A Prospective, Observational Study of the Effect of a High-Calorie, High-Protein Oral Nutritional Supplement with HMB in an Old and Malnourished or at-Risk-of-Malnutrition Population with Hip Fractures: A FracNut Study.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are prevalent among older people, often leading to reduced mobility, muscle loss, and bone density decline. Malnutrition exacerbates the prognosis post surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week regimen of a high-calorie, high-protein oral supplement with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HC-HP-HMB-ONS) on nutritional status, daily activities, and compliance in malnourished or at-risk older patients with hip fractures receiving standard care. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 270 subjects ≥75 years of age, residing at home or in nursing homes, malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and post hip fracture surgery, received HC-HP-HMB-ONS for 12 weeks. Various scales and questionnaires assessed outcomes. RESULTS: During the 12 weeks of follow-up, 82.8% consumed ≥75% of HC-HP-HMB-ONS. By week 12, 62.4% gained or maintained weight (+0.3 kg), 29.2% achieved normal nutritional status (mean MNA score +2.8), and 46.8% improved nutritional status. Biochemical parameters improved significantly. Subjects reported good tolerability (mean score 8.5/10), with 87.1% of healthcare providers concurring. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of HC-HP-HMB-ONS markedly enhanced nutritional status and biochemical parameters in older hip-fracture patients, with high compliance and tolerability. Both patients and healthcare professionals expressed satisfaction with HC-HP-HMB-ONS.

[Use of antipsychotics in patients with dementia in Spain: Comparison with prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine and analysis of associations]. / Uso de antipsicóticos en los pacientes con demencia en España: comparación con la prescripción de los inhibidores de la acetilcolinesterasa y de la memantina, y análisis de las asociaciones.

OBJECTIVE: We have analyzed the prevalence of antipsychotics in patients with dementia in Spain, their age distribution and the influence of treatment with IACEs and memantine on their prescription. METHOD: Descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study of the 2017 BIFAP database in over 65 years of age with dementia. Prescriptions of antipsychotics, IACEs and memantine were collected. For antipsychotics were also collected, the duration of treatment and time from dementia diagnosis to prescription. RESULTS: A total of 1,327,792 subjects were retrieved, 89,464 (6.73%) with dementia. Antipsychotics were prescribed in 31.76%; by frequency: quetiapine (58.47%), risperidone (21%) and haloperidol (19.34%). Prescriptions of IACEs and memantine were clustered in those younger than 84 years and antipsychotics in those older than 85 (P<.001). Antipsychotics were maintained for a mean of 1174.5 days. In 26.4% of cases they were prescribed alone, OR 0.61 (95% CI: 0.59-0.62), in 35.85% associated with IACEs, OR 1.26 (95% CI: 1.22-1.30) and in 42.4% with memantine, OR 1.69 (95% CI: 1.62-1.78) (P<.000). From the diagnosis of dementia, 461 days (±1576.5) elapsed when isolated drugs were prescribed; 651 days (±1574.25) associated with IACEs and 1224 (±1779) with memantine. CONCLUSIONS: One third of patients with dementia were prescribed antipsychotics, mostly atypical, more frequently in those older than 85 years and for prolonged periods. IACEs and memantine were associated with the risk of antipsychotic prescription, but paradoxically, with prolonged time to onset.

Pilot Study on the Relationship between Malnutrition and Grip Strength with Prognosis in Diabetic Foot.

Sarcopenia and malnutrition have been associated in the elderly population with a poor prognosis in wound healing and with other adverse events, such as institutionalization or functional impairment. However, it is not known how these factors influence the prognosis of diabetic foot in the elderly. To answer this question, a prospective observational study of 45 patients over 65 years of age admitted with diagnoses of diabetic foot in a tertiary hospital has been conducted. All patients were assessed at admission and at 3 months after returning home to determine quality of life, pain, mobility and healing, overall hospital stay in relation to the presence of malnutrition (measured by BMI, CIPA scale and analytical parameters at admission of serum proteins and albumin), and sarcopenia measured by grip force, among other geriatric syndromes. The results found a relationship between altered sarcopenia and more pain and poorer quality of life, and altered BMI was related to a lower cure rate and worse mobility at follow-up. This study seems to indicate that, in the elderly population with diabetic foot, malnutrition and sarcopenia should be managed at the same time as the treatment of the diabetic foot itself.

Review on the management of cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.

Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are very prevalent in the elderly population and in addition to predisposing to cardiovascular disease they are related to functional decline, which limits the quality of life in this population. The objective of this work is to offer a review of the current evidence in the management of CVRF in the elderly population. The search strategy was executed in PubMed, Clinicalstrials.org and Embase, to search for clinical trials, observational cohort or cross-sectional studies, reviews, and clinical practice guidelines focused or including elderly population. The results provided were refined after reading the title and abstract, as well as elimination of duplicates, and were finally identified and assessed following the GRADE methodology. A total of 136 studies were obtained for all predefined risk factors, such as sedentary lifestyle, smoking, obesity and metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and alcohol. We described the results of the studies identified and assessed according to their methodological quality in different recommendation sections: diagnostic and prevention, intervention, or treatment in the elderly population. As the main limitation to the results of this review, there is the lack of quality studies whose target population is elderly patients. This issue limits the recommendations that can be made in this population. Due to this reason, comprehensive geriatric assessment seems the best tool currently available to implement the most appropriate treatment plans based on the baseline situation and comorbidity of each elderly patient.

[Prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in the Canary Islands, comparison with the Spanish population.] / Prescripción de inhibidores de acetilcolinesterasa y memantina en Canarias: comparación con la población española.

OBJECTIVE: In the Canary Islands the prescriptions billed to the National Health System are registered in a database (FarmaCanarias). The main objective was to estimate the consumption of Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (IACE) and Memantine in Canary Islands and to compare with a Spanish sample from Pharmacoepidemiological Research Base in Primary Care (PRBPC) which is national in scope. As secondary we determined the percentage in treatment in the Spanish sample. METHODS: The prescriptions of IACE and / or memantine in 2017 were calculated as Defined Daily Doses per 100 habitants (DHD) in FarmaCanarias and PRBPC. The prescriptions in FarmaCanarias were disclosed by island and age groups were also compared. The percentage of cases in treatment was calculated in PRBPC from records with diagnosis of "dementia". All the comparations were made by Pearson's χ2. RESULTS: The prescription of IACE and Memantine was: 3.042% (95% CI; 3.039-3.045) and 1.584% (95% CI; 1.582-1.587) in The Canary islands, respectively and 2.545% (95% CI; 2.518-2.572) and 0.922% (95% CI; 0.906-0.938), in PRBPC (p<0.001). DHDs between islands were different, except in two (p<0.001) The distribution by age group between FarmaCanarias and PRBPC was hetereogeneous (p<0.001). The percentage of dementia cases in treatment in PRBPC was 45.51% (95% CI; 45.186-45.838). CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of IACE and Memantine was higher in the Canary Islands, which added to the difference by age group, suggests epidemiological differences in dementia compared to the mainland. There is heterogeneity between islands that could be due to epidemiological factors, provider or the Public Health Service.

OBJETIVO: En Canarias las recetas facturadas al Sistema Nacional de Salud están registradas en una base de datos (FarmaCanarias). El objetivo principal de este estudio fue calcular el consumo de inhibidores de la acetilcolinesterasa (IACE) y memantina en Canarias y compararlo con una muestra representativa de la población española procedente de la Base de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria (BIFAP). Como objetivo secundario determinamos el porcentaje de casos tratados en la muestra española. METODOS: Las prescripciones de IACE y/o memantina se calcularon como Dosis Diarias Definidas por 100 habitantes (DHD) en FarmaCanarias y en BIFAP. Se calcularon los resultados por isla y también se compararon por grupos de edad. Los casos tratados se calcularon como porcentaje sobre los casos con demencia totales en BIFAP. Todas las comparaciones fueron efectuadas con la χ2 de Pearson. RESULTADOS: El consumo de IACE y Memantina fue de 3,042% (IC 95%; 3,039-3,045) y 1,584% (IC 95%; 1,582-1,587) en Canarias, respectivamente y de 2,545% (IC 95%; 2,518-2,572) y 0,922% (IC 95%; 0,906-0,938), en BIFAP (p<0,001). Las DHD entre islas fueron diferentes, salvo en dos (p<0,001). La distribución por grupos de edad entre FarmaCanarias y BIFAP fue heterogénea (p<0,001). El porcentaje de casos tratados en BIFAP fue: 45,51% (IC 95%; 45,186-45,838). CONCLUSIONES: La prescripción de IACE y Memantina fue mayor en Canarias lo que, añadido a la diferencia por grupos de edad, sugiere diferencias epidemiológicas en demencia frente al resto de España. Existe heterogeneidad entre islas que podría deberse a factores epidemiológicos, de proveedor o del Servicio Público de Salud.

[Usefulness of the summary of product characteristics as a tool to improve prescription in elderly patients]. / Utilidad de la ficha técnica de los medicamentos como herramienta para mejorar la prescripción en pacientes mayores.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Drug Technical Data Sheet should contribute to a safe and effective use of medications in the elderly, providing accurate information on the prescription, on the possible benefits or risks of the medications, or failing that, communicating the lack of information on their use in this group. The aim of this article was to quantify the specific information for people over 65 years of age included in the data sheets of the drugs available in Spain, and enables an adequate prescription in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary group reviewed all the Technical Data Sheets of drugs approved by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Devices (AEMPS). The quality of the information was classified into 4 categories: information specifically referring to the population over 65 years old; information specifically referring to the population over 80 years old; recommendations not specific to the elderly; and specific information for the elderly. RESULTS: A total of 1,462 Technical Sheets were reviewed, of which 48% had information regarding prescription in the elderly. Information on the use in patients over 80 years old was present in 1.23% of the sheets. Only 6.83% of all the sheets reviewed included specific recommendations for the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: There is little specific information regarding prescription in the elderly in the technical data sheets of drugs prescribed/sold in Spain. To improve knowledge in this field, data must be provided in the sheets that are based on the scientific literature, clinical trials for the elderly, or pharmacovigilance studies focused on this population.

Impact of exposure of emergency patients with acute heart failure to atmospheric Saharan desert dust. / Impacto de la exposición a la calima del polvo del Sáhara en los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda atendidos en un servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To explore whether episodes of exposure to atmospheric Saharan dust is a risk factor for hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) attended in a hospital emergency department (ED). METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of patients with AHF. The cohort was analyzed in 2 groups: ED patients hospitalized with AHF and patients discharged home from the ED. Air pollution on the 5 days leading to ED admission for AHF was recorded as the average concentration of breathable particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of no more than 10 µm (PM10) in the following ranges: fine PM (diameter less than 2.5 µm) or coarse PM (diameters between 2.5 and 10 µm). High Saharan dust pollution exposure was defined by mean daily PM10 concentrations between 50 and 200 µg/m3. Multivariable analysis was used to estimate risk for AHF in relation to PM10 exposure in the 5 days before the ED visit. RESULTS: A total of 1097 patients with AHF were treated in the ED; 318 of them (29%) were hospitalized and 779 (71%) were discharged home. Hospitalized patients were older, had more concomitant illnesses, and more episodes of exposure to Saharan dust (P < .0001). Multivariable analysis confirmed the association between Saharan dust exposure and hospital admission in these patients (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.21-4.58; P = .01). CONCLUSION: In the absence of prospective studies, the results of this series suggest that exposure to high levels of Saharan dust (PM10 concentrations between 50 and 200 µg/m3) may be a precipitating factor for hospitalization in AHF episodes.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar si la exposición a episodios de polvo sahariano predice los ingresos hospitalarios de los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) atendidos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). METODO: Estudio unicéntrico, de cohorte retrospectiva, de pacientes con ICA atendidos en un SUH. La población de estudio se dividió en 2 grupos: pacientes ingresados por ICA y pacientes con ICA dados de alta directa a domicilio desde el SUH. Se analizaron las concentraciones medias de material partículado (PMx) (respirables, diámetro aerodinámico, da< 10 µm), PM2,5 (finas, da <2,5 µm) y PM2,5-10 (gruesas, da 2,5-10 µm) desde el día de la llegada al SUH hasta 5 días previos. Se definió exposición intensa al polvo sahariano cuando las concentraciones medias diarias de PM10 estaban entre 50 y 200 µg/m3. La relación para estimar el riesgo de ingresar por ICA en función de la exposición de PMx durante los 5 días previos a su llegada a urgencias se analizó mediante análisis multivariable. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 1.097 pacientes con ICA, ingresaron 318 pacientes (29%), 779 (71%) se dieron de alta. Los pacientes ingresados por ICA tenían mayor edad, elevada comorbilidad y mayor proporción de pacientes expuestos a episodios intensos de polvo sahariano (p < 0,0001). En el análisis multivariable la exposición a episodios de polvo sahariano intensos se relacionó con el ingreso hospitalario en los pacientes con ICA (OR = 2,36; IC 95% 1,21-4,58; p = 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: En ausencia de estudios prospectivos, los resultados obtenidos de la serie analizada sugieren que la presencia de concentraciones elevadas de polvo sahariano (PM10: 50-200 µg/m3) puede constituir un factor precipitante de ingreso por ICA.

Spanish list of potentially inappropriate drugs in the elderly (ES-PIA project).

PURPOSE: In the last decades, different criteria have been developed for detecting inappropriate prescription in older patients. In Spain, translations and adaptations of international lists are available but it would be necessary a national list which could cope with the peculiarities of our health system, existing pharmaceutical market, and prescription habits. We propose in this project the creation of a Spanish potentially inappropriate drugs list which could be applicable in our clinical scenario. METHODS: We use a Delphi method involving 25 experts from different backgrounds (Clinical Pharmacology, Geriatrics, Rational Use of Drugs and Pharmacy, Primary Care and Pharmacoepidemiology, and Pharmacovigilance) that were asked to participate in two-round questionnaires. For analysis, current recommendations of Worth and Pigni were applied, and every statement was classified into one of three groups: strong, moderate, or low agreement. Statements with strong agreement were accepted to be part of the inadequate prescription list. Moderate agreement statements were selected to enter the second questionnaire, and statements with low agreement were further analyzed to determine if it was due to heterogeneity or due to dispersion in the answers. RESULTS: The first questionnaire consisted of 160 proposed sentences, of which 106 reached a high agreement, 32 a moderate agreement, and 22 a low agreement. All sentences proposed in the second questionnaire reached a strong agreement. The total accepted sentences were 138. CONCLUSIONS: We offer a list of inadequate prescription in older patients adapted to the Spanish pharmacopeia and according to the prescription habits in our environment.

A comprehensive approach of the determinants of use of care in dementia: the Recaredem (recourse to care in dementia) cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Given the rate of the undiagnosed cases of dementia and the consequences of inappropriate care, understanding the factors that explain the use of medical and health care in dementia is a critical concern. Our objective was to identify the psychosocial and medical determinants of use of care in dementia. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 308 participants: the persons with dementia (n = 99) selected from three French population-based cohorts (i.e. PAQUID, 3C, AMI), their family caregivers (primary, n = 96, and secondary, n = 51), and their general practitioners (n = 62). Use of care in dementia was considered according to two indicators: (1) recourse to secondary care, (2) number of community and health services used. RESULTS: Multiple logistic models including sociodemographics and psychosocial variables revealed that the determinants of nonuse of care are similar both for the recourse to secondary care and for the number of community and health services used: lack of education and the contribution of the people with dementia to the decisions regarding their own care and dementia care services in the community area. In addition, satisfaction of the primary caregiver with the services used by his/her relative is associated with non-recourse to secondary care. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results highlight the predominant role of psychosocial factors in the use of care in dementia and the importance of addressing this issue through an integrative approach including psychological, social, medical, and family dimensions.

Comparing the predictive value of three definitions of frailty: Results from the Three-City study.

BACKGROUND: Despite several attempts to reach a single definition of frailty, no consensus has been reached. The definitions previously published have tried to prove its utility in predicting negative health outcomes. The objective of the present study is to compare the predictive value of 3 different frailty instruments, for selected outcomes. METHODS: The study sample includes 1278 participants of the Three-City study, a French prospective population-based study, assessed for frailty using Fried's phenotype criteria, Rockwood's Frailty Index and Tilburg Frailty Indicator. To assess the risk of mortality, incident disability, falls, institutionalization and hospitalization for a follow up period of 12 years, Cox proportional hazard models with delayed entry have been used. The area under the time-dependent ROC curve has been used to estimate and compare the ability of the three instruments of frailty to predict the previous adverse outcomes at 12 years. RESULTS: Five hundred ninety four participants were identified as non-robust with Fried's criteria; 169 with Rockwood's FI and 303 with TFI. The three scales consistently identified 91 participants as non-robust and 574 as robust. Rockwood's FI was a statistically significant predictor of mortality, incident disability and falls, and a strong predictor of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: In the absence of a "gold standard" definition of frailty, a debate on what measures and how to include them is open. A clue may be that one should select the appropriate definition according to the to-be predicted outcome, the setting and the underlying etiology of frailty.

Frailty in elderly: a brief review.

The identification of frail older persons is a public health priority. Frailty is defined as an extreme vulnerability of the organism to endogenous and exogenous stressors, a syndrome that exposes the individual at higher risk of negative health-related outcomes as well as a transition phase between successful aging and disability. The theoretical concept of frailty is largely agreed, its practical translation still presents some limitations due to the existence of multiple tools and operational definition. In this brief review, we would like to clarify the frailty concept regarding scientific literature.

Effect of the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus on the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of cognitive impairment and dementia is an important public health goal. Epidemiological evidence shows a relationship between cognitive impairment and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk of dementia increases with duration of disease. This updated systematic review investigated the effect on cognitive function of the type of treatment and level of metabolic control in people with Type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of different strategies for managing Type 2 diabetes mellitus on cognitive function and the incidence of dementia. SEARCH METHODS: We searched ALOIS (the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (CDCIG)), the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS on 15 October 2016. ALOIS contains records from all major health care databases, (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS), as well as from many trials' registers and grey literature sources. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which compared two or more different treatments for Type 2 diabetes mellitus and in which cognitive function was measured at baseline and after treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the included RCTs. We pooled data for comparable trials and estimated the effects of treatment by using risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs), according to the nature of the outcome. We assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE methods. MAIN RESULTS: We identified seven eligible studies but only four provided data we could include in efficacy analyses. Two of these studies compared intensive versus standard glycaemic control and two compared different pharmacological treatments. All studies were at unclear risk of bias in at least two domains and one large study was at high risk of performance and detection bias.(a) Two studies with 13,934 participants at high cardiovascular risk provided efficacy data on intensive versus standard glycaemic control. A third study with 1791 participants provided additional data on hypoglycaemic episodes and mortality. There is probably no difference between treatment groups in the number of participants who decline by at least 3 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) over five years (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.08; 1 study; n = 11,140; moderate-quality evidence); and there may also be little or no difference in the incidence of dementia (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.85; 1 study; n = 11,140; low-quality evidence). From another study, there was probably little or no difference in MMSE score after 40 months (MD -0.01, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.16; 1 study; n = 2794; moderate quality evidence). Participants exposed to the intensive glycaemic control strategy probably experience more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia than those who have standard treatment (RR 2.18, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.14; 2 studies; n = 12,827; moderate-quality evidence). The evidence from these trials suggests that the intensity of glycaemic control may have little or no effect on all-cause mortality (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.13; 3 studies; n = 15,888; low-quality evidence).(b) One study with 156 participants compared glibenclamide (glyburide) with repaglinide. There may be a small advantage of glibenclamide on global cognitive function measured with the MMSE after 12 months (MD -0.90, 95% CI -1.68 to -0.12; low-quality evidence). No data were reported on the incidence of dementia, hypoglycaemic events or all-cause mortality.(c) One study with 145 participants compared rosiglitazone plus metformin to glibenclamide (glyburide) plus metformin over 24 weeks. It reported only on cognitive subdomains and not on global cognitive function, incidence of MCI or dementia, hypoglycaemic events or all causes of mortality. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no good evidence that any specific treatment or treatment strategy for Type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay cognitive impairment. The best available evidence related to the comparison of intensive with standard glycaemic control strategies. Here there was moderate-quality evidence that the strategies do not differ in their effect on global cognitive functioning over 40 to 60 months.

Higher Protein but Not Energy Intake Is Associated With a Lower Prevalence of Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the French Three-City Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that increasing protein and energy intakes may confer protection against frailty has been suggested, although few studies have examined these associations, especially regarding current protein energy recommendations in the older population. AIM: To assess the association between frailty and higher protein and energy intakes. METHODS: The present study is a secondary, cross-sectional analysis of the French Three-City cohort. Participants were community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and over. Frailty was defined as a score of 3/5 among the 5 Fried criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, muscle weakness, slowness, and physical activity. Protein intake was set at a daily intake ≥1 g/kg body weight and optimal energy intake defined as a daily intake ≥30 kcal/kg. Logistic regressions were performed while adjusting for several sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 1345 participants [mean age (SD) 74.0 (4.9) years], of whom 55 (4.1%) were identified as frail. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, higher protein intake was significantly associated with a lower frailty prevalence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.19-0.89; P = .024] whereas no significant association was observed between an optimal energy intake and the presence of frailty (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.32-1.55, P = .38). CONCLUSIONS: A 1 g/kg protein intake was associated with a lower prevalence of frailty in French community-dwelling older subjects. This observation adds to the literature, suggesting increasing the daily protein intake to at least 1 g/kg for older adults aged 65 and more.

Normative Scores for Standard Neuropsychological Tests in the Oldest Old From the French Population-Based PAQUID Study.

There is an obvious lack of validated norms for elderly persons aged 85 and older for the large majority of the neuropsychological tests used in clinical practice. Yet this range of "oldest-old" individuals drastically increases worldwide and is the more likely to develop dementia. Providing clinicians validated and updated norms to accurately evaluate cognitive functioning in this population is an important issue in geriatrics. This study provides normative scores for 7 neuropsychological tests commonly used in clinical practice. Data were collected in a sample of 283 subjects aged 85 and older, included in the PAQUID study, a population-based cohort conducted in France. Normative scores were calculated according to 2 age ranges and 2 educational levels, and are presented in percentiles. The norms provided in the present study involve 7 tests that are widely used in the neuropsychological assessment of geriatrics populations and should be of help for clinicians.

Obesity, fat distribution, and risk of frailty in two population-based cohorts of older adults in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate for the first time the longitudinal relationship between abdominal obesity and the onset of frailty. METHODS: Study based on results from two population-based cohorts, the Seniors-ENRICA, with 1801 individuals aged ≥60, and the Toledo Study for Healthy Ageing (TSHA), with 1289 participants ≥65 years. Incident frailty was assessed with the Fried criteria. RESULTS: During 3.5 years of follow-up, 125 individuals with incident frailty in Seniors-ENRICA and 162 in TSHA were identified. After adjustment for the main confounders, the pooled odds ratio (pooled OR) for general obesity and risk of frailty was 1.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-2.28). Abdominal obesity was also associated with frailty (pooled OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.09-2.25). Compared with individuals with BMI <25 kg/m(2) and no abdominal obesity, the risk of frailty was highest among individuals with concurrent general and abdominal obesity (pooled OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.23-3.86). General obesity was associated with increased risk of exhaustion (pooled OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.11-2.21), low physical activity (pooled OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.08-2.05), and weakness (pooled OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.12-2.05). For abdominal obesity, results were in the same direction, although they showed statistical significance only for weakness (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.11-1.80). CONCLUSIONS: General and abdominal obesity are associated with incident frailty in the elderly.

Association between frailty and carotid central structure changes: the Three-City Study.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the association between carotid central structure changes and frailty. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Three-City Study, a French prospective cohort designed to evaluate the risk of cognitive decline attributable to vascular risk factors. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling individuals aged 65 to 95 (N = 4,257). MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was defined as proposed by Fried and colleagues. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), diameter of the common carotid arteries, and the presence of plaques in both carotid arteries were determined using carotid Doppler ultrasonography. Multinomial logistic regression models, including adjustment for traditional cardiovascular and dementia risk factors, were used to evaluate the independent association between the central arterial structure and frailty. RESULTS: 6.8% of participants were classified as frail. Multivariate regression models showed an independent association between carotid IMT and frailty and between carotid diameter and frailty after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular risk factors, disability, and apolipoprotein E ε4 genotype. A 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in IMT (odds ratio (OR) = 1.15; P = .04) and a 1-SD increase in carotid diameter (OR = 1.23; P = .006) were associated with greater probability of being frail. CONCLUSION: The association between carotid structure changes and frailty suggests that frail elderly adults have vascular damage, which may explain, at least partly, why several adverse health-related outcomes are frequently observed in frail elderly adults.