Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the SARC-F in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

(1) Background: The goal of this study was to analyze the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the SARC-F in older adults. (2) Methods: A total of 100 participants (77.1 ± 7.36 years, 73% women) were included in the study. In a first phase, the Portuguese SARC-F was adapted following the standardized forward-backward translation procedure, and internal consistency as well as inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the Portuguese SARC-F were analyzed. Secondly, clinical validation was evaluated by comparing the SARC-F total score with five operational definitions of sarcopenia and with other sarcopenia-related measurements. Discriminant validity, with respect to low muscle mass and strength and physical function were analyzed. (3) Results: The Portuguese SAR-F showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.82), excellent inter-rater reliability (total score), and substantial to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.891 for the total score). Specificity ranged from 72.5% (FNIH) to 73.4 (IGWS), and negative predictive values went from 91.8% (EWGSOP1) to 97.3% (FNIH), but low sensitivity and positive predictive value were observed. The Portuguese SARC-F showed a moderate ability to discriminate people with low muscle strength (AUC = 0.78) and gait speed (AUC = 0.89). (4) Conclusions: The Portuguese SARC-F is a valid and reliable tool for ruling out sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can discriminate between people with low handgrip strength and gait speed.

Associations between the severity of menopausal symptoms and musculoskeletal pain in postmenopausal Portuguese women.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of the severity of the menopausal symptoms with musculoskeletal pain in Portuguese postmenopausal women. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 167 women (63.85 ± 9.36 years). The Menopause Rating Scale was used to evaluate the menopausal symptoms severity, while the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was employed to assess the localization of the musculoskeletal pain, and multi-located pain was determined if two or more body regions were affected. Depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), age, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity level were considered as potential confounders. RESULTS: A greater severity of the somato-vegetative menopausal symptoms was related to the prevention from usual activities because of pain in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists/hands and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.064, 0.043, 0.074, 0.045 and 0.045, respectively). Associations were also observed between greater age and pain in the knees, ankles and feet (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.036 and 0.034, respectively), and being physically inactive with upper back pain (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.060). Higher depressive symptoms were linked to pain in the hip/thighs and knees (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.067 and 0.085, respectively), as well as being physically inactive was related ton in the neck (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.053). Only a greater BMI was related to multi-located pain in the last 7 days (R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study showed that, taking into account possible confounders, greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a somatic-vegetative level was associated with more anatomical regions with musculoskeletal pain.

Associations between the impact of menopausal symptoms and fall-related self-efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the severity of menopausal symptoms and two important fall risk factors, namely balance confidence and fear of falling, among Portuguese and Spanish postmenopausal women 65 years or older. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 363 women (66.21 ± 9.00 y) from several Portuguese and Spanish locations. The Menopause Rating Scale was used to evaluate the severity of menopausal symptoms, while the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale-16 items were used to assess balance confidence and fear of falling, respectively. Anxiety and depression (evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), age, time since the onset of menopause, body mass index, history of falls, osteoporosis, smoking habit, physical activity level, and nocturia were considered as potential confounders. Independent associations were analyzed after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Student's t test, bivariate correlations, and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 363 women (66.21 ± 9.00 y) participated in the study, 192 from Portugal and 171 from Spain. Linear regression analysis indicates that more severe menopausal symptoms at a somatovegetative level (beta coefficient [ß] = -0.25; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -2.09 to -0.81; P = <0.001), a higher body mass index (ß = -0.16; 95% CI, -1.22 to -0.22; P = 0.005), and osteoporosis (ß = 0.14; 95% CI, 1.36 to 10.08; P = 0.010) were associated with lower balance confidence values. On the other hand, a higher score in the Menopause Rating Scale somatovegetative domain (ß = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.27-0.79; P = <0.001), depression (ß = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.59-1.08; P = <0.001), and years after the menopause onset (ß = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.04-0.22; P = 0.006) were linked to increased fear of falling. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study show that, after taking into account possible confounders, increased severity of menopausal symptoms at a somatic level was associated with heightened fear of falling and diminished balance confidence.

Psychometric properties and validity of the Menopause Rating Scale in postmenopausal Portuguese women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to analyze the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) among postmenopausal Portuguese women. METHODS: A total of 184 postmenopausal women completed the Portuguese MRS. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were studied. Construct, convergent, and concurrent validity were assessed. The 10-item Cervantes Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to determine convergent and concurrent validity, respectively. The ability and accuracy of the Portuguese MRS to discriminate between women with and without anxiety and depression cases were evaluated, and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used. RESULTS: The Portuguese MRS showed an appropriate level of internal consistency (Cronbach α, 0.84 for MRS total score) and test-retest reliability (MRS total score; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.96). Factor analysis (construct validity) revealed a 3-factor structure (explained variance of 62.08%). The MRS total score and its 3 factors showed good convergent (10-item Cervantes Scale) and concurrent (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety and depression) validity (all P < 0.001). The Portuguese MRS total score was significantly able to discriminate between postmenopausal women with and without anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P = 0.001), with a cutoff point of 15.50 (80.00% sensitivity and 63.70% specificity) for detecting depression and a cutoff point of 16.50 (82.35% sensitivity and 78.57% specificity) for identifying anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese MRS has been shown to be a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing the severity of menopausal symptoms and discriminating among postmenopausal women with and without anxiety and depression.

Qigong for mental health and sleep quality in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is one of the stages in a woman's life that affects her psychological health, the most frequent being anxiety and depression. In addition, another problem related to this stage is the lack of sleep that causes a decrease in the quality of sleep. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to analyze the effectiveness of a Qigong exercise program on sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in Spanish postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 125 women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) (n = 63) that carried out a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, or a control group (CG) (n = 62), which did not perform any type of intervention. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Women who underwent an intervention program experienced significant improvements for all measured variables, except for the use of sleeping medication and daytime dysfunctions that did not show any significant effect with respect to the group and group × time interaction. CONCLUSIONS: After an intervention based on a BaDuanJin Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks, improvements were observed in sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, the total score of the PSQI, anxiety and depression in postmenopausal Spanish women.

Cognitive Stimulation as Alternative Treatment to Improve Psychological Disorders in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

(1) Background: Mild cognitive impairment is becoming one of the most common clinical manifestations affecting older people. For this reason, developing non-pharmacological strategies to help improve or maintain the physical condition of patients with mild dementia has become a priority. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide evidence about the effects of a cognitive stimulation program on cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and aged > 70. (2) Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 72 elderly people with MCI participated: 35 in the control group who did not receive any intervention and 36 in the experimental group who received a cognitive stimulation program for 12 weeks. Cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale, and the SF-12, respectively. (3) Results: In the experimental group, significant results were obtained on cognitive performance, depression, anxiety and general health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality, mental health and mental component summary domains of the SF-12. (4) Conclusions: a cognitive stimulation program of 12 weeks improves cognitive performance, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL in people with MCI aged > 70.

Changes in satisfaction with female genital self-image and sexual function after a Qigong exercise intervention in Spanish postmenopausal women: a randomized-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of a Qigong exercise program on satisfaction with female genital self-image and female sexual function in postmenopausal Spanish women. METHODS: A total of 49 women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 22) that carried out training based on Qigong exercises for 12 weeks and a control group (n = 27) that did not carry out any type of intervention. Female genital self-image was measured through the Female Genital Self-Tmage Scale and female sexual function through the Female Sexual Function Tndex; both variables were measured before and just after the intervention. RESULTS: Results showed that women who participated in the Qigong exercise program showed significant improvements with respect to female genital self-image, as well as in the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction, and pain and the total score of the Female Sexual Function Index, but, on the contrary, were not found in the orgasm domain. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Qigong has the potential to improve female genital self-image and female sexual function among postmenopausal Spanish women.

Menopausal Symptoms, Postural Balance, and Functional Mobility in Middle-Aged Postmenopausal Women.

The aim of the present study was to determine the associations between the severity of the menopausal symptoms and postural balance and functional mobility in middle-aged postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was performed (171 participants, 57.18 ± 4.68 years). Severity of the menopausal symptoms (on the Menopause Rating Scale), postural balance (stabilometric platform) with eyes open and closed, and functional mobility (timed up and go test) were determined. A multivariate linear regression was performed, with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, age and fall history as possible confounders. Our findings showed that a greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a psychological level was associated, under both eyes open and closed conditions, with worse postural control assessed by the length of the stabilogram (adjusted R2 = 0.093 and 0.91, respectively), the anteroposterior center of pressure displacements (adjusted R2 = 0.051 and 0.031, respectively) and the center of pressure velocity (adjusted R2 = 0.065 for both conditions). Older age was related to greater mediolateral displacements of the center of pressure with eyes open and closed (adjusted R2 = 0.45 and 0.58, respectively). There were no associations between the menopausal symptoms' severity and functional mobility. We can conclude that a greater severity of psychological menopausal symptoms was independently associated with worse postural balance in middle-aged postmenopausal women.

Qigong for Muscle Strength and Static Postural Control in Middle-Aged and Older Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of a Qigong exercise program on the muscle strength and postural control in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women. This is a randomized clinical trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03989453) conducted on 125 women who were initially assigned to either an experimental group (n = 63) that performed a Qigong exercise program for 12 weeks or to a control group (n = 62) that did not receive any intervention. Muscle strength (dynamometer) and postural control (stabilometric platform) were evaluated before and immediately after an intervention period. The main findings of this study suggest that the women in the experimental group had improvements in muscle strength, mean velocity of the displacement of the center of pressure (CoP) with both eyes open and closed, and the surface sway area covered by the CoP, as well as the mediolateral and anteroposterior oscillations of the CoP, only with eyes open. The results of the present study determined that a 12 week Qigong exercise program has beneficial effects on muscle strength and postural control of middle-aged and older postmenopausal Spanish women.