past year among community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Subjects were 1110 community-dwelling Japanese aged 65 or older. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure muscle mass, grip strength to measure muscle strength, and usual walking speed to measure physical performance in a baseline study. "Sarcopenia" was characterized by low muscle mass and low muscle strength or low physical performance. "Presarcopenia" was characterized only by low muscle mass. ⋯ The odds ratio for fall in the sarcopenia group relative to the normal group was 4.42 (95%CI 2.08-9.39) in men and 2.34 (95%CI 1.39-3.94) in women. This study revealed sarcopenia to be associated with falling in elderly Japanese. Sarcopenia prevention interventions may help prevent falls among elderly individuals.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2014
A novel scale predicting postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing cerebrovascular surgery.
The purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale for predicting POD in patients undergoing cerebrovascular surgery. ⋯ The present scale is a promising a tool for predicting POD but needs to be studied further.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2014
Comparative StudyFormal and informal care costs of hospitalized older people at risk of poor functioning: A prospective cohort study.
Hospitalized older people are at risk of poor functioning after hospital discharge. We aimed to relate formal and informal care costs to level of risk for low functioning of hospitalized older people up to one year after admission. We studied 460 patients 65 years or older who were admitted to a 450-bed hospital in the Netherlands between June 2010 and October 2010. ⋯ Informal and formal healthcare costs were almost double for people with the highest risk score compared to people not at risk (p<0.001). Older patients with high risk scores at hospital admission have substantially higher formal and informal care costs in the year after initial hospital admission than people with low risk scores. This implies that substantial investments may be made in preventive interventions for at-risk hospitalized older people.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized trial comparing Tai Chi with and without cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) to reduce fear of falling in community-dwelling elderly people.
The aim of this randomized trial was to compare the effects of Tai Chi with and without CBI on a primary outcome of reducing the fear of falling, and on secondary outcomes including encouraging better social engagement, improving self-perceived personal wellbeing, and achieving better mobility among elderly people with fear of falling. One hundred and twenty-two community-dwelling elderly people aged ≥ 65 were randomly assigned to either a Tai Chi or a Tai Chi plus CBI group. Participants' level of fear of falling, physical mobility, self-perceived personal wellbeing and social participation were compared before and after completing the 8-week intervention and then at a 2-month follow-up. ⋯ Apart from a slight improvement in participants' self-perceived personal wellbeing, other outcome effects were similar for Tai Chi with and without CBI. This finding raises a question about the additive effects of combined intervention over Tai Chi alone in reducing elderly people's fear of falling. In view of the higher demand for resources and manpower to implement a combined intervention, further study is still required to confirm the potential additional benefits of this combined intervention prior to recommending it to community services.
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2014
The prediction of disability by self-reported physical frailty components of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI).
Disability is an important health outcome for older persons; it is associated with impaired quality of life, future hospitalization, and mortality. Disability also places a high burden on health care professionals and health care systems. Disability is regarded as an adverse outcome of physical frailty. ⋯ The other three components of the physical frailty subscale of the TFI (poor balance, poor hearing, poor vision) together did not predict disability. Low physical activity predicted both total and ADL disability, and slowness both total and IADL disability. In conclusion, self-report assessment using the physical subscale of the TFI aids the prediction of future ADL and IADL disability in older persons two and a half years later.