The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2015
The Association Between Life-Space and Health Care Utilization in Older Adults with Heart Failure.
Life-space is associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults, but its role in health care utilization among individuals with heart failure is not well understood. We examined the relationship between life-space and both emergency department (ED) utilization and hospitalization. ⋯ Life-space may be a useful identifier of community-dwelling older adults with heart failure at increased risk of ED visits or hospital admissions in the ensuing 6 months. Life-space may therefore be a potentially important component of intervention programs to reduce health care utilization.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2015
Cytokines and Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Major Elective Surgery.
A proinflammatory state has been associated with several age-associated conditions; however, the inflammatory mechanisms of delirium remain poorly characterized. ⋯ In this large, well-characterized cohort assessed at multiple timepoints, we observed an inflammatory signature of delirium involving elevated interleukin-6 at POD2, which may be an important disease marker for delirium. We also observed preliminary evidence for involvement of other cytokines.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jun 2015
Association of Low Lean Mass With Frailty and Physical Performance: A Comparison Between Two Operational Definitions of Sarcopenia-Data From the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II).
For prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, defined as a decline in lean mass, reliable diagnostic criteria and cutpoints reflecting a clinically relevant threshold are indispensable. As of yet, various parameters have been proposed but no gold standard exists. The aim of this study was to compare cutpoints of appendicular lean mass related to body mass index (ALMBMI) or height (ALM/height(2)) regarding their association with self-reported physical limitations and frailty status in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ This study showed striking differences between the two operational criteria ALM/height(2) and ALMBMI concerning their association with physical limitations and prefrailty/frailty. The low ALMBMI cutpoints seem suitable to detect patients at risk for negative outcomes such as frailty who might benefit from interventions targeted at improving lean mass.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Mar 2015
Multicenter StudyMultidimensional Prognostic Index predicts mortality and length of stay during hospitalization in the older patients: a multicenter prospective study.
The Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) is a validated predictive tool for long-term mortality based on information collected in a standardized Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. We investigated whether the MPI is an effective predictor of intrahospital mortality and length of hospital stay after admission to acute geriatric wards. ⋯ In older acute care inpatients, MPI score assessed at hospital admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Mar 2015
Active vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D) is associated with chronic pain in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.
Although there is a conflicting evidence for an association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) levels and pain, the relationship between pain and the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between serum vitamin D metabolites: 25D and 1,25D with intrusive or chronic pain in community-living men aged ≥70 years. ⋯ Low serum 1,25D concentrations are associated with chronic pain in older men. This raises the question whether vitamin D metabolites may influence pain states, mediated through different biological mechanisms and pathways.