Como direcionar a formação do fisioterapeuta em Gerontologia no Brasil diante do envelhecimento populacional? / How to direct the training of physiotherapists in Gerontology in Brazil in the face of population aging?

O rápido envelhecimento populacional brasileiro mudou nosso cenário de saúde, o que exige que o profissional fisioterapeuta esteja preparado para lidar com as especificidades desta população. A Associação Brasileira de Fisioterapia em Gerontologia (ABRAFIGE), que tem a missão de fortalecer a especialidade e promover assistência qualificada em Fisioterapia em Gerontologia, propõe uma relação das competências fundamentais para formação no ensino nos cursos de graduação em Fisioterapia e de pósgraduação lato sensu em Fisioterapia em Gerontologia. Essa iniciativa visa auxiliar os gestores das Instituições de Ensino Superior das diversas regiões brasileiras no planejamento de tais cursos de forma a melhorar a qualidade da formação dos fisioterapeutas nessa área.

The rapid aging of the Brazilian population has changed the health scenario. Such a change requires physiotherapists to be prepared to deal with the specificities of this population. The Associação Brasileira de Fisioterapia em Gerontologia - ABRAFIGE (Brazilian Association of Physical Therapy in Gerontology), which has the mission of strengthening the specialty and the purpose of promoting qualified assistance in physical therapy in gerontology, proposes fundamental skills for training in teaching in undergraduate and graduate courses in physical therapy in gerontology. This initiative aims to assist administrators at higher education institutions in different regions of Brazil in the planning of such courses to improve the quality of the education of physiotherapists in this field.

Does the incidence of frailty differ between men and women over time?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms, risk factors and influence of sex on the incidence of frailty components are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyse sex differences in factors associated with the increase in the number of frailty components. METHODS: A 12-year follow-up analysis was conducted with 1,747 participants aged ≥ 60 of the ELSA Study with no frailty at baseline. Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse the increase in the number of frailty components stratified by sex, considering socioeconomic, behavioural, clinical and biochemical characteristics as exposure variables. RESULTS: The increase in the number of frailty components in both sexes was associated with an advanced age (70 to 79 years and 80 years or older), low educational level, sedentary lifestyle, elevated depressive symptoms, joint disease, high C-reactive protein levels, perception of poor vision and uncontrolled diabetes (p < 0.05). Osteoporosis, low weight, heart disease, living with one or more people and perception of poor hearing were associated with an increase in the number of frailty components in men. High fibrinogen concentration, controlled diabetes, stroke and perception of fair vision were associated with the outcome in women (p < 0.05). Obese women and men and overweight women had a lower increase in the number of frailty components compared to those in the ideal weight range. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic factors, musculoskeletal disorders, heart disease and low weight seem to sustain the frailty process in men, whereas cardiovascular and neuroendocrine disorders seem to sustain the frailty process in women.

Prevalence of frailty syndrome in Brazil: a systematic review / Prevalência da síndrome da fragilidade no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Background The population is aging rapidly, which leads to an increased prevalence of frailty syndrome. A large number of investigations on the subject have been conducted in Brazil, but no systematic review of prevalence studies involving the Brazilian population has been carried out considering the characteristics of the sample and the evaluation methods used. Objective To develop a systematic review of studies that assess the prevalence of frailty syndrome in Brazil, analyzing the clinical and demographic characteristics of the samples and the methods used for the diagnosis of the syndrome. Method The searches were carried out in the PubMed, SciELO and Web of Science databases using the following keywords: (prevalence or epidemiology) and frailty and Brazil. Results Forty-seven articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The prevalence of frailty ranged from 3.85% to 74.1%, depending on the assessment instrument used, context, region and population studied. Conclusion The prevalence data are discrepant, and the standardization of screening methods for the frailty syndrome could facilitate the comparison between studies, in order to maximize and create intervention strategies, especially in a country with cultural diversity and regional disparities, such as Brazil

Resumo Introdução A população está envelhecendo rapidamente, o que leva a um aumento da prevalência da síndrome da fragilidade. Um grande número de investigações sobre o tema tem sido conduzido no Brasil, mas nenhuma revisão sistemática de estudos de prevalência envolvendo a população brasileira foi realizada, considerando as características da amostra e os métodos de avaliação utilizados. Objetivo Desenvolver uma revisão sistemática de estudos que avaliam a prevalência da síndrome da fragilidade no Brasil, analisando as características clínicas e demográficas das amostras e os métodos utilizados para o diagnóstico da síndrome. Método As pesquisas foram realizadas nas bases de dados do PubMed, SciELO e Web of Science usando as seguintes palavras-chave: (prevalence or epidemiology) and frailty and Brazil. Resultados Quarenta e sete artigos preencheram os critérios de elegibilidade e foram incluídos na revisão. A prevalência de fragilidade variou de 3,85% a 74,1%, dependendo do instrumento de avaliação utilizado, contexto, região e população estudada. Conclusão Os dados de prevalência são discrepantes, sendo que a padronização dos métodos de triagem para a síndrome da fragilidade poderia facilitar a comparação entre os estudos, a fim de maximizar e criar estratégias de intervenção, especialmente em um país com diversidade cultural e disparidades regionais, como o Brasil.

Gender differences in the association between adverse events in childhood or adolescence and the risk of premature mortality.

To examine, by gender, the relationship between adverse events in childhood or adolescence and the increased risk of early mortality (before 80 years). The study sample included 941 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging who died between 2007 and 2018. Data on socioeconomic status, infectious diseases, and parental stress in childhood or adolescence were collected at baseline (2006). Logistic regression models were adjusted by socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical variables. Having lived with only one parent (OR 3.79; p = 0.01), overprotection from the father (OR 1.12; p = 0.04) and having had an infectious disease in childhood or adolescence (OR 2.05; p = 0.01) were risk factors for mortality before the age of 80 in men. In women, overprotection from the father (OR 1.22; p < 0.01) was the only risk factor for mortality before the age of 80, whereas a low occupation of the head of the family (OR 0.58; p = 0.04) and greater care from the mother in childhood or adolescence (OR 0.86; p = 0.03) were protective factors. Independently of one's current characteristics, having worse socioeconomic status and health in childhood or adolescence increased the risk of early mortality in men. Parental overprotection increased the risk of early mortality in both sexes, whereas maternal care favored longevity in women.

Is Abdominal Obesity a Risk Factor for the Incidence of Vitamin D Insufficiency and Deficiency in Older Adults? Evidence from the ELSA Study.

Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated an association between abdominal obesity, determined by waist circumference (WC), and vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency in older adults. However, longitudinal evidence is based only on general obesity determined using body mass index (BMI). We investigated whether abdominal obesity is associated with the incidence of 25(OH)D insufficiency (>30 and ≤50 nmol/L) and deficiency (≤30 nmol/L), and whether vitamin D supplementation modifies these associations. We included 2459 participants aged ≥50 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) with 25(OH)D sufficiency (>50 nmol/L) at baseline. Abdominal obesity was defined as >88 cm for women and >102 cm for men. After 4 years, 25(OH)D concentrations were reassessed. Multinomial logistic regression models controlled by covariates were performed. Abdominal obesity increased the risk of the incidence of 25(OH)D insufficiency (RRR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01−1.83) and deficiency (RRR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.05−2.58). These risks were maintained when excluding individuals who took vitamin D supplementation (RRR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.02−1.88) and (RRR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.02−2.56). Abdominal obesity is associated with the risk of incidence of low 25(OH)D concentrations. WC seems to be an adequate tool for screening individuals with obesity and at potential risk of developing these conditions.

European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2010 (EWGSOP1) and 2019 (EWGSOP2) criteria or slowness: which is the best predictor of mortality risk in older adults?

OBJECTIVES: to analyse the accuracy of grip strength and gait speed in identifying mortality; to compare the association between mortality and sarcopenia defined by the EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 using the best cut-off found in the present study and those recommended in the literature and to test whether slowness is better than these two definitions to identify the risk of death in older adults. METHODS: a longitudinal study was conducted involving 6,182 individuals aged 60 or older who participated in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Sarcopenia was defined based on the EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 using different cut-off for low muscle strength (LMS). Mortality was analysed in a 14-year follow-up. RESULTS: compared with the LMS definitions in the literature (<32, <30, <27 and < 26 kg for men; <21, <20 and < 16 kg for women), the cut-off of <36 kg for men (sensitivity = 58.59%, specificity = 72.96%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.66) and < 23 kg for women (sensitivity = 68.90%, specificity = 59.03%, AUC = 0.64) as well as a low gait speed (LGS) ≤0.8 m/s (sensitivity = 53.72%, specificity = 74.02%, AUC = 0.64) demonstrated the best accuracy for mortality. Using the cut-off found in the present study, probable sarcopenia [HR = 1.30 (95%CI: 1.16-1.46)], sarcopenia [HR = 1.48 (95%CI: 1.24-1.78)] and severe sarcopenia [HR = 1.78 (95%CI: 1.49-2.12)] according to EWGSOP2 were better predictors of mortality risk than EWGSOP1. LGS ≤0.8 m/s was a better mortality risk predictor only when LMS was defined by low cut-off. CONCLUSIONS: using LMS <36 kg for men and < 23 kg for women and LGS ≤ 0.8 m/s, EWGSOP2 was the best predictor for mortality risk in older adults.

The combined effect of anemia and dynapenia on mortality risk in older adults: 10-Year evidence from the ELSA cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Anemia and dynapenia can occur simultaneously. Separately, both conditions increase the mortality risk with advancing age. However, there is no epidemiological evidence on the combined effect of these conditions on mortality in older adults. We investigated whether combined anemia and dynapenia increase the mortality risk, and whether there are gender differences. METHODS: A 10-year follow-up study was conducted involving 5,310 older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). According to the diagnosis of anemia (hemoglobin concentration < 13.0 g/dL in men and < 12.0 g/dL in women) and dynapenia (grip strength < 26 kg for men and < 16 kg for women), individuals at baseline were categorized as "non-anemic/non-dynapenic", "dynapenic", "anemic" and "anemic/dynapenic". The outcome was all-cause mortality during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 984 deaths were computed during the follow-up (63.7% in non-anemic/non-dynapenic, 22.8% in dynapenic, 7.5% in anemic and 6.0% in anemic/dynapenic). Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models stratified by sex showed that anemia and dynapenia combined was associated with an increased mortality risk in men (HR: 1.64; 95% IC 1.08 - 2.50) and women (HR: 2.17; 95% CI 1.44 - 3.26). Anemia in men (HR: 1.68; 95% CI 1.22 - 2.32) and dynapenia in women (HR: 1.37; 95% CI 1.09 - 1.72) were also risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of anemia and dynapenia increases the mortality risk, highlighting the need for early identification, prevention, and treatment of these conditions to reduce their complications and the mortality risk.

Association between falls and cognitive performance among community-dwelling older people: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Falls among older people have a negative impact on health and therefore constitute a public health problem. Cognitive decline can also accompany the aging process, and both conditions lead to significant increases in morbidity and mortality in this population. Objective: To analyze the cognitive performance of older people, classified as non-fallers, sporadic fallers and recurrent fallers, and investigate the relationship between falls and cognition. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Evaluations on 230 older people were conducted. They were divided into three groups: non-fallers, sporadic fallers (one fall) and recurrent fallers (two or more falls). The Mini-Mental State Examination, Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly (CAMDEX) similarities subtest and digit span test were applied. RESULTS: In multinomial logistic regression, being a recurrent faller was significantly associated with lower scores in the CERAD word list (odds ratio, OR = 0.92; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.86-0.98; P = 0.01), in CERAD constructive praxis (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98; P = 0.02), in BCSB figure list memory (OR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99; P = 0.02) and in verbal fluency (OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97; P = 0.01). Recurrent fallers also had lower scores in these same tests, compared with sporadic fallers. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment, especially in the domains of memory and executive functioning, can influence occurrences of recurrent falls.

Association between falls and cognitive performance among community-dwelling older people: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Falls among older people have a negative impact on health and therefore constitute a public health problem. Cognitive decline can also accompany the aging process, and both conditions lead to significant increases in morbidity and mortality in this population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cognitive performance of older people, classified as non-fallers, sporadic fallers and recurrent fallers, and investigate the relationship between falls and cognition. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Evaluations on 230 older people were conducted. They were divided into three groups: non-fallers, sporadic fallers (one fall) and recurrent fallers (two or more falls). The Mini-Mental State Examination, Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB), Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of the Elderly (CAMDEX) similarities subtest and digit span test were applied. RESULTS: In multinomial logistic regression, being a recurrent faller was significantly associated with lower scores in the CERAD word list (odds ratio, OR = 0.92; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.86-0.98; P = 0.01), in CERAD constructive praxis (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98; P = 0.02), in BCSB figure list memory (OR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99; P = 0.02) and in verbal fluency (OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97; P = 0.01). Recurrent fallers also had lower scores in these same tests, compared with sporadic fallers. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment, especially in the domains of memory and executive functioning, can influence occurrences of recurrent falls.

Sex Differences in Vitamin D Status as a Risk Factor for Incidence of Disability in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: Evidence from the ELSA Cohort Study.

Vitamin D deficiency compromises elements underlying the disability process; however, there is no evidence demonstrating the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). We investigated the association between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of incidence of IADL disability separately in men and women. A total of 4768 individuals aged ≥50 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) and without IADL disability according to the Lawton scale were available. Vitamin D was evaluated at baseline by serum 25(OH)D concentrations and classified as sufficient (>50 nmol/L), insufficient (>30 to ≤50 nmol/L) or deficient serum (≤30 nmol/L). IADL were reassessed after 4 years. Poisson models stratified by sex and controlled by covariates demonstrated that deficient serum 25(OH)D was a risk factor for the incidence of IADL disability in men (IRR: 1.43; 95% CI 1.02, 2.00), but not in women (IRR: 1.23; 95% CI 0.94, 1.62). Men appear to be more susceptible to the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of IADL disability, demonstrating the importance of early clinical investigation of serum 25(OH)D concentrations to prevent the onset of disability.

Combination of dynapenia and abdominal obesity affects long-term physical performance trajectories in older adults: sex differences.

BACKGROUND: There is little epidemiological evidence of sex differences in the association between dynapenic abdominal obesity and the decline in physical performance in older adults. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the decline in physical performance is worse in individuals with dynapenic abdominal obesity and whether there are sex differences in this association. METHODS: Of 6183 individuals aged ≥60 y from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2308 participants with missing data were excluded. Therefore, a longitudinal analysis was conducted with 3875 older adults. Abdominal obesity was determined based on waist circumference (>102 cm for males, and >88 cm for females), and dynapenia was based on grip strength (<26 kg for males, <16 kg for female). The sample was divided into 4 groups: nondynapenic/nonabdominal obesity (ND/NAO), nondynapenic/abdominal obesity (ND/AO), dynapenic/nonabdominal obesity (D/NAO), and dynapenic/abdominal obesity (D/AO). Decline in physical performance in an 8-y follow-up period was analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS: At baseline, both male (-1.11 points; 95% CI: -1.58, -0.65 points; P < 0.001) and female (-1.39 points; 95% CI: -1.76, -1.02 points; P < 0.001) with D/AO had worse performances on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) than their counterparts in the ND/NAO group. Over the 8-y follow-up, males with D/AO had a faster rate of decline in the SPPB performance compared with males in the ND/NAO group (-0.11 points/y; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.01 points; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: D/AO is associated with a stronger decline in physical performance in males but not in females. The identification and management of dynapenic abdominal obesity could be essential to avoiding the first signs of functional impairment in older males.

Accuracy of different handgrip values to identify mobility limitation in older adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mobility limitation is commonly the first sign of impaired physical function and predisposes older adults to disability. Moreover, recent epidemiological studies have classified neuromuscular strength as the best explanator of mobility limitation. However, existing cutoffs have not been adequately analyzed regarding accuracy. Therefore, our aims were to define and compare the accuracy of different cutoff points of handgrip strength for the identification of mobility limitation. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 5783 participants from the SABE (Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento [Health, Wellbeing and Aging]) and ELSA (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing) cohorts aged 60 years or older. Handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Walking speed <0.8 m/s was considered mobility limitation. Receiver operating characteristic curves and probabilities of presenting mobility limitation were calculated. RESULTS: Handgrip strength <32 kg for men and <21 kg for women demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for mobility limitation, with 49.1% sensitivity and 79.8% specificity for men and 58.6% sensitivity and 72.9% specificity for women. The fully adjusted models had an area under the curve of 0.82 for men and 0.83 for women, with odds of presenting mobility limitation of 1.88 [95% CI: 1.50 - 2.37] for men and 1.89 [95% CI: 1.57 - 2.27] for women. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the accuracy of handgrip strength as a clinical marker of mobility limitation. Furthermore, manual dynamometry is easily incorporated into clinical practice, has a good cost-benefit, besides being a simple, valid, reliable and effective method for use in both the scientific community and outpatient practice.

Differences in the prevalence of prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and diagnosed diabetes and associated factors in cohorts of Brazilian and English older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse differences in the prevalence of prediabetes (PD), undiagnosed diabetes (UDD) and diagnosed diabetes (DD) and associated factors between Brazilian and English older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: England and Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 5301 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing study and 1947 participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging study classified as non-diabetics, PD, UDD and DD. RESULTS: The prevalence of PD, UDD and DD was 48·6, 3 and 9·6 % in England and 33, 6 and 20 % in Brazil. In England, the increase in age, non-white skin colour, smoking, general obesity and abdominal obesity were associated with PD, UDD and DD, whereas hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL levels, hypertension and stroke were associated with UDD and DD. In Brazil, the increase in age was associated with DD and UDD, non-white skin colour and smoking were associated with UDD and abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia were associated with all three conditions. CVD in England and schooling in Brazil were associated with PD and DD. A sedentary lifestyle was associated with DD in both samples. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes was higher in the Brazilian sample. Different associated factors were found in the two samples, which may be related to differences in nutritional transition, access to healthcare services and the use of such services.

Difficulty in performing activities of daily living and the need for help in older adults: evidence on social distancing models from the ELSI-COVID-19 initiative. / Dificuldade em atividades de vida diária e necessidade de ajuda em idosos: discutindo modelos de distanciamento social com evidências da iniciativa ELSI-COVID-19.

To analyze whether the older adults with difficulty or need of help to perform basic or instrumentals activities of daily living are more socially distanced in times of COVID-19. A total of 4,035 older adults participated in the telephone interviews from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Difficulty, need and receiving help were classified into: (1) independents; (2) had difficulty without need for care; (3) had difficulty, needed and have received care from someone within their household; (4) had difficulty, needed and have received care from someone outside their household; and (5) had difficulty and needed care but did not receive it. Social distancing was categorized as follows: did not leave their houses in the last 7 days, left their houses for essential activities and went out for non-essential activities. Multinomial regression model adjusted for age, sex, schooling and great geographical region was performed. Older adults who had difficulty, needed and have received help from within their homes (odds ratio - OR = 2.34 95%CI: 1.25-4.39) or from outside their homes (OR = 3.94; 95%CI: 2.24-6.92) were more socially distanced. Age increased the odds of not going out (OR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03-1.09) while be men reduced it (OR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.33-0.70). Living in the South of Brazil has increased the odds of the respondents going out for essential activities (OR = 1.77; 95%CI: 1.01-3.10). Older adults who had difficulty, needed and have received help from within or outside their homes did not leave their homes in the last 7 days. Even with social distancing, these older adults can not have their exposure to COVID-19 reduced, weakening the theory of selective social distancing.

Analisar se idosos com dificuldade ou necessidade de ajuda para desempenhar atividades básicas ou instrumentais de vida diária estão mais distanciados socialmente em tempos de COVID-19. Participaram das entrevistas telefônicas 4.035 idosos participantes da 2ª onda do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde dos Idosos Brasileiros (ELSI-Brasil). Classificou-se a dificuldade, necessidade e recebimento de ajuda em: (1) independentes; (2) com dificuldade e não precisa de ajuda; (3) com dificuldade, precisa e recebe ajuda de pessoa de dentro de casa; (4) com dificuldade, precisa e recebe ajuda de pessoa de fora de casa; e (5) com dificuldade, precisa, mas não recebe ajuda. O distanciamento social foi categorizado como não saiu de casa nos últimos 7 dias, saiu de casa para atividades essenciais e saiu de casa para atividades não essenciais. Modelo de regressão multinomial controlado por idade, sexo, escolaridade e região do Brasil foi utilizado. Permaneceram mais distanciados socialmente os idosos que apresentavam dificuldade, necessitavam e recebiam ajuda de pessoa de dentro (odds ratio - OR = 2,34; IC95%: 1,25-4,39) ou de fora de casa (OR = 3,94; IC95%: 2,24-6,92). A idade aumentou a chance de não sair de casa (OR = 1,06; IC95%: 1,03-1,09) e ser homem a diminuiu (OR = 0,48; IC95%: 0,33-0,70). Viver na Região Sul aumentou a chance dos idosos saírem para atividades essenciais (OR = 1,77; IC95%: 1,01-3,10). Idosos com dificuldade, que precisam e recebiam ajuda de pessoas de dentro ou de fora de casa não saíram de casa nos últimos 7 dias. Mesmo com o distanciamento social, esses idosos podem não ter sua exposição ao COVID-19 reduzida, enfraquecendo a teoria do distanciamento social seletivo.

Analizar si los ancianos con dificultad o necesidad de ayuda para desempeñar actividades básicas (ABVD) o instrumentales de la vida diaria (AIVD) están más distanciados socialmente en tiempos de COVID-19. Participaron en las entrevistas telefónicas 4.035 ancianos de la encuesta de la segunda fase del Estudio Brasileño Longitudinal del Envejecimiento (ELSI-Brasil). Se clasificó la dificultad, necesidad y recepción de ayuda en: (1) independientes; (2) con dificultad y no necesita ayuda; (3) con dificultad, necesita y recibe ayuda de una persona de dentro de casa; (4) con dificultad, necesita y recibe ayuda de persona de fuera de casa; y (5) con dificultad, necesita, pero no recibe ayuda. El distanciamiento social fue categorizado como: no salió de casa en los últimos 7 días, salió de casa para actividades esenciales y salió de casa para actividades no esenciales. Se usó un modelo de regresión multinomial controlado por edad, sexo, escolaridad y región de Brasil. Permanecieron más distanciados socialmente los ancianos que presentaban dificultad, necesitaban y recibían ayuda de una persona de dentro (odds ratio - OR = 2,34; IC95%: 1,25-4,39) o de fuera de casa (OR = 3,94; IC95%: 2,24-6,92). La edad aumentó la oportunidad de no salir de casa (OR = 1,06; IC95%: 1,03-1,09) y el sexo masculino disminuyó (OR = 0,48; IC95%: 0,33-0,70). Estar en la Región Sur aumentó la oportunidad de que los ancianos salgan para actividades esenciales (OR = 1,77; IC95%: 1,01-3,10). Los ancianos que necesitan ayuda de personas de dentro o de fuera de casa no salieron de casa en los últimos 7 días. Incluso con distanciamiento social, los ancianos que reciben ayuda de personas no distanciadas no tienen su exposición reducida a la COVID-19, lo que debilita la teoría del distanciamiento social selectivo.

The Value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Determining Severity in Patients with both Systolic Heart Failure and COPD.

Our aim was to identify optimal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) threshold values that distinguish disease severity progression in patients with co-existing systolic heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to evaluate the impact of the cut-off determined on the prognosis of hospitalizations. We evaluated 40 patients (30 men and 10 woman) with HF and COPD through pulmonary function testing, doppler echocardiography and maximal incremental CPET on a cycle ergometer. Several significant CPET threshold values were identified in detecting a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 1.6 L: 1) oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) < 1.3; and 2) circulatory power (CP) < 2383 mmHg.mlO2.kg-1. CPET significant threshold values in identifying a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 39% were: 1) OUES: < 1.3; 2) CP < 2116 mmHg.mlO2.kg-1.min-1 and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (V̇E/V̇CO2) slope>38. The 15 (38%) patients hospitalized during follow-up (8 ± 2 months). In the hospitalizations analysis, LVEF < 39% and FEV1 < 1.6, OUES < 1.3, CP < 2116 mmHg.mlO2.kg-1.min-1 and V̇E/V̇CO2 > 38 were a strong risk predictor for hospitalization (P ≤ 0.050). The CPET response effectively identified worsening disease severity in patients with a HF-COPD phenotype. LVEF, FEV1, CP, OUES, and the V̇E/V̇CO2 slope may be particularly useful in the clinical assessment and strong risk predictor for hospitalization.

Pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Providing care to an older adult is an activity that requires considerable physical effort and can cause stress and psychological strain, which accentuate factors that trigger the cycle of frailty, especially when the caregiver is also an older adult. However, few studies have analyzed the frailty process in older caregivers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of pre-frailty, frailty and associated factors in older caregivers of older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 328 community-dwelling older caregivers. Frailty was identified using frailty phenotype. Socio-demographic, behavioral and clinical aspects, characteristics related to care and functioning were covariables in the multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 58.8% and 21.1%, respectively. An increased age, female sex, not having a conjugal life, depressive symptoms and pain were commonly associated with pre-frailty and frailty. Sedentary lifestyle was exclusively associated with pre-frailty, whereas living in an urban area, low income and the cognitive decline were associated with frailty. A better performance on instrumental activities of daily living reduced the chance of frailty. CONCLUSION: Many factors associated with the frailty syndrome may be related to the act of providing care, which emphasizes the importance of the development of coping strategies for this population.

Elderly caregivers of other elderly living with and without children: burden, optimism and coping strategies.

This article aims to compare level of burden, optimism and coping strategies among elderly caregivers of other elderly individuals who reside with and without children. A cross-sectional study was with a sample of 301 elderly caregivers of elderly Brazilians seen in primary health care. Among the 301 caregivers interviewed, 44 resided with children and 257 did not. Evaluations involved the administration of the Zarit Burden Inventory, Spirituality Scale (optimism) and Coping Strategies Inventory. Either the Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the comparisons between the two groups. Burden level was significantly higher among elderly caregivers who resided with children (p = 0.01). No significant differences were found with regard to optimism. Elderly caregivers who did not reside with children reported significantly greater use of coping strategies focused on the expression of negative emotions (p < 0.01), religiosity (p < 0.01) and the inhibition of negative emotions (p = 0.01). The elderly caregivers of other elderly individuals who resided with children had a higher level of burden and used coping strategies less than those who did not reside with children.

Elderly caregivers of other elderly living with and without children: burden, optimism and coping strategies / Idosos cuidadores de outros idosos que residem com e sem crianças: sobrecarga, otimismo e estratégias de enfrentamento

Abstract This article aims to compare level of burden, optimism and coping strategies among elderly caregivers of other elderly individuals who reside with and without children. A cross-sectional study was with a sample of 301 elderly caregivers of elderly Brazilians seen in primary health care. Among the 301 caregivers interviewed, 44 resided with children and 257 did not. Evaluations involved the administration of the Zarit Burden Inventory, Spirituality Scale (optimism) and Coping Strategies Inventory. Either the Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the comparisons between the two groups. Burden level was significantly higher among elderly caregivers who resided with children (p = 0.01). No significant differences were found with regard to optimism. Elderly caregivers who did not reside with children reported significantly greater use of coping strategies focused on the expression of negative emotions (p < 0.01), religiosity (p < 0.01) and the inhibition of negative emotions (p = 0.01). The elderly caregivers of other elderly individuals who resided with children had a higher level of burden and used coping strategies less than those who did not reside with children.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é comparar o nível de sobrecarga, otimismo e as estratégias de enfrentamento de idosos cuidadores de idosos que residem com e sem crianças. Estudo transversal realizado com amostra de 301 idosos cuidadores cadastrados nas Unidades de Saúde da Família. Foram entrevistados 301 idosos cuidadores, sendo que 257 não residiam com crianças e 44 residiam. Os instrumentos utilizados foram Escala de Sobrecarga de Zarit, Escala de Espiritualidade de Pinto e Pais Ribeiro e Inventário para Avaliação das Estratégias de Enfrentamento. Foram usados o teste T de Student e teste U Mann-Whitney para a comparação entre os dois grupos. O nível de sobrecarga foi significativamente maior nos idosos cuidadores que residiam com crianças (p = 0,01) e não houve diferença significativa para o otimismo. Os idosos cuidadores que não residiam com crianças reportaram o uso significativamente superior de estratégias de enfrentamento focadas em emoções negativas (p < 0,01), religiosidade (p < 0,01) e inibição de emoções negativas (p = 0,01). O nível de sobrecarga foi maior entre os idosos cuidadores que residiam com crianças. Os idosos cuidadores que não tinham crianças no domicílio reportaram maior uso de estratégias focadas na emoção e na religião para enfrentar as demandas do cuidado ao idoso.

Cumulative effects of cognitive impairment and frailty on functional decline, falls and hospitalization: A four-year follow-up study with older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the cumulative effects of cognitive impairment and frailty on functional decline, falls and hospitalization in older adults over a four-year period. METHOD: Four hundred five older adults (60-95 years; mean age: 70.62 ±â€¯7.12 years), 57 % female. The frailty evaluation was performed using the clinical criteria of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS): weight loss, fatigue, weakness, slowness and low physical activity. Cognitive impairment was defined by cutoff scores of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) based on schooling. Follow-up - functional decline was assessed using the Lawton&Brody scale of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). An investigation was also performed of the occurrence of falls and admissions to the hospital in the previous twelve months. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was associated with admissions to the hospital and declines in the IADL category of using a telephone. Frailty was associated with admissions to hospital. Cumulative effects were observed for hospitalization and the decline in using the telephone and shopping. Frailty and cognitive impairment increased the risk of being admitted to hospital by 557 % and increased the risk of a decline in using the phone by 262% and shopping by 208%. No conditions were associated with the risk of falls. CONCLUSION: The combination of the MMSE and the CHS criteria was adequate for measuring the cumulative effects of cognitive impairment and frailty. Shared physiological mechanisms may explain the relation between cognitive impairment and frailty, but further investigations are needed in Brazil and other low/middle-income countries.

Uncontrolled Diabetes as an Associated Factor with Dynapenia in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: Sex Differences.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies demonstrate an association between diabetes and low neuromuscular strength (NMS). However, none have grouped participants into nondiabetics (ND), undiagnosed diabetics (UDD), controlled diabetics (CD), and uncontrolled diabetics (UCD) or investigated what glycated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c) are associated with low NMS (dynapenia) by sex. METHODS: We analyzed the association between UDD, CD, and UCD and dynapenia, the extent to which the different groupings of these individuals modifies this association and the association between HbA1c levels and NMS, by sex, in a cross-sectional study involving 5,290 participants ≥50 years from the ELSA study. In the first two analyses, logistic regression models were used with dynapenia (grip strength <26 kg in men and <16 kg in women) as outcome and diabetes (ND, UDD, CD, and UCD) as exposure. Next, linear regression was performed with grip strength as the outcome, and the participants were classified based on HbA1c level as exposure. The models were adjusted by sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Compared to ND, only UCD was associated with dynapenia (men OR = 2.37 95% CI 1.36-4.14; women OR = 1.67 95% CI 1.01-2.79). This association was less clear, particularly in women, when CD and UCD groups were merged. HbA1c ≥6.5% in men and ≥8.0% in women were associated with lower NMS. CONCLUSIONS: UCD increases the chance of dynapenia in both sexes. The different groupings based on diabetes status modify the association between UCD and dynapenia. The threshold of HbA1c associated with reduced NMS is lower in men compared to women.