Temporal trends in impairments of physical function among older adults during 2001-16 in Sweden: towards a healthier ageing

Functional fitness trends among older adults in Portugal between 2008 and 2018: Keeping up with a healthy aging process

OBJECTIVES

Maintaining a healthy aging process is vital to combating and delaying the adverse health outcomes faced by the growing older adult population, where a key aspect to achieving healthy aging is the preservation of functional fitness. This study aims to present trends on the functional fitness of Portuguese older adults between 2008 and 2018 and build new normative reference standards for the Senior Fitness Battery Tests.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Functional fitness was measured with the Senior Fitness Battery Tests in two national representative cohorts of the Portuguese older adult population (≥65 years) using the 2008 (n = 4712) and 2018 (n = 2717) surveys. Changes were assessed according to sex and age group. Sex and age-group normative fitness scores were developed.

RESULTS

Overall findings suggested that older adults' point prevalence for arm-curl, 8-ft up-and-go, and 30-s chair sit-to-stand remained stable between 2008 and 2018, with declining trends being observed for the 6-min walk and back-scratch tests. However, results for trends varied when stratified by sex and age categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a trend toward a stabilization of most of the functional fitness tests over the past decade, but with a critical decline in the 6-min walk test. Thus, this test should be targeted by future health-care policies. Moreover, this investigation provides new and updated normative reference standards for the Senior Fitness Battery Tests that should be used as a tool to promote a healthy aging process among Portuguese older adults.

Sarcopenia prevalence in patients with cancer and association with adverse prognosis: A nationwide survey on common cancers

OBJECTIVE

Although previous studies have implicated the negative outcomes of sarcopenia, evidence is limited to one or a few types of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and influencing factors of sarcopenia, and explore the relationship between sarcopenia and cancer prognosis in a large oncological population.

METHODS

This observational cohort study included patients diagnosed with malignant cancer between May 2011 and January 2019. Hematologic and anthropometric parameters were collected prospectively. Low skeletal muscle mass and radiodensity were diagnosed using clinical indicators, according to the two prediction models. The importance of potential risk factors for sarcopenia was estimated by subtracting the predicted degrees of freedom from the partial χ2 statistic. Hazard rates of death were calculated using the hazard function and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

We included 13 761 patients with cancer; the prevalence of sarcopenia was 33%. The median age was 58 y and 7135 patients (52%) were men. Patients with sarcopenia had a worse nutritional status and quality of life than those without sarcopenia. Age was the most important risk factor for sarcopenia compared with body mass index or TNM stage. Additionally, patients with sarcopenia had a significantly higher and earlier peak risk for mortality. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, sarcopenia was independently associated with mortality in the research population (hazard ratio, 1.429; P < 0.001) and most cancer types.

CONCLUSION

Age is the most important risk factor for sarcopenia even in patients with cancer. Sarcopenia is strongly associated with a poor quality of life and reduced overall survival.

Quality of life of older gynecologic oncology patients at the initiation of chemotherapy

AIM

To evaluate older gynecologic oncology patients' quality of life (QOL) at the initiation of chemotherapy and compare their QOL scores with a female age-matched general population (GP) sample.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

METHODS

Older (n = 122) gynecologic oncology patients completed the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) that evaluates global health and five functional scales (range from 0 to 100). Differences in QOL scores between our sample and the GP were evaluated using one-sample t-tests and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age was 70.7 years (±6.6). Mean scores for the function scales ranged from 58.5 (±31.1) for role function to 86.1 (±17.0) for cognitive function. Compared to the GP, our sample reported significantly lower scores for global health status, social, role and physical functioning, and a significantly higher score for cognitive functioning. No differences were found in emotional functioning scores.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

One-Year Change in the Physical Functioning of Older People According to the International Classification of Functioning Domains

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It is important to determine physical functioning declines in older people according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, given its advantages. This study was performed to investigate 1-year changes in the physical functioning of older people using the ICF framework.

METHODS

Eighty older people were enrolled and completed baseline measures in this longitudinal, single-group study while 33 of these participants were reassessed at 1 year. Reliable and valid methods commonly used in geriatric rehabilitation settings for determining physical functioning were applied to evaluate ICF domains including Body Functions, Activities (capacity), and Activities and Participation (performance). Body Functions were assessed by measuring lower extremity muscle strength and exercise tolerance test performance. The Activities (capacity) measures included walking, balance, mobility, sit-to-stand, and upper extremity functional performance. The Activities and Participation (performance) domain included the Falls Efficacy Scale-International, Modified Barthel Index, and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity scale.

RESULTS

There were significant decreases in muscle strength in both hip abductors and knee extensors (P < .001, d > 0.80) at 1 year versus baseline, but there were no significant changes in exercise tolerance test parameters (P > .05, d = 0.44-0.71), with the exception of diastolic blood pressure (P = .019, d = 0.90). Significant deterioration was observed in all Activities (capacity) measures (P < .05, d > 0.80). No significant changes were observed in the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (P = .051, d = 0.72), Modified Barthel Index (P = .107, d = 0.59), or Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity-Flexibility and Strength subscale (P = .763, d = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant declines were seen in lower extremity muscle strength, walking capacity, speed, mobility, sit-to-stand performance, upper extremity function, and balance performance at 1 year. On the contrary, no significant changes were observed in the levels of participation in activities of daily living, activities related to balance, or physical activity. According to the ICF framework, during 1 year, our sample of older people showed declines in the Body Functions and Activities (capacity) domains, but the Activities and Participation (performance) domain remained stable.

Walking speed and balance both improved in older Japanese adults between 1998 and 2018

Background/objective

Physical function, the ability of an individual to carry out physical tasks, is meaningfully related to health among older adults. Few studies have analyzed temporal trends in objective performance measures of physical function for older adults. The aim of this study was to estimate temporal trends in balance and walking speed for older Japanese adults (aged 65–79 years) between 1998 and 2018.

Methods

Annual, cross-sectional, national fitness surveillance data for balance (n = 114,785) and walking speed (n = 112,289) were reported descriptively by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology across the 1998–2018 period. Trends in means were estimated by sample-weighted regression, with trends in variability estimated as the ratio of coefficients of variation.

Results

There was a moderate improvement in both mean balance (standardized effect size (ES) change (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.50 (0.48–0.52)) and mean walking speed (ES change (95%CI): 0.53 (0.51–0.55)). Improvements were seen in all gender and age groups, with small gender-related and negligible age-related temporal differences. Variability declined substantially for both balance (ratio of CVs (95%CI): 0.77 (0.75–0.79)) and walking speed (ratio of CVs (95%CI): 0.87 (0.85–0.89)).

Conclusion

Improved physical performance is suggestive of a corresponding improvement in health. Declines in variability indicate that temporal improvements were not uniform across the distribution.

Secular trends in functional abilities, health and psychological well-being among community-dwelling 75- to 95-year-old cohorts over three decades in Helsinki, Finland

Background: Life expectancy has increased markedly in the past decades. Thus, it is of great importance to understand how people are ageing and if the trajectories of health and disability are changing over time. This study aimed to examine trends in functional abilities and health in independent cohorts of people aged 75–95 over three decades. Methods: This Helsinki Ageing Study consists of repeated cross-sectional postal surveys examining independent cohorts of old people (75, 80, 85 and 90+ years old). This study combined data from four waves (1989, 1999, 2009 and 2019). Results: In the most recent wave, there was an increase in the portion of participants who were able to walk outdoors easily (75-year-olds p=0.03, 80-year-olds p=0.002, 85-year-olds p<0.001; p for linearity for the study year effect, all adjusted for sex). Fewer people in the youngest age group (75-year-olds) needed daily help from another person in 2019 compared to the earlier waves (p=0.02 for linearity for the study year). Over the past three decades, the proportions of self-reported good mobility have risen 8.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3–15.1) in 75-year-olds, 11.7% (95% CI 3.9–19.6) in 80-year-olds and 20.1% (95% CI 10.7–29.4) in 85-year-olds, after adjusting for sex. Furthermore, in 2019, more people rated their health as good and scored better in psychological well-being than in the previous waves among 75-, 80- and 85-year-olds. However, no improvements were found among 90+-year-olds in any of these variables. Conclusions: People between 75 and 85 years old are presently feeling and functioning better than their predecessors. This may be an important objective for both economics and health policy.

Trends in Physical and Cognitive Performance Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Switzerland

BACKGROUND

With population aging, a key question is whether new cohorts of older people are in better health than previous ones. This study aimed to compare the physical and cognitive performance of community-dwelling older adults assessed at similar age in 2005, 2010, and 2015.

METHODS

This repeated cross-sectional analysis used data from the Lausanne cohort 65+, a three random sample population-based study. Performance of participants aged 66-71 years in 2005 (N = 1,309), 2010 (N = 1,253), and 2015 (N = 1,328) was compared using a battery of six physical and four cognitive tests. Analyses included tests for trend across samples and multivariable linear regression models.

RESULTS

Adjusted performance in all four timed physical tests (gait speed, Timed Up-and-Go, five times chair stand, and Moberg Picking-Up) improved across samples from 2005 to 2015, by +12.7% (95% confidence interval {CI} +10.5%; +14.9%) to +20.4% (95% CI +17.7%; +23.0%) in females, and by +10.6% (95% CI +8.7%; +12.4%) to +16.7% (95% CI +13.4%; +20.0%) in males. In contrast, grip strength and balance did not improve across samples. Adjusted cognitive performance showed no change in the Trail Making Test, but worsened significantly across samples for the Mini-Mental State Examination, verbal fluency, and the clock drawing test in both females (-1.9% [95% CI -2.7%; -1.1%] to -6.7% [95% CI -8.9%; -4.6%]) and males (-2.5% [95% CI -3.4%; -1.6%] to -8.0% [95% CI -11.1%; -4.9%]).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the last decade, performance of adults aged 66-71 years improved significantly in timed physical tests but worsened in most cognitive measures among later-born samples.

Working conditions mediate the association between social class and physical function in older age in Sweden: a prospective cohort study

Background

Global demographics are changing as societies all over the world are aging. This puts focus on maintaining functional ability and independence into older age. Individuals from lower social classes are at greater risk of developing limitations in physical function later in life. In this study, we investigated the mediating role of working conditions in the association between occupation-based social class and physical function measured as self-reported mobility limitations and objectively measured physical impairment in older age.

Methods

Two Swedish surveys, linked at the individual level, were used (n = 676–814 depending on the outcome). Follow-up time was 20–24 years. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustments for age, sex, level of education, mobility, and health problems at baseline. This was followed by analyses of the size of the mediating effect of working conditions.

Results

Working conditions seem to mediate 35–74% of the association between social class and physical impairment in older age. The pattern of mediation was primarily driven by passive jobs, i.e., low psychological demands and low control, among blue-collar workers. Working conditions did not mediate the association between social class and self-reported mobility limitations in older age.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that working conditions are important in combating the social gradient in healthy aging, contributing to the evidence regarding the magnitude of impact exerted by both the physical and psychosocial work environment separately and in conjunction.

Changes in the prevalence of chronic disability in China: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVES

Chinese adults are the biggest users of healthcare services, and understanding current trends in disability profiles is relevant to planning healthcare workforce infrastructure. We investigated the trends over time for disability and physical functional limitations from 2011 to 2015 among Chinese adults and identified the factors associated with these limitations.

STUDY DESIGN

We used nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS); the CHARLS participants were followed up every 2 years as they moved from work to retirement with an emphasis on their health status and functional abilities.

METHODS

Participants aged ≥50 years from three waves of the CHARLS were included. Data were collected on physical functioning limitations, disabilities in activities of daily living (ADLs) and disabilities in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to test for changes and factors associated with limitations and disabilities between 2011 and 2015 adjusting for sociodemographic, medical history and health measures.

RESULTS

There were 44,447 eligible participants (mean age: 63 years; standard deviation [SD], 9 years; 51% female). After adjustment, there was no significant increase in reporting of ADLs or IADLs in the 2015 survey compared with the 2011 survey. After adjustment, there was a 26% significant increase in reporting of physical functioning limitations in the 2015 survey compared with the 2011 survey (odds ratio: 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 1.35). Factors associated with ADL disability were being female, being older, minimal education, no alcohol intake in the previous year, falls, fractured hip, feeling depressed and being obese. Factors associated with IADL disabilities were being female, being older, minimal education and feeling depressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese health agencies should consider the growing need for sufficient community services infrastructure to maximise independence, particularly in the context of ageing populations.

Trends of Physical Functioning, Morbidity, and Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among the Oldest Old: Six Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys Between 2001 and 2018 in the Vitality 90+ Study

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether increasing longevity is accompanied by a compression or expansion of poor health and disability. We examined trends of physical functioning and morbidity in a population aged 90 and older, and disease- and disability-free life expectancy (LE) at age 90 between 2001 and 2018 in Finland's third most populated city.

METHODS

We used survey data from the Vitality 90+ Study, which comprises a series of six repeated mailed surveys (7,590 observations). Information on mortality came from Statistics Finland. We examined trends of functioning (activities of daily living [ADL] and mobility) and cardiovascular and dementia morbidity using age-adjusted generalized estimating equation models stratified by sex. In addition, age-, sex-, and period-specific health expectancies were calculated using Sullivan's method.

RESULTS

Over time, functioning improved, especially, in women, and morbidity increased in men. From 2001 to 2018, LE at age 90 increased by 5.3 months for men and 6.4 months for women. LE without ADL disability increased by 5.0 months for men and 8.4 months for women, and LE without mobility disability by 6.0 months for men and 4.4 months for women. LE without cardiovascular and dementia morbidity decreased for men (2.6 months) and increased for women (1.9 months).

CONCLUSIONS

In relative terms, we found a compression of disability for both sexes and an expansion of morbidity for men. Although the trends overall are rather positive, the increase in absolute morbidity and, to some extent, in disability will inevitably mean increasing care needs with population aging.

Trends in life expectancy: did the gap between the healthy and the ill widen or close?

BACKGROUND

During the past decades, life expectancy has continued to increase in most high-income countries. Previous research suggests that improvements in life expectancy have primarily been driven by advances at the upper end of the health distribution, while parts of the population have lagged behind. Using data from the entire Swedish population, this study aims to examine the life expectancy development among subgroups of individuals with a history of common diseases relative to that of the general population.

METHODS

The remaining life expectancy at age 65 was estimated for each year in 1998-2017 among individuals with a history of disease, and for the total Swedish population. We defined population subgroups as individuals with a history of myocardial infarction, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, hip fracture, or colon, breast, or lung cancer. We further distinguished between different educational levels and Charlson comorbidity index scores.

RESULTS

Life expectancy gains have been larger for men and women with a history of myocardial infarction, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, and colon or breast cancer than for the general population. The life expectancy gap between individuals with a history of hip fracture or lung cancer and the general population has, however, been growing. Education and comorbidity have affected mortality levels, but have not altered the rate of increase in life expectancy among individuals with disease history. The female advantage in life expectancy was less pronounced among individuals with disease history than among the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Life expectancy has increased faster in many subpopulations with a history of disease than in the general population, while still remaining at lower levels. Improvements in life expectancy have been observed regardless of comorbidity or educational level. These findings suggest that the rise in overall life expectancy reflects more than just improved survival among the healthy or the delayed onset of disease.

Longitudinal studies of ageing: from insights to impacts: commentary to accompany themed collection on longitudinal studies

'Time is the best diagnostician': who has not thought this? In clinical practice, presentations are often subtle and decisions made in the face of a 'snapshot.' Crystal balls do not exist; yet, insights from longitudinal studies can help to recognise emerging pictures and anticipate typical trajectories. In the multifactorial, biopsychosocial world of geriatrics, the determinants of those trajectories, and hence opportunities to modify them, can be better understood through careful longitudinal disentangling of the wider determinants of health, and this can be done at multiple levels of analysis, from molecules to society. With this collection and commentary, we highlight the approaches, scope and impacts of a selection of longitudinal studies of ageing published in Age and Ageing within the past 10 years. Longitudinal studies can illuminate disease mechanisms, how declines in multiple domains of intrinsic capacity interact, how losses in one domain may influence the path of another, and in turn, how these changes translate to functional disability, or not. Observing trajectories of geriatric syndromes can suggest opportunities for optimisation and prevention in clinical practice and policy. With global opportunities for harmonising data, longitudinal studies are already offering the opportunity for cross-national comparisons and for developing hypotheses about the relative contributions of time, place and society in the trajectories of frailty, disability and quality of life. We also include studies which show how research-based longitudinal data can be synthesised or be linked to administrative datasets. We hope you find this collection as interesting and encouraging as we have.

Performance-based clinical tests of balance and muscle strength used in young seniors: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Many balance and strength tests exist that have been designed for older seniors, often aged ≥70 years. To guide strategies for preventing functional decline, valid and reliable tests are needed to detect early signs of functional decline in young seniors. Currently, little is known about which tests are being used in young seniors and their methodological quality. This two-step review aims to 1) identify commonly used tests of balance and strength, and 2) evaluate their measurement properties in young seniors.

METHODS

First, a systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE to identify primary studies that employed performance-based tests of balance and muscle strength, and which aspects of balance and strength these tests assess in young seniors aged 60-70. Subsequently, for tests used in ≥3 studies, a second search was performed to identify method studies evaluating their measurement properties. The quality of included method studies was evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist.

RESULTS

Of 3454 articles identified, 295 met the inclusion criteria. For the first objective, 69 balance and 51 muscle strength tests were identified, with variations in administration mode and outcome reporting. Twenty-six balance tests and 15 muscle strength tests were used in ≥3 studies, with proactive balance tests and functional muscle power tests used most often. For the second objective, the search revealed 1880 method studies, of which nine studies (using 5 balance tests and 1 strength test) were included for quality assessment. The Timed Up and Go test was evaluated the most (4 studies), while the Community Balance and Mobility (CBM) scale was the second most assessed test (3 studies). For strength, one study assessed the reliability of the Five times sit-to-stand.

CONCLUSION

Commonly used balance and muscle strength tests in young seniors vary greatly with regards to administration mode and outcome reporting. Few studies have evaluated measurement properties of these tests when used in young seniors. There is a need for standardisation of existing tests to improve their informative value and comparability. For measuring balance, the CBM is a new and promising tool to detect even small balance deficits in balance in young seniors.