Algorithm for screening and management of locomotive syndrome in elderly individuals and development of a short version of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a short version of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese and to create an algorithm for locomotive syndrome screening and management. METHODS: The 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese was applied to individuals aged 60 years or older seen at the Geriatrics and Gerontology Department of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, between 2016 and 2018. Items of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese were submitted to exploratory factor analysis using the principal component method. Internal consistency was investigated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The ROC curve was used to determine the cut-off point of the short version developed. Finally, a simple and objective algorithm was created for locomotive syndrome screening and management using the Delphi method. RESULTS: A total of 202 elderly individuals aged 61 to 101 years (mean age, 84.67 years) were evaluated. Fifteen items were excluded from the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese to compose the 10-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese, a 10-item instrument with appropriate psychometric properties. A cut-off point of ten (ROC curve) was determined for potential locomotive syndrome, with 96.5% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity. A very simple algorithm was developed for locomotive syndrome screening and management. CONCLUSION: The short version (10-question) of the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese has appropriate psychometric properties and provides a practical tool for detection of locomotive problems in elderly individuals.

Efetividade e segurança do treinamento muscular respiratório na apneia obstrutiva do sono: protocolo de uma revisão sistemática / Effectiveness and safety of respiratory muscle training in obstructive sleep apnea: systematic review protocol

Introdução: A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é o distúrbio respiratório do sono mais comum. O treino muscular respiratório tem surgido como uma intervenção promissora para a melhora dos sintomas e com boa adesão, porém muito ainda se tem discutido sobre sua efetividade e segurança. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade e segurança do TMR no tratamento de pacientes com AOS. Métodos: Para tanto, realizaremos uma revisão sistemática de ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECR). O protocolo do estudo foi registrado na Plataforma Prospero (CRD42018096980). Incluiremos indivíduos de idade superior ou igual a 18 anos, com diagnóstico de AOS, em uso ou não de pressão positiva nas vias aéreas. Excluiremos estudos com pacientes diagnosticados com lesão da medula espinhal ou doenças neuromusculares. As buscas serão realizadas nas bases de dados: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) via Pubmed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (Embase) via Elsevier, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central) via Cochrane Library, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) via Portal da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), sem restrições de idioma ou ano de publicação. Avaliaremos o rigor metodológico dos estudos incluídos e a certeza da evidência dos principais desfechos da revisão sistemática utilizando a ferramenta Risco de Viés 2.0 da Cochrane e a abordagem Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), respectivamente. A seleção dos estudos, extração de dados, avaliação do viés dos estudos incluídos e avaliação da certeza da evidência serão realizados por dois pesquisadores independentes. Resultados esperados: Espera-se que os resultados desta revisão forneçam informações úteis para a tomada de decisão clínica, exponham lacunas de conhecimento, assim como forneçam um bom embasamento para futuros ECR de alta qualidade sobre o assunto.

Algorithm for screening and management of locomotive syndrome in elderly individuals and development of a short version of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese

ABSTRACT Objective To develop a short version of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese and to create an algorithm for locomotive syndrome screening and management. Methods The 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese was applied to individuals aged 60 years or older seen at the Geriatrics and Gerontology Department of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, between 2016 and 2018. Items of the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese were submitted to exploratory factor analysis using the principal component method. Internal consistency was investigated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The ROC curve was used to determine the cut-off point of the short version developed. Finally, a simple and objective algorithm was created for locomotive syndrome screening and management using the Delphi method. Results A total of 202 elderly individuals aged 61 to 101 years (mean age, 84.67 years) were evaluated. Fifteen items were excluded from the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese to compose the 10-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese, a 10-item instrument with appropriate psychometric properties. A cut-off point of ten (ROC curve) was determined for potential locomotive syndrome, with 96.5% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity. A very simple algorithm was developed for locomotive syndrome screening and management. Conclusion The short version (10-question) of the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-Portuguese has appropriate psychometric properties and provides a practical tool for detection of locomotive problems in elderly individuals.

Motor cortex transcranial direct current stimulation effects on knee osteoarthritis pain in elderly subjects with dysfunctional descending pain inhibitory system: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence has indicated a positive effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on reducing pain, few studies have focused on the elderly population with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether tDCS reduces KOA pain in elderly individuals with a dysfunctional descending pain inhibitory system (DPIS). METHODS: In a double-blind trial, individuals ≥ 60 years with KOA pain and a dysfunctional DPIS, we randomly assigned patients to receive 15 daily sessions of 2 mA tDCS over the primary motor cortex (anode) and contralateral supraorbital area (cathode) (M1-SO) for 20 min or sham tDCS. Change in pain perception indexed by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at the end of intervention was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included: disability, quantitative sensory testing, pain pressure threshold and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Subjects were followed-up for 2 months. RESULTS: Of the 104 enrolled subjects, with mean (SD) age of 73.9 (8.01) years and 88 (84.6%) female, 102 finished the trial. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the active tDCS group had a significantly greater reduction in BPI compared to the sham group (difference, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.23; P < 0.001; Cohen's d, 0.58); and, also a significantly greater improvement in CPM-pressure in the knee (P = 0.01) and CPM-pain in the hand (P = 0.01). These effects were not sustained at follow-up. The intervention was well tolerated, with no severe adverse effects. CONCLUSION: M1-SO tDCS is associated with a moderate effect size in reducing pain in elderly patients with KOA after 15 daily sessions of stimulation. This intervention has also shown to modulate the DPIS.

Locomotive Syndrome is associated with chronic pain and poor quality of life in Brazilian oldest old: LOCOMOV Project.

BACKGROUND: In 2007, the Japanese Orthopedic Association established the term "Locomotive Syndrome" (LS) for the concept of locomotor organ dysfunction with potential loss of independence. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of LS and establish a diagnostic cut-off for the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS 25-p) for the Brazilian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study of the LOCOMOV Project cohort of independent outpatients aged ≥80 years was conducted. Questionnaires on functional status in Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (Katz and Lawton, respectively) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) were applied, together with the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS 25-p) to identify individuals with LS. Mobility was assessed using the five-times sit-to-stand test, 4-m gait speed, two-step test, one-leg standing time with eyes open and hand-grip test. The data were analyzed using Student's t-test, the Chi-Square test, and multiple logistic regression (stepwise). The significance level was set at 0.05 (5%). RESULTS: A sample of 102 individuals with mean age of 87.3 (±4.2) years and predominantly female (73.5%) was assessed. We determined a cut-off score of 19 (sensitivity of 0.86 and specificity of 0.67) for diagnosis of LS, as assessed by the GLFS 25-p, and a high prevalence (55%) of the syndrome was found in the sample. In the multiple regression analysis, LS was directly associated with chronic pain (OR 22.24, 95%CI 3.13-157.87), use of a walking device (OR 17.121, 95%CI 1.94-150.49), and inversely associated with gait speed ≥0.8 m/s (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.006-0.278), perception of good health (OR 0.153, 95%CI 0.029-0.799) and male gender (OR 0.086, 95%CI 0.0105-0.714). CONCLUSION: The LS in the oldest old proved a very common condition in this survey, especially in women, and was strongly associated with chronic pain, worse performance on physical tests and poor quality of life.

Transcranial direct current stimulation for fatigue in patients with Sjogren's syndrome: A randomized, double-blind pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise to decrease fatigue. However, it has never been examined in primary Sjogren Syndrome (pSS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a tDCS protocol on fatigue in patients with pSS. METHODS: This is a parallel, double-blind pilot study (NCT04119128). Women aged 18-65 years, with pSS, on stable pharmacological therapy, with complaints of fatigue for at least three months, and with scores >5 on Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were included. We randomized 36 participants to receive five consecutive or sham tDCS sessions, with an intensity of 2 mA, for 20 min/day. RESULTS: After five tDCS sessions, fatigue severity assessed by the FSS (primary outcome) demonstrated a mean group difference of -0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.57, -0.13; effect size 0.80] favouring the active group. The active group presented significantly greater reductions in fatigue as measured by the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index after five tDCS sessions [mean group difference: 1.40; 95%CI -2.33, -0.48; effect size 1.04]. Although there were no between-group differences in the secondary outcomes of sleep, mood and anxiety, within-group comparisons evidenced a small but significant difference in the active group for pain and sleep. There were no significant cortisol changes. All reported adverse events were mild and transitory. CONCLUSION: tDCS seems to be safe and reduce fatigue in pSS. A differential effect on pain and sleep may underlie its effects. Further studies are needed to optimise tDCS treatment strategies in pSS.

Risk factors of pain, physical function, and health-related quality of life in elderly people with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Data on the precise mechanisms of the complex interactions of factors related to clinical impact of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in the elderly population remain limited. To find predictors that explain pain intensity, physical function, and quality of life in elderly KOA subjects, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from a randomized trial. The trial included 104 subjects (aged ≥60) with KOA pain and dysfunctional endogenous pain-inhibitory system activity assessed by conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Three multiple linear regression models were performed to understand the independent predictors of Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), WOMAC function subscale (WOMACFunc), and SF-12 physical subscale (SF12-PCS). Model 1 showed that BPI pain score was predicted by low CPM response, high von-Frey light touch threshold, worse radiological severity as indexed by Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KL), high von-Frey punctate pain intensity and high levels of anxiety (adjusted R2 = 27.1%, F (6,95) = 7.27, P < 0.0001). In model 2, von-Frey light touch threshold, KL, depressive symptoms indexed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), level of sleepiness and pain pressure threshold were risk factors for SF12-PCS (adjusted R2 = 31.9%, F (5,96) = 10.5, P < 0.0001). Finally, model 3 showed that WOMACFunc was predicted by BDI, KL and BPI (adjusted R2 = 41%, F (3,98) = 24.42, P < 0.0001). Our data provides an interesting framework to understand the predictors of KOA pain in the elderly and highlights how its related outcomes are affected by disease-specific factors, somatosensory dysfunction and emotional factors.

High Prevalence of Vertebral Fracture in a Very Elderly Community-Dwelling: "Longevous Project".

INTRODUCTION: Vertebral fractures (VF) are associated with poorer quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in aging, and are the main risk factors for new VF or fractures in other sites. Thus, to explore them in the elderly is important, especially considering the very elderly individuals (age ≥ 80), who belong to the fastest growing population in the world, a portion that is still very little studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence, specific characteristics and associations of VFs in a very elderly population. METHOD: Observational, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional study of the "Longevous Project" - São Paulo, Brazil, an ongoing prospective cohort that includes elderly of both gender, aged 80 yr or more. For the diagnosis of VF 2 methods were used VFA ("VF Assessment) by bone densitometry and X-ray, by 2 independent physicians, and using the Genant semiquantitative technique. The VFs by VFA were correlated with demographic, anthropometric, clinical, laboratory, and densitometric data. Statistical tests applied were qui-square and ANOVA. RESULTS: We analyzed data of 125 individuals with a mean age of 86.7 ± 4.1 yr and majority of female (71.2%). The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was 35.5% and 47.6%, respectively. A higher prevalence of VF was verified by VFA (30.4%) than by X-ray (20.8%), besides the majority was considered severe, 52.6% and 57.7%, by VFA and X-ray, respectively. A concordance index between the 2 methods was considered regular for the diagnosis of VF (Kappa = 0.419), and good for the VF severity (Kappa = 0.743). The VF were significantly associated to bone densitometry analysis VF (p = 0.05), and its severity was significantly correlated with total hip BMD (p = 0.049) and glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study observed a high prevalence of VF in a very elderly population, being the great majority severe fractures and suggests that VFA might be more effective to detect VF in oldest-old individuals.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Elderly Subjects With Defective Endogenous Pain-Inhibitory Systems: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been the main cause behind chronic pain and disabilities in the elderly population. The traditional treatment for knee OA pain currently concerns a number of combinations of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. However, such combinations have displayed little effects on a significant group of subjects. In addition to this, pharmacological treatments often cause adverse effects, which limits their use on this population. Previous studies showed that chronic knee OA pain may be associated with maladaptive compensatory plasticity in pain-related neural central circuits indexed by a defective descending pain-inhibitory system. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can revert some of these maladaptive changes, thus decreasing chronic pain sensation. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the use of anodal tDCS stimulation over the primary motor cortex (M1) has positive effects on chronic neuropathic pain. Yet, data on OA pain in elderly patients, including its effects on the endogenous pain-inhibitory system, remain limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS in reducing pain intensity caused by knee OA in elderly subjects with defective endogenous pain-inhibitory systems. METHODS: We designed a randomized, sham-controlled, single-center, double-blinded clinical trial. Patients with knee OA who have maintained a chronic pain level during the previous 6 months and report a pain score of 4 or more on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain in that period will undergo a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) task. Participants who present a reduced CPM response, defined as a decrease in NRS during the CPM task of less than 10%, and meet all of the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to receive 15 sessions of 2 mA active or sham tDCS for 20 minutes. A sample size of 94 subjects was calculated. The Brief Pain Inventory pain items will be used to assess pain intensity as our primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include pain impact on functioning, mobility performance, quality of life, CPM, pressure pain threshold, touch-test sensory evaluation, and safety. Follow-up visits will be performed 2, 4, and 8 weeks following intervention. The data will be analyzed using the principle of intention-to-treat. RESULTS: This study was approved by the institutional review board with the protocol number 1685/2016. The enrollment started in April 2018; at the time of publication of this protocol, 25 subjects have been enrolled. We estimate we will complete the enrollment process within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical trial will provide relevant data to evaluate if anodal tDCS stimulation over M1 can decrease chronic knee OA pain in elderly subjects with defective CPM. In addition, this trial will advance the investigation of the role of central sensitization in knee OA and evaluate how tDCS stimulation may affect it. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03117231; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03117231 (Archived by WebCite at http://webcitation.org/73WM1LCdJ). INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/11660.

Locomotive syndrome in the elderly: translation, cultural adaptation, and Brazilian validation of the tool 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The term Locomotive Syndrome refers to conditions in which the elderly are at high risk of inability to ambulate due to problems in locomotor system. For Locomotive Syndrome screening, the 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale was created. The objective here was to translate, adapt culturally to Brazil, and study the psychometric properties of 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. METHOD: The translation and cultural adaptation of 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale were carried out, thus resulting in GLFS 25-P, whose psychometric properties were analyzed in a sample of 100 elderly subjects. Sociodemographic data on pain, falls, self-perceived health and basic and instrumental functionalities were determined. GLFS 25-P was applied three times: in one same day by two interviewers, and after 15 days, again by the first interviewer. RESULT: GLFS 25-P showed a high internal consistency value according to Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.942), and excellent reproducibility, according to intraclass correlation, with interobserver and intraobserver values of 97.6% and 98.4%, respectively (p<0.01). Agreements for each item of the instrument were considerable (between 0.248 and 0.673), according to Kappa statistic. In its validation, according to the Pearson's coefficient, regular and good correlations were obtained for the basic (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living, respectively (p<0.01). Statistically significant associations with chronic pain (p<0.001), falls (p=0.02) and self-perceived health (p<0.001) were found. A multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher risk of Locomotive Syndrome in the presence of chronic pain (OR 15.92, 95% CI 3.08-82.27) and with a worse self-perceived health (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.79). CONCLUSION: GLFS 25-P proved to be a reliable and valid tool in Locomotive Syndrome screening for the elderly population.

Locomotive syndrome in the elderly: translation, cultural adaptation, and Brazilian validation of the tool 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale / Síndrome locomotora em idosos: tradução, adaptação cultural e validação brasileira do instrumento 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale

ABSTRACT Objective: The term Locomotive Syndrome refers to conditions in which the elderly are at high risk of inability to ambulate due to problems in locomotor system. For Locomotive Syndrome screening, the 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale was created. The objective here was to translate, adapt culturally to Brazil, and study the psychometric properties of 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. Method: The translation and cultural adaptation of 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale were carried out, thus resulting in GLFS 25-P, whose psychometric properties were analyzed in a sample of 100 elderly subjects. Sociodemographic data on pain, falls, self-perceived health and basic and instrumental functionalities were determined. GLFS 25-P was applied three times: in one same day by two interviewers, and after 15 days, again by the first interviewer. Result: GLFS 25-P showed a high internal consistency value according to Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.942), and excellent reproducibility, according to intraclass correlation, with interobserver and intraobserver values of 97.6% and 98.4%, respectively (p < 0.01). Agreements for each item of the instrument were considerable (between 0.248 and 0.673), according to Kappa statistic. In its validation, according to the Pearson's coefficient, regular and good correlations were obtained for the basic (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living, respectively (p < 0.01). Statistically significant associations with chronic pain (p < 0.001), falls (p = 0.02) and self-perceived health (p < 0.001) were found. A multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher risk of Locomotive Syndrome in the presence of chronic pain (OR 15.92, 95% CI 3.08–82.27) and with a worse self-perceived health (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07–0.79). Conclusion: GLFS 25-P proved to be a reliable and valid tool in Locomotive Syndrome screening for the elderly population.

RESUMO Objetivo: O termo síndrome locomotora (SL) designa condições nas quais os idosos apresentam alto risco de incapacidade para deambulação em decorrência de problemas em órgãos locomotores. Para seu rastreio foi criado o 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Objetivou-se aqui, traduzir, adaptar transculturalmente para o Brasil e estudar as propriedades psicométricas do GLFS-25. Método: Feitas tradução e adaptação transcultural do GLFS-25 que originaram o GLFS 25-P, cujas propriedades psicométricas foram analisadas numa amostra de 100 idosos. Apurados dados sociodemográficos relativos a dor, queda, autopercepção da saúde e funcionalidades básica e instrumental. O GLFS 25-P foi aplicado em três momentos: num mesmo dia por dois entrevistadores e após 15 dias novamente pelo primeiro entrevistador. Resultado: O GLFS 25-P apresentou alto valor de consistência interna, segundo o coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach (0,942); e reprodutibilidade ótima, segundo a correlação intraclasses: valores de 97,6% e 98,4%, interobservador e intraobservador, respectivamente (p < 0,01). As concordâncias para cada item do instrumento foram consideráveis (entre 0,248 e 0,673), segundo a estatística Kappa. Na validação, segundo o coeficiente de Pearson, foram obtidas correlações regular e boa para as atividades de vida diária básicas (AVDB) e instrumentais (AIVD), respectivamente (p < 0,01). Encontradas associações estatisticamente significantes com dor crônica (p < 0,001), queda (p = 0,02) e autopercepção de saúde (p < 0,001). A análise multivariada evidenciou risco de SL significativamente maior na presença de dor crônica (OR 15,92, IC 95% 3,08-82,27) e pior autopercepção de saúde (OR 0,23, IC 95% 0,07-0,79). Conclusão: O GLFS 25-P demonstrou ser confiável e válido no rastreio da SL em idosos.