A new easily accessible and practical method for dynapenia screening: blink rate.

BACKGROUND: The methods used in the diagnosis and screening of sarcopenia are not available everywhere. There is a need for more practical tests that can be used especially in the first step. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the usability of blink rate as an alternative test for dynapenia screening. METHODS: A total of 355 patients ≥ 65 years of age (254 (71.50%) female and 101 (28.50%) male) who were admitted to geriatric outpatient clinic were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Blink rate was positively correlated with grip strength and negatively correlated with SARC-F. Also, it was found that the blink rate was associated with dynapenia independent of other factors. The optimal cut-off value of 15 s blink rate to predict dynapenia was measured as ≤ 40.5, with 70.3% sensitivity and 43.3% specificity. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated the relationship between blink rate with dynapenia and grip strength. Especially in patients with limited mobilization and where it is not possible to reach the hand dynamometer to measure grip strength, the blink rate can be used as an alternative test to detect dynapenia.

May zoledronic acid have negative effects on cognition and muscle performance?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effects of zoledronic acid treatment on daily living activities, cognitive functions, depression, muscle strength, and performance. METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively. Bone mineral densitometry (BMD) values, Katz activities of daily living (ADL), Lawton-Brody instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), mini mental state examination (MMSE), geriatric depression scale (GDS), mini nutritional assessment (MNA), grip strength, and gait speed scores before and 6 months after zoledronic acid administration were compared. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were included in the study. There was a significant increase in lumbar total (p < .001), femoral neck (p = .002), and femur total (p = .001) BMD values after zoledronic acid treatment. Significant decrease was found in MMSE (p = .016) and gait speed scores (p = .008) after zoledronic acid treatment, but no significant difference was found in terms of Katz ADL, Lawton-Brody IADL, MNA, GDS, and grip strength (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that zoledronic acid did not affect daily living activities, depression, and muscle strength. Although we have concluded that cognitive and muscle performance may be adversely affected by zoledronic acid treatment.

The relationship between all-cause mortality sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among hospitalized older people.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) are associated with adverse health outcomes in older people. Data on sarcopenia- and SO-related mortality are insufficient for hospitalized older people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia, SO and mortality among hospitalized older people. METHODS: Two-centered prospective observational study was conducted among 350 hospitalized older people in geriatric units of two university hospitals. Sarcopenia was defined according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Obesity was defined according to fat mass percentage. Medical history, cognitive status, nutritional status and functionality and laboratory tests were assessed. All-cause mortality rate was recorded at 2 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of SO was 21.1%. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 11.4%. Both sarcopenia (log rank p < 0.001) and SO (log rank p < 0.001) were associated with all-cause mortality at 2 years. There was no difference between sarcopenia and SO for mortality. SO (HR 5.23, p < 0.001), sarcopenia (HR 9.26, p < 0.001), male gender (HR 2.25, p = 0.035), Lawton IADL (HR 0.77, p = 0.02), heart failure (HR 3.25, p = 0.02) and chronic obstructive lung disease (HR 5.16, p = 0.01) were independently related to all-cause mortality. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Both sarcopenia and SO showed an independent relationship for 2-year all-cause mortality after hospital discharge. These results suggest that preventive and treatment options should be taken to decrease mortality associated with these conditions among hospitalized older people.

Vitamin D deficiency and risk of Helicobacter pylori infection in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause increased predisposition to various infectious diseases and the addition of vitamin D to antimicrobial treatment may improve treatment responses. However, the relationship between vitamin D and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) remains to be determined. AIMS: To assess the association between vitamin D deficiency and H. pylori infection. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 65 and over, who underwent gastroscopy and had gastric biopsy performed between 2010 and 2017. Of the 441 patients, 254 had available 25-hydroxyvitamin D level results and were included in the analyses. Patients were categorized into H. pylori (+) and H. pylori (-) groups, according to histopathological examination results of gastric biopsies. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL were defined as vitamin D deficiency. RESULTS: Of all patients, 43 were H. pylori (+) and 211 were H. pylori (-). More patients had vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) in the H. pylori (+) group than the H. pylori (-) group (86% vs 67.3%, p = 0.014). The proportion of H. pylori (+) patients decreased across increasing quartiles of 25(OH) vitamin D levels (p for trend = 0.010). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased odds of H. pylori infection after adjustment for age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.19-7.69, p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency can be associated with increased risk of H. pylori infection. The potential protective effect of vitamin D against H. pylori infection and its possible role in the treatment of H. pylori should be evaluated in prospective trials.

The impact of treatment for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia on nutritional status, physical performance, and cognitive function in geriatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Iron deficiency in older people is common and affects physical and cognitive performance. The effects of iron deficiency on nutrition and cognitive status are well established. However, there are few studies demonstrating the impact of iron deficiency treatment on functional and cognitive outcomes in the geriatric population. The aim of this study was to determine whether iron replacement treatment was associated with an improvement in the nutritional, cognitive, and functional status of older patients with iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: Geriatric patients with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia presenting to the geriatric clinic were included in the study. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and blood samples to investigate iron deficiency were performed at baseline and 6 month later. 81 patients were included in the study and were evaluated at follow-up in the 6th month. The CGA included the following tests: the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living Scale (Katz ADL), the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), as well as the assessments of hand grip strength and walking speed. RESULTS: Of the 81 participating patients, 69.1% were women and 30.9% were men. The mean age was 76.8 ± 7.28 years. Follow-up after iron supplementation treatment was performed with a mean of 6.23 ± 1.58 months. Improvements occurred in the following geriatric and laboratory assessments: Lawton-Brody (IADL), MNA-SF, MMSE, hand grip strength, and walking speed evaluations and the levels of hemoglobin, iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that iron replacement treatment has a positive impact on functional and cognitive status and nutritional parameters in older patients with ID and IDA.