The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jan 2017
Hip Fractures in Older Patients: Trajectories of Disability after Surgery.
Hip fracture in older patients often lead to permanent disabilities and can result in mortality. ⋯ Three disability trajectories were identified from hospital admission until one-year follow-up in acutely hospitalized older patients after hip fracture. Most patients had substantial functional decline and 27% of the patient's deceased one-year post-discharge, mainly patients in the 'moderate'- 'and severe' disability trajectories.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jan 2017
High-Technology Based Gait Assessment in Frail People: Associations between Spatio-Temporal and Three-Dimensional Gait Characteristics with Frailty Status across Four Different Frailty Measures.
We analyzed associations between a battery of gait characteristics and frailty status across four different frailty instruments in old patients. ⋯ Gait changes in frail patients include more than solely a reduction in walking speed.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jan 2017
Comparative StudyCognitive Frailty in Italian Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Prevalence Rate and Its Association with Disability.
Cognitive frailty is the simultaneous clinical manifestation of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment. This paper aimed to propose and test an operational definition of cognitive frailty. The following specific aims were pursued: (i) to rate the prevalence of cognitive frailty; (ii) to evaluate differences in cognitive functioning among robust, pre-frail, and frail individuals; (iii) to examine the association of cognitive frailty with disability, in a sample of Italian community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ The one-way ANCOVA, controlling for age and gender, showed a significant difference (p< .001) among robust, pre-frail, and frail participants for the cognitive functioning. Moreover, cognitively frail individuals showed a difference (p<.001) in disability in comparison with non-frail participants. Our results are significant and provide empirical evidence about the usefulness of the cognitive frailty concept.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jan 2017
Associations between Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning among Middle-Aged and Older Adults.
To describe aerobic physical activity among middle-aged and older adults by their self-reported cognitive decline and their receipt of informal care for declines in cognitive functioning and most common type of physical activity. ⋯ Overall, the prevalence of inactivity was high, especially among people with SCD. These findings suggest a need to increase activity among middle-aged and older adults, particularly those with SCD who receive care. Examining ways to increase walking, potentially by involving informal caregivers, could be a promising way for people with SCD to reduce inactivity and gain the health benefits associated with meeting physical activity guidelines.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jan 2017
The Impact of Trained Volunteer Mealtime Assistants on the Dietary Intake of Older Female In-Patients: The Southampton Mealtime Assistance Study.
Malnutrition among older hospital inpatients is common and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Time-pressured staff may struggle to provide mealtime assistance. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of trained volunteer mealtime assistants on the dietary intake of older inpatients. ⋯ Trained volunteers were able to deliver mealtime assistance on a large scale in an effective and sustainable manner, with the potential to release time for nursing staff to complete other clinical tasks. The study participants had a low median intake of energy and protein highlighting the importance of patient factors associated with acute illness; a stratified approach including oral and parenteral nutritional supplementation may be required for some acutely unwell patients. The level of mealtime assistance required was the factor most strongly associated with patients' poor intake of energy and protein and may be a useful simple indicator of patients at risk of poor nutrition.