Assessment Tools of Biopsychosocial Frailty Dimensions in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Narrative Review

Frailty is a complex interplay between several factors, including physiological changes in ageing, multimorbidities, malnutrition, living environment, genetics, and lifestyle. Early screening for frailty risk factors in community-dwelling older people allows for preventive interventions on the clinical and social determinants of frailty, which allows adverse events to be avoided. By conducting a narrative review of the literature employing the International Narrative Systematic Assessment tool, the authors aimed to develop an updated framework for the main measurement tools to assess frailty risks in older adults, paying attention to use in the community and primary care settings. This search focused on the biopsychosocial domains of frailty that are covered in the SUNFRAIL tool. The study selected 178 reviews (polypharmacy: 20; nutrition: 13; physical activity: 74; medical visits: 0; falls: 39; cognitive decline: 12; loneliness: 15; social support: 5; economic constraints: 0) published between January 2010 and December 2021. Within the selected reviews, 123 assessment tools were identified (polypharmacy: 15; nutrition: 15; physical activity: 25; medical visits: 0; falls: 26; cognitive decline: 18; loneliness: 9; social support: 15; economic constraints: 0). The narrative review allowed us to evaluate assessment tools of frailty domains to be adopted for multidimensional health promotion and prevention interventions in community and primary care.

The Prevalence of Sarcopenia among Hunan Province Community-Dwelling Adults Aged 60 Years and Older and Its Relationship with Lifestyle: Diagnostic Criteria from the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 Update

Background and Objectives: This study aims to detect the prevalence of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults in Hunan Province, discuss factors related to lifestyle, and provide a reliable basis for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 1040 community-dwelling adults ≥ 60 years were examined for sarcopenia using a cluster stratified random sampling method, which was defined using the diagnostic criteria recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) from September 2019 to March 2020. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the correlation between sarcopenia and smoking, drinking, nutritional status, physical activity, and sleep quality. Results: A total of 27.1% of the older adults were diagnosed with sarcopenia, with rates of 26.2% in men and 25.2% in women. Multiple logistic regression showed that advanced age (OR = 2.480, 95% CI: 1.730, 3.553), the risk of malnutrition (OR = 2.085, 95% CI: 1.440, 3.019), and malnutrition (OR = 1.212, 95% CI: 0.304, 4.834) were risk factors for sarcopenia. No falls in the previous year (OR = 0.616, 95% CI: 1.885, 1.209), normal weight (OR = 0.228, 95% CI: 0.109, 0.475), overweight (OR = 0.030, 95% CI: 0.013, 0.069), moderate physical activity (OR = 0.593, 95% CI: 0.377, 0.933), or high physical activity (OR = 0.417, 95% CI: 0.230, 0.755) were identified as protective factors for sarcopenia. Conclusions: The prevalence of sarcopenia was high among older adults in the community in Hunan Province. In addition, we found that lifestyle is an important factor in sarcopenia.

A Dyadic Pain Management Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Chronic Pain: Study Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Community-dwelling older adults suffer from chronic pain. Pain negatively affects their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The majority of pain management education and programs focus only on older adults. Their informal caregivers should be involved in pain management. A dyadic pain management program for reducing pain and psychological health symptoms, and improving pain self-efficacy, quality of life, and physical function in older adults is proposed for evaluation of its effectiveness. This will be a cluster randomized controlled trial. Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 or above and their informal caregivers will be recruited. The dyadic pain management program will be an eight-week group-based program. The participants in the experimental group will receive four weeks of center-based, face-to-face activities and four weeks of digital-based activities via a WhatsApp group. The control group will receive the usual care and a pain management pamphlet. Data will be collected at baseline, and at the eighth-week and sixteenth-week follow-up session. The outcome measurements will include pain intensity, pain self-efficacy, perceived quality of life, depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Data on the caregiver burden will be collected from the informal caregivers. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all social activities have been suspended. In the near future, as the pandemic subsides, the dyadic pain management program will be launched to benefit community-dwelling older adults and informal caregivers and to reduce their pain and the care burden, respectively.

Community-Dwelling Older Adults' Intended Use of Different Types of Long-Term Care in China and Its Associated Factors Based on the Andersen Behavioral Model

In light of the increased demand for long-term care services in China, there is an ongoing discussion on what factors contribute to older adults' intended use of long-term care services. This study empirically recruited 239 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years in China and explored factors influencing their intended use of four types of long-term care (basic life care, basic medical care, rehabilitation care, and psychological care) based on the Andersen behavioral model (i.e., predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and need factors). The results showed that older adults were most likely to use psychological care. Age (as the predisposing characteristic) was the significant predictor of the intended use of four types of care. Regarding the intended use of basic life care, the enabling resources of marital status, household composition, income, as well as need factors of preference for the care setting, were influential. Moreover, income and need factors of self-rated physical health status were only two variables associated with the intended use of basic medical care. Concerning the intended use of rehabilitation care, household composition, income, self-rated physical health status, and preference for the care setting were significant predictors. The intended use of psychological care was influenced by enabling resources of marital status, household composition, and need factors of self-rated physical health status, preference for the care setting, and preference for the caregiver. These results can promote the sensitivity of policymakers and caregivers to the community-dwelling older adults' intended use of long-term care and contribute to the delivery of appropriate care services by public policy.

A Systematic Review of Wearable Sensor-Based Technologies for Fall Risk Assessment in Older Adults

Falls have been recognized as the major cause of accidental death and injury in people aged 65 and above. The timely prediction of fall risks can help identify older adults prone to falls and implement preventive interventions. Recent advancements in wearable sensor-based technologies and big data analysis have spurred the development of accurate, affordable, and easy-to-use approaches to fall risk assessment. The objective of this study was to systematically assess the current state of wearable sensor-based technologies for fall risk assessment among community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-five of 614 identified research articles were included in this review. A comprehensive comparison was conducted to evaluate these approaches from several perspectives. In general, these approaches provide an accurate and effective surrogate for fall risk assessment. The accuracy of fall risk prediction can be influenced by various factors such as sensor location, sensor type, features utilized, and data processing and modeling techniques. Features constructed from the raw signals are essential for predictive model development. However, more investigations are needed to identify distinct, clinically interpretable features and develop a general framework for fall risk assessment based on the integration of sensor technologies and data modeling.

Associations between apathy and comprehensive frailty as assessed by the Kihon Checklist among community-dwelling Japanese older adults

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a multidimensional condition characterised by reduced physical and psychological resilience. Older adults also frequently demonstrate apathy, suggesting that it shares similar neuro-physiological pathways with frailty. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between apathy and frailty as defined by a comprehensive assessment.

METHODS

We analyzed 882 older adults (mean age: 74.4 ± 6.4 years; 62.1% female) who participated in a community-based health check survey (Tarumizu Study). Apathy was measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-3A, a three-item subset of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and frailty by the Kihon Checklist of physical, psychological, functional, and social status. Associations were examined by multinomial logistic regression with frailty status (robust, pre-frailty, frailty) as the dependent variable, apathy as the independent variable, and sociodemographic factors, medications, cognitive function, functional capacity, and mood symptoms as potential confounders.

RESULTS

Apathy was observed in 23.7% of individuals, and logistic regression revealed significant associations with both pre-frailty and frailty after confounder adjustment (pre-frailty: odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.22-2.64; frailty: OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.63-6.42). Participants with apathy also exhibited greater deficits in the Kihon Checklist subdomains instrumental activities of daily living (P = 0.022), physical function (P < 0.001), oral function (P < 0.001), and cognitive function (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the importance of comprehensive frailty assessment and demonstrate that apathy can have pervasive deleterious effects on geriatric health.

Engaging community-dwelling older adults as co-developers in a public outdoor exercise facilities-based physical activity education intervention: A mixed-method participatory study in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, an increasing number of outdoor exercise facilities have been established in public open spaces to promote physical activity (PA) in older adults. However, no intervention is dedicated in educating the public on how to make use of these resources to fulfil the PA guidelines based on behavioural change theory. This study has two phases, phase one aims to describe the participatory development of the intervention, and phase two is the evaluation of a public outdoor exercise facilities-based PA education intervention for community-dwelling older adults. A mixed-methods participatory design was used to evaluate the impact of the intervention. PA behaviour was assessed as the fulfilment of the PA recommendations by World Health Organization, and the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) scale at baseline, immediately, and 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Psychosocial constructs and physical assessments were carried out at both pre- and post-intervention. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted at post-intervention. Forty-seven participants were enrolled in the intervention. The average adherence rate was 90.87%. PA significantly increased after the intervention and remained elevated for the following 6 months. Post-intervention, the qualitative findings supported the quantitative findings at both the individual and social levels. However, findings regarding the change in participants' usage of environmental resources were divergent. The intervention was well-received by the participating older adults, as reflected by the high adherence rate. Both quantitative and qualitative data demonstrated the overall impacts of the intervention for creating sustainable changes in PA behaviour.

Effects of Home-Based Nine-Square Step Exercises for Fall Prevention in Thai Community-Dwelling Older Adults during a COVID-19 Lockdown: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

The deterioration of muscle strength in aging has been associated with fall risks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were restricted from doing outdoor activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Nine-Square Step Exercises (NSSE) on improving physical performance and balance in older adults at risk of falling. We conducted an open-labelled, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial in 46 (aged 65-84 years) community-dwelling older adults. They were randomly assigned to an NSSE group (n = 24) instructed to perform the program for at least 45 days over 8 weeks or a control group (n = 22). The outcomes were measured by the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand test (FTSS), and hand grip strength during the baseline, 4th and 8th weeks in both groups. A mixed-effect linear regression model analysis was performed to estimate the independent effect of NSSE by the intention-to-treat over the 8-week period. The NSSE group showed significant weekly changes in BBS (β 0.57, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.84), TUG (β -0.44, 95% CI: -0.74, -0.14), and FTSS (β -0.52, 95% CI: -0.78, -0.25), demonstrating beneficial improvements in lower extremity and balance, whereas the control group did not demonstrate significant changes over time in any parameter.

Relationship between Fatigue and Self-Perception of Constipation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fatigue and constipation are common symptoms among community-dwelling older adults; however, no studies have explored the relationship between both symptoms in said group. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between fatigue and self-perception of constipation in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 97 older people (response rate: 73.2%) between July and November 2021. Backward−forward stepwise linear regression was performed to identify possible predictors of fatigue among the explanatory variable (self-perception of constipation) and possible confounders, which included (a) age, (b) motor fitness scale, (c) economic satisfaction, (d) subjective memory impairment, (e) subjective health, (f) depression, (g) living alone or not, (h) sex, and (i) frequency of exercise. The intercept of the fatigue score was 42.48 points (95% CI = 32.40 to 49.99, p < 0.001). The results showed that the fatigue score in community-dwelling older adults who had self-perception of constipation was significantly lower (i.e., they had higher fatigue; B = −4.49, 95% CI = −6.58 to −2.40, p < 0.001) compared to those who did not have self-perception of constipation. Therefore, there is a need to develop self-management strategies that older people can use to improve the self-perception of constipation.

Supported Web-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Older Family Caregivers (CareACT) Compared to Usual Care

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based web-intervention (Group 1, CareACT), or a standardized rehabilitation in a rehabilitation center (Group 2) was effective in enhancing the psychological well-being of family caregivers aged 60 and over compared to support provided by voluntary caregiver associations (Group 3).

METHODS

Altogether, 149 family caregivers participated in this quasi-experimental study. Primary outcome measure was depression. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, sense of coherence, quality of life, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, and thought suppression. The questionnaires were administered at baseline, and four, and 10 months post-measurement. We investigated differences in the changes between the groups using Mplus modeling techniques.

RESULTS

Regarding the main outcome of depression, the results suggest that the CareACT intervention was superior to standardized rehabilitation and to the support given by caregiver associations at four months, both showing a medium-sized difference between the groups. However, the change from four to 10 months post-intervention was not significantly different between these groups (d = 0.32-0.36). Thought suppression showed a significantly different change between the three groups from baseline to four months and to 10 months post-measurement (p = .038).

CONCLUSIONS

Web-based ACT may have beneficial effects on depressive symptoms and thought suppression in older caregivers.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Web-based ACT could be a feasible alternative to institutional rehabilitation and support provided by voluntary caregiver associations. Web-based ACT responds flexibly to the needs of caregivers and provides them an opportunity for learning new skills to promote well-being.

Adapting the Namaste Care Program for Use with Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Moderate to Advanced Dementia: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Family/friend caregivers are highly involved in supporting older adults with dementia who are 65 years of age or older with daily activities, especially when these older adults with dementia are living at home. There is a need for psychosocial interventions for caregivers of older adults with moderate to advanced dementia, as most interventions focus on persons at earlier stages. Namaste Care is a psychosocial, multisensory program intended to enhance quality of life for people with advanced dementia and their caregivers; however, it has not yet been adapted for use in a home setting. In this study, caregivers collaborated in adapting Namaste Care during workshops so that it could be delivered by caregivers of older adults with moderate to advanced dementia at home. Key findings were that Namaste Care resonated with the daily activities of caregivers, but that the intervention required modifications to ensure that it could be tailored to the needs and realities of caregivers and persons with dementia.

Path Model Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Older Thais Living in Rural Areas

Depressive symptoms are complex and are often more severe in older people. However, there is limited research exploring the causal relationships between depression and its associated factors in the geriatric population, particularly in Thailand. We aimed to evaluate the direction of these complex relationships in the Thai population. A cross-sectional design was conducted on 312 Thai community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or above who registered for primary care services. The participants were recruited from July 2019 to January 2020, and they responded to standard assessments. The relationships between pain, the number of medications, frailty, locomotive syndrome, and depressive symptoms were investigated using path analysis. The results showed that most participants were women and had multiple diseases, mild pain, frailty, and grade I−II locomotive syndrome. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 16%. The model showed significant positive direct and indirect paths from locomotive syndrome to depressive symptoms (β = 0.296, p < 0.01; β = 0.099, p < 0.01, respectively). There was a significant positive direct path from frailty to depressive symptoms (β = 0.219, p < 0.01) and a significant positive indirect path from pain to depressive symptoms (β = 0.096, p < 0.01).

A Legal Mapping Analysis and Model Bylaw of Massachusetts Municipal Accessory Dwelling Units

Adapting the built-environment to include an accessory-dwelling unit (ADU) is one alternative housing solution for community-dwelling older adults (CDOA) to age-in-place and avoid institutionalization. ADUs are one form of the built-environment in which the field of public health law can intervene to accommodate population aging. Under Massachusetts law MGL c. 40A, the state gives authority to municipalities to adopt zoning bylaws to regulate the use of land, buildings, and structures. A legal mapping content analysis was employed to quantify Massachusetts municipalities' (N=351) ADU zoning ordinances using the ADU Friendliness Score instrument and to describe the characteristics of ADU availability across the state. Results are organized into four ordinal categories of POOR (score 0-24; 24%), FAIR (score 25-49; 8.5%), GOOD (score 50-74; 53%), and EXCELLENT (score 75-100%; 13.5%). An age-and-disability specific model ADU bylaw is reported as an outcome of this research.

A mini-flipped, game-based Mediterranean diet learning program on dietary behavior and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

The Mediterranean diet has been recommended to delay cognitive decline, but adherence to the diet among older adults remain poor, and research on interventions that effectively promote the diet has been inconclusive. This study examined the effects of a mini-flipped, game-based Mediterranean diet learning program in improving dietary behavior and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted. The experimental group completed an 8-week, mini-flipped, game-based learning program. Data were collected at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention. Outcome measures included dietary behavior, global cognitive function, and subjective cognitive dysfunction. Compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited significantly improved Mediterranean diet behavior and global cognitive function after the intervention, although there was no significant difference in subjective cognitive function. Future research should be conducted with larger populations and longer-term follow-up to evaluate the effect of this learning program.

Are the Physical and Cognitive Functions of Older Adults Affected by Having a Driver's License?-A Pilot Study of Suburban Dwellers

Previous studies have frequently reported that those with a driver’s license have better physical and cognitive functions than those without. However, there are many people in the world who do not need or who cannot have a driver’s license. We hypothesized that if the non-driver’s license group had the same or better physical and cognitive functioning as the driver’s license group, they could lead healthy lives without the risk of functional decline or loss of functioning due to surrendering their licenses or giving up driving. The subjects were 47 community-dwelling older adults. We measured their physical function and cognitive function and performed psychological assessment via the following tests: grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, walking speed, Five Times Sit to Stand test, Functional Reach test, Two-Step Test, Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test, Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. In previous studies, it has been said that having a driver’s license provides good physical, cognitive, and psychological functions. However, in this study, loneliness and executive function were strongly influenced by age and sex, and no direct relationship to a driver’s license was suggested. Rather, non-driver license holders may be relieved because there is no risk of accidents due to driving, and there is no possibility of a suddenly decline in physical or cognitive function due to revocation of a driver’s license.

The Impact of Social Network Characteristics on Health among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Korea: Application of Social Network Analysis

Objectives: Population aging is a reality in most developed countries. In this era, an important health issue for these countries is promoting health and quality of life in the elderly population. Older adults’ social networks are associated with health and quality of life. Therefore, this study examines the association between the characteristics of social networks (friendship networks) and the subjective well-being of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study was conducted between June 2015 and August 2015 with a total of 146 participants. The size and density of social networks were analyzed using social network analysis. Additionally, to investigate the impact of social networks on health, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed using NetMiner 4.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In terms of Model 1, which used social network characteristics as variables, the higher the out-degree (376.161) and in-closeness (201.825), the better the health. In contrast, the higher the in-degree (−279.167) and out-closeness (−52.620), the poorer the health. Regarding Model 2, which used sociodemographic characteristics as variables, the higher the out-degree (218.747) and in-closeness (170.075), the better the health. In addition, religion had a negative effect on health, and a high level of education had a positive effect on health. Conclusions: The findings suggest that higher out-degree and in-closeness intensity positively affect the health of older adults, but higher in-degree and out-closeness intensity negatively affect health. Therefore, health professionals should use appropriate strategies to increase the strength of social networks to improve the health of older adults living in the community.

Reasons for repeated emergency department visits among community-dwelling older adults with dementia in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Community-dwelling older adults living with dementia visit the emergency department (ED) more frequently than other older adults, but research on the reasons for repeated visits is lacking. We examined the rate of repeated ED visits and reasons for visits in a cohort of individuals with dementia.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults (≥66 years) living with dementia in Ontario, Canada, who visited the ED and were discharged home between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2019. We calculated the proportion of the population with one, two, and three or more repeat ED visits within 1 year of the baseline visit and the categorized the reason for the visits.

RESULTS

Our cohort contained 175,863 individuals with dementia who visited the ED at least once. Overall, 66.1% returned at least once to the ED within 1 year, 39.4% returned twice, and 23.5% returned 3 or more times. Visit reasons were heterogenous and were most frequently related to general signs and symptoms (25.3%) while being infrequently due to cognitive or behavioral reasons (5.9%). Individuals typically visited for different reasons across successive visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-dwelling older adults with dementia who visited an ED were very likely to return to the ED within a year, with a substantial proportion visiting multiple times. The high frequency of repeated visits for different reasons highlights the complexity of caring for this population and indicates greater need for comprehensive community and primary care as well as timely communication between the ED and the community.

Relationship between Personality and Mortality among Japanese Older Adults: A 14-Year Longitudinal Study

Personality is one of the fundamental factors in determining longevity. We used a 14-year mortality surveillance to investigate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and all-cause mortality among older adults dwelling in a Japanese community. Individuals over 65 years old (484 males and 743 females) were recruited for the study. We used the NEO Five-Factor Inventory to assess the Big Five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. During the follow-up period, 502 persons (250 men and 252 women) had died. Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for covariates showed that extraversion (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.783, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.636 to 0.965 and HR = 0.757, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.944 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively), openness (HR = 0.768, 95% CI = 0.608 to 0.969 for the highest tertile), and conscientiousness (HR = 0.745, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.913 and HR = 0.667, 95% CI = 0.530 to 0.840 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively) were inversely associated with mortality when the five traits were analyzed separately. Our findings suggest that older adults who have a higher level of either extraversion, openness, or conscientiousness are more likely to live longer.

Oral frailty and carriage of oral Candida in community-dwelling older adults (Check-up to discover Health with Energy for senior Residents in Iwamizawa; CHEER Iwamizawa)

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between oral frailty and oral Candida carriage as a general indicator of deteriorating oral function in older adults.

BACKGROUND

Older adults exhibit an elevated risk of oral candidiasis caused by Candida. Although many studies have identified factors associated with oral Candida carriage, none have evaluated its relationship with oral function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 210 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years who participated in wellness checks. Fungal flora expression in saliva samples was evaluated to identify oral C. albicans and C. glabrata. Participants were categorised by detection of neither strain (group 1), either one of the strains (group 2), or both strains (group 3). The relationship between oral Candida carriage and oral frailty was evaluated by multinomial logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The participants included 58 men and 152 women with a mean age of 74.2 ± 6.1 years. A total of 88 (41.9%), 94 (44.8%) and 28 (13.3%) participants were assigned to groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, significant associations were observed between group 1 and group 2 for "Have you choked on your tea or soup recently?" and the number of applicable oral frailty items. Between group 1 and group 3, significant associations were observed for the number of remaining teeth, masticatory performance and the number of applicable oral frailty items.

CONCLUSION

We obtained basic data useful for intervention studies aimed at verifying whether oral function management prevents deterioration of the oral bacterial flora.

Interactive effects of exercise and sleep on frailty severity in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study examined the effects of the interaction between exercise and sleep on frailty severity in community-dwelling older adults.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected in July 2019. In total, 2021 adults participated who responded to a questionnaire. Among them, 672 participants (317 men and 355 women) with valid responses were included in the analysis. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between frailty severity and the interaction between exercise and sleep. The dependent variable represents three different levels of frailty. The independent variables included basic information and interaction between exercise and sleep.

Results: The results of ordinal logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR]) showed that the period from the start of exercise (OR=0.96), age (OR=1.00 for participants in their 60 s, OR=1.65 for those in their 70s, and OR=3.13 for those aged >80 years), poor subjective health perception (OR=2.12), poor quality of sleep (OR=1.88), stress (OR=1.62), and exercise–sleep interaction (OR=1.00 based on good-exercise–good-sleep interaction, OR=3.09 poor-exercise–good-sleep interaction, and OR=3.50 poor-exercise–poor-sleep interaction) significantly contributed to the model. The Nagelkerke coefficient of determination adjusted for degrees-of-freedom (R²), which represents the contribution rate of the regression equation, was 0.334.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that a combination of good exercise and good sleep is needed to prevent frailty progression in community-dwelling older adults.

Effects of consultation for voiding behavior on nocturnal urination status of older adults living alone: A preliminary study

Nocturia and its related arousal may impair the quality of life and increase the risk of falls in older adults. This study aimed to clarify the change in urination status during the main sleeping period within 1 year. We also aimed to examine the effects of a consultation for voiding behavior in addition to the traditional behavioral therapy on urination status during sleep in a group of independent community-dwelling older adults. A single-arm intervention study was conducted in 10 older adults, with a mean age of 80.1 years and nocturia frequency of 1-4 times/day. Natural changes in urination status were observed between 2016 and 2017. Participants received traditional behavioral therapy and a consultation related to voiding behavior four times from summer 2017 to spring 2018. Urination status was monitored using sensing devices placed in the participant's home. The average time staying in the toilet significantly increased after 1 year. Although this parameter significantly decreased after the first consultation in 2017, this change was not observed with the subsequent consultation. A combination of traditional behavioral therapy and consultation for voiding behavior may be effective in improving urination status during the main sleeping period.

How spousal physical abuse impacts suicidal ideation among community-dwelling older adults: the effects of protective factors

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact on suicidal ideation (SI) of having experienced spousal physical abuse and the possible effects of protective factors on the relationship between depressive symptoms and SI among community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

Using Wisconsin Longitudinal Study data (N = 6,125), a path analysis was conducted to examine the impact of spousal physical abuse on SI and test the possible effects of protective factors.

RESULTS

First, the experience of spousal physical abuse had a significant impact on both depressive symptoms and SI. Second, problem-focused coping, social support, and having a family confidant reduced depressive symptoms directly and mitigated SI indirectly. Third, emotional-focused coping had both direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms and SI, leading to increases in both. Fourth, although the practical significance may be small, emotional-focused coping worked as a moderator between depressive symptoms and SI.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions are necessary to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors of depressive symptoms and SI among older adults. In addition, regular screening tests of Intimate Partner Violence, depressive symptoms and SI are recommended.

Corrigendum: Sex-Specific Differences in the Effect of Free Testosterone on Sarcopenia Components in Older Adults

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.695614.].

Identification of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Shoulder Dysfunction: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Survey

Introduction

The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) survey estimates the upper limbs' dysfunction in one score, but limited evidence exists to justify use of DASH to screen older adults for shoulder dysfunction at routine health maintenance primary care visits. We sought (1) to determine if the DASH, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) surveys are related to one another and (2) to determine the relationship of DASH, ASES and SST scores with 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) subscales, shoulder forward flexion range of motion (FF-ROM) and abduction (ABD-ROM) in older adults.

Methods

Prospective pilot study of 23 community-dwelling adult volunteers [mean age (± standard deviation), 69.3 ± 6.7 years; range, 61-84 years, with no rotator cuff repair or joint replacement. Shoulder MRI, ROM testing, DASH, ASES, SST, SF-36, Katz activities of daily living (ADLs), and Lawton-Brody instrumental ADLs (IADLs) were completed at one time point. Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed.

Results

Means: DASH, 17.4 ± 19.5; ASES, 81.3 ± 19.7; SST, 71.7 ± 28.5; Katz ADLs, 5.9 ± .3; Lawton-Brody IADLs, 8.0 ± .0; FF-ROM, 140.2° ± 31.5°; and ABD-ROM, 128.3° ± 31.9°. Nearly 48% had supraspinatus tendon tear. Correlation among DASH, ASES, and SST was strong (|rho ≥.88|; P < .001). DASH, ASES, and SST had strong correlation (|rho ≥.71|;P < .001) with shoulder FF-ROM and ABD-ROM. DASH had near equivalent or slightly stronger correlation for all SF-36 subscales relative to ASES and SST. DASH showed strong or moderate correlation (P < .05) to most SF-36 subscales.

Conclusion

DASH, ASES and SST strongly correlated with one another. DASH, relative to ASES and SST, has similar correlation to shoulder FF-ROM, ABD-ROM and SF-36 subscales in older adults. Our pilot study suggests that the DASH survey has potential utility to identify occult shoulder dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults who have normal Katz ADLs and Lawton-Brody IADLs if administered during routine health maintenance primary care visits.

Impact of Health Literacy on the Progression of Frailty after 4 Years among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Health literacy (HL) promotes healthy lifestyle behaviors among older adults, and its relationship with frailty remains unclear. This study examined whether HL is a predictor of frailty progression among community-dwelling older adults. Data from two surveys conducted in 2012 and 2016 involving older residents (mean age, 71.6 ± 4.6 years) of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan were used. Only healthy individuals without frailty and cognitive impairments participated in the 2012 assessment, where the Kihon Checklist (KCL), HL, and other variables were assessed. Logistic and multiple logistic analyses were used to assess the effects of HL and other factors on frailty between the 'high HL' vs. 'low HL' groups in 2012 and between the 'robust' vs. 'frailty-progressing' groups in 2016. Of the 621 robust participants, 154 (25.4%) had progression of frailty in 2016, which was significantly associated with advanced age, higher KCL score, lower HL, poor mental health, and lack of social support. Furthermore, low HL was a predictor of frailty progression. Low HL may be associated with frailty progression. The obtained results suggest that increased health literacy should be effective in preventing frailty for community-dwelling older residents.