Defining exceptional cognition in older adults: A systematic review of cognitive super-ageing.

OBJECTIVE: A consistent approach to defining cognitive super-ageing is needed to increase the value of research insights that may be gained from studying this population including ageing well and preventing and treating neurodegenerative conditions. This review aims to evaluate the existing definitions of 'super-ageing' with a focus on cognition. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google Scholar from inception to 24 July 2023. RESULTS: Of 44 English language studies that defined super-ageing from a cognitive perspective in older adults (60-97 years), most (n = 33) were based on preserved verbal episodic memory performance comparable to that of younger adult in age range 16-65 years. Eleven studies defined super-agers as the top cognitive performers for their age group based upon standard deviations or percentiles above the population mean. Only nine studies included longitudinal cognitive performance in their definitions. CONCLUSIONS: Equivalent cognitive abilities to younger adults, exceptional cognition for age and a lack of cognitive deterioration over time are all meaningful constructs and may provide different insights into cognitive ageing. Using these criteria in combination or individually to define super-agers, with a clear rationale for which elements have been selected, could be fit for purpose depending on the research question. However, major discrepancies including the age range of super-agers and comparator groups and the choice of cognitive domains assessed should be addressed to reach some consensus in the field.

Perioperative interventions to improve early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative interventions could enhance early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture surgery. OBJECTIVE: Determine the effectiveness of perioperative interventions on early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 to March 2022. English language experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included if patients were hospitalised for a fractured proximal femur with a mean age 65 years or older and reported measures of early mobilisation and physical function during the acute hospital admission. Data were pooled using a random effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were included from 1,327 citations. Studies were conducted in 26 countries on 8,192 participants with a mean age of 80 years. Pathways and models of care may provide a small increase in early mobilisation (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.39, I2 = 73%) and physical function (SMD: 0.07, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.15, I2 = 0%) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation analgesia may provide a moderate improvement in function (SMD: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.24-1.05, I2 = 96%). The benefit of pre-operative mobilisation, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, recumbent cycling and clinical supervision on mobilisation and function remains uncertain. Evidence of no effect on mobilisation or function was identified for pre-emptive analgesia, intraoperative periarticular injections, continuous postoperative epidural infusion analgesia, occupational therapy training or nutritional supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative interventions may improve early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture surgery. Future studies are needed to model the causal mechanisms of perioperative interventions on mobilisation and function after hip fracture.

Frequency of cognitive "super-aging" in three Australian samples using different diagnostic criteria.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency of exceptional cognition (cognitive super-aging) in Australian older adults using different published definitions, agreement between definitions, and the relationship of super-aging status with function, brain imaging markers, and incident dementia. DESIGN: Three longitudinal cohort studies. SETTING: Participants recruited from the electoral roll, Australian Twins Registry, and community advertisements. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (aged 65-106) without dementia from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (n = 1037; median age 78), Older Australian Twins Study (n = 361; median age 68), and Sydney Centenarian Study (n = 217; median age 97). MEASUREMENTS: Frequency of super-aging was assessed using nine super-aging definitions based on performance on neuropsychological testing. Levels of agreement between definitions were calculated, and associations between super-aging status for each definition and functioning (Bayer ADL score), structural brain imaging measures, and incident dementia were explored. RESULTS: Frequency of super-aging varied between 2.9 and 43.4 percent with more stringent definitions associated with lower frequency. Agreement between different criteria varied from poor (K = 0.04, AC1 = .24) to very good (K = 0.83, AC1 = .91) with better agreement between definitions using similar tests and cutoffs. Super-aging was associated with better functional performance (4.7-11%) and lower rates of incident dementia (hazard ratios 0.08-0.48) for most definitions. Super-aging status was associated with a lower burden of white matter hyperintensities (3.8-33.2%) for all definitions. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of super-aging is strongly affected by the demographic and neuropsychological testing parameters used. Greater consistency in defining super-aging would enable better characterization of this exceptional minority.

Time to interval cholecystectomy and associated outcomes in a population aged 50 and above with mild gallstone pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy on index admission for mild gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) is recommended, although not always feasible. This study examined rates and outcomes of people aged ≥ 50 years who underwent interval (delayed) cholecystectomy at increasing time points. METHODS: Hospitalisation and death data were linked for individuals aged ≥ 50 years admitted to hospital in New South Wales, Australia with mild GSP between 2008-2018. Primary outcome was interval cholecystectomy timing. Secondary outcomes included mortality, emergency readmission for gallstone-related disease (GSRD) (28 and 180-day), and length of stay (LOS) (index admission and total six-month GSRD). RESULTS: 3,003 patients underwent interval cholecystectomy: 861 (28.6%) at 1-30, 1,221 (40.7%) at 31-90 and 921 (30.7%) at 91-365 days from index admission. There was no difference in 365-day mortality between groups. Longer delay to cholecystectomy was associated with increased 180-day emergency GSRD readmission (17.5% vs 15.8% vs 19.9%, p < 0.001) and total six-month LOS (5.9 vs 8.4 vs 8.3, p < 0.001). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was increasingly required with cholecystectomy delay (14.5% vs 16.9% vs 20.4%, p < 0.001), as were open cholecystectomy procedures (4.8% vs 7.6% vs 11.3%, p < 0.001). Extended delay was associated with patients of lower socioeconomic status, regional/rural backgrounds or who presented to a low volume or non-tertiary hospital (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Delay to interval cholecystectomy results in increased rates of emergency readmission, overall LOS, risks of conversion to open surgery and need for ERCP. Index admission cholecystectomy is still recommended, however when not possible, interval cholecystectomy should be performed within 30 days to minimise patient risk and healthcare burden.

An Australian aged care home for people subject to homelessness: health, wellbeing and cost-benefit.

BACKGROUND: Older people subject to homelessness face many challenges including poor health status, geriatric syndromes, and depression, coupled with barriers in accessing health and aged care services. Many are in need of formal aged care at a younger age than the general population, yet, in Australia, specialised aged-care services to support this vulnerable cohort are limited. METHODS: This study was an evaluation of a new purpose-built aged care home for people with high care needs and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Over the first 12 months post-admission, the study examined: (1) changes in residents' physical, mental, psychological and social health, and (2) the costs incurred by the study cohort, including any cost benefit derived. RESULTS: Thirty-five residents enrolled in the study between March 2020 - April 2021. At admission, almost half of residents were within the range for dementia, the majority were frail, at high risk for falls, and had scores indicative of depression. Over time, linear mixed-effect models showed significant improvement in personal wellbeing scores, with clinically significant improvements in overall health related quality of life. Levels of physical functional independence, frailty, and global cognition were stable, but cognitive functional ability declined over time. Comparison of 12 month pre- and post- admission cost utility data for a smaller cohort (n = 13) for whom complete data were available, suggested an average per resident saving of approximately AU$32,000, while the QALY indicators remained stable post-admission. CONCLUSION: While this was a small study with no control group, these preliminary positive outcomes add to the growing body of evidence that supports the need for dedicated services to support older people subject to homelessness.

Fall prevention in older people: past, present and future.

Over the past 50 years we have transitioned from accepting falls as an inevitable consequence of ageing to something that can and should be prevented. Numerous studies have elucidated the contributors to falls and how to assess a person's risk of falling. There are many effective approaches to preventing falls in older people including those with cognitive and physical impairments. Exercise is the most tried and tested approach with good evidence that moderate to high intensity balance training is an effective fall prevention strategy. Other successful single modality interventions include enhanced podiatry, home safety interventions, expedited cataract extraction, cardiac pacing for people with carotid sinus hypersensitivity and vitamin D supplementation in people living in care homes. Multiple interventions (everyone receives the same intervention package) and multifactorial interventions (interventions tailored to identified risk factors) are effective particularly in high-risk populations. In more recent years we have seen the emergence of new technologies such as devices and software programs that can offer low-cost interventions which may be more sustainable than our traditional time- and resource-limited approach to prevention. There is still more to be done and a translational focus is needed to ensure that effective interventions are scaled up and delivered to more people while at the same time maximising adherence and maintaining the fidelity of the interventions.

Linking health service utilisation and mortality data-unravelling what happens after fall-related paramedic care.

BACKGROUND: A randomised controlled trial implemented and evaluated a new model of care for non-transported older fallers to prevent future falls and unplanned health service use. This current study uses linked data to evaluate the effects of the intervention beyond the initial 12-month study period. METHOD: Study data from an established cohort of 221 adults were linked to administrative data from NSW Ambulance, Emergency Department Data Collection, Admitted Patient Data Collection and Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages evaluating health service use at 12, 24 and 36 months following randomisation including time to event (health service utilisation) and mortality. Negative binomial and Cox's proportional hazard regression were performed to capture the impact of the study between groups and adherence status. RESULTS: At 36 months follow-up, 89% of participants called an ambulance, 87% attended the Emergency Department and 91% were admitted to hospital. There were no significant differences in all-cause health service utilisation between the control and intervention group (IG) at 12, 24 and 36 months follow-up. Fall-related health service use was significantly higher within the IG at 12 (IRR:1.40 (95%CI:1.01-1.94) and 24 months (IRR:1.43 (95%CI:1.05-1.95)). Medication use, impaired balance and previous falls were associated with subsequent health service use. Over 40% of participants died by the follow-up period with risk of death lower in the IG at 36 months (HR:0.64, 95%CI:0.45-0.91). CONCLUSION: Non-transported fallers have a high risk of future health service use for fall and other medical-related reasons. Interventions which address this risk need to be further explored.

Fall-related health service use in Stepping On programme participants and matched controls: a non-randomised observational trial within the 45 and Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-related health service use among older adults continue to increase. The New South Wales Health Department, Australia, is delivering the Stepping On fall prevention programme at scale. We compared fall-related health service use in Stepping On participants and matched controls. METHODS: A non-randomised observational trial was undertaken using 45 and Up Study data. 45 and Up Study participants who did and did not participate in Stepping On were extracted in a 1:4 ratio. Rates of fall-related health service use from linked routinely collected data were compared between participants and controls over time using multilevel Poisson regression models with adjustment for the minimally sufficient set of confounders identified from a directed acyclic graph. RESULTS: Data from 1,452 Stepping On participants and 5,799 controls were analysed. Health service use increased over time and was greater in Stepping On participants (rate ratios (RRs) 1.47-1.82) with a spike in use in the 6 months prior to programme participation. Significant interactions indicated differential patterns of health service use in participants and controls: stratified analyses revealed less fall-related health service use in participants post-programme compared to pre-programme (RRs 0.32-0.48), but no change in controls' health service use (RRs 1.00-1.25). Gender was identified to be a significant effect modifier for health service use (P < 0.05 for interaction). DISCUSSION: Stepping On appeared to mitigate participants' rising fall-related health service use. Best practice methods were used to maximise this study's validity, but cautious interpretation of results is required given its non-randomised nature.

Economic evaluation of the e-Health StandingTall balance exercise programme for fall prevention in people aged 70 years and over.

BACKGROUND: globally, falls and fall-related injuries are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in older people. In our ageing society healthcare costs are increasing, therefore programmes that reduce falls and are considered value for money are needed. OBJECTIVE: to complete an economic evaluation of an e-Health balance exercise programme that reduced falls and injurious falls in community-dwelling older people compared to usual care from a health and community-care funder perspective. DESIGN: a within-trial economic evaluation of an assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial with 2 years of follow-up. SETTING: StandingTall was delivered via tablet-computer at home to older community-dwelling people in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: five hundred and three individuals aged 70+ years who were independent in activities of daily living, without cognitive impairment, progressive neurological disease or any other unstable or acute medical condition precluding exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: cost-effectiveness was measured as the incremental cost per fall and per injurious fall prevented. Cost-utility was measured as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. MAIN RESULTS: the total average cost per patient for programme delivery and care resource cost was $8,321 (standard deviation [SD] 18,958) for intervention participants and $6,829 (SD 15,019) for control participants. The incremental cost per fall prevented was $4,785 and per injurious fall prevented was $6,585. The incremental cost per QALY gained was $58,039 (EQ5D-5L) and $110,698 (AQoL-6D). CONCLUSION: this evaluation found that StandingTall has the potential to be cost-effective in specific subpopulations of older people, but not necessarily the whole older population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12615000138583.

The use and predictive performance of the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PH-FRAT) in 25 residential aged care facilities: a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data.

BACKGROUND: The Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PH-FRAT) is a validated and widely applied tool in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia. However, research regarding its use and predictive performance is limited. This study aimed to determine the use and performance of PH-FRAT in predicting falls in RACF residents. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using routinely-collected data from 25 RACFs in metropolitan Sydney, Australia from Jul 2014-Dec 2019. A total of 5888 residents aged ≥65 years who were assessed at least once using the PH-FRAT were included in the study. The PH-FRAT risk score ranges from 5 to 20 with a score > 14 indicating fallers and ≤ 14 non-fallers. The predictive performance of PH-FRAT was determined using metrics including area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, sensitivityEvent Rate(ER) and specificityER. RESULTS: A total of 27,696 falls were reported over 3,689,561 resident days (a crude incident rate of 7.5 falls /1000 resident days). A total of 38,931 PH-FRAT assessments were conducted with a median of 4 assessments per resident, a median of 43.8 days between assessments, and an overall median fall risk score of 14. Residents with multiple assessments had increased risk scores over time. The baseline PH-FRAT demonstrated a low AUROC of 0.57, sensitivity of 26.0% (sensitivityER 33.6%) and specificity of 88.8% (specificityER 82.0%). The follow-up PH-FRAT assessments increased sensitivityER values although the specificityER decreased. The performance of PH-FRAT improved using a lower risk score cut-off of 10 with AUROC of 0.61, sensitivity of 67.5% (sensitivityER 74.4%) and specificity of 55.2% (specificityER 45.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Although PH-FRAT is frequently used in RACFs, it demonstrated poor predictive performance raising concerns about its value. Introducing a lower PH-FRAT cut-off score of 10 marginally enhanced its predictive performance. Future research should focus on understanding the feasibility and accuracy of dynamic fall risk predictive tools, which may serve to better identify residents at risk of falls.

The use of predictive fall models for older adults receiving aged care, using routinely collected electronic health record data: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Falls in older adults remain a pressing health concern. With advancements in data analytics and increasing uptake of electronic health records, developing comprehensive predictive models for fall risk is now possible. We aimed to systematically identify studies involving the development and implementation of predictive falls models which used routinely collected electronic health record data in home-based, community and residential aged care settings. METHODS: A systematic search of entries in Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in July 2020 using search terms relevant to aged care, prediction, and falls. Selection criteria included English-language studies, published in peer-reviewed journals, had an outcome of falls, and involved fall risk modelling using routinely collected electronic health record data. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program for Clinical Prediction Rule Studies were conducted. Study content was synthesised and reported narratively. RESULTS: From 7,329 unique entries, four relevant studies were identified. All predictive models were built using different statistical techniques. Predictors across seven categories were used: demographics, assessments of care, fall history, medication use, health conditions, physical abilities, and environmental factors. Only one of the four studies had been validated externally. Three studies reported on the performance of the models. CONCLUSIONS: Adopting predictive modelling in aged care services for adverse events, such as falls, is in its infancy. The increased availability of electronic health record data and the potential of predictive modelling to document fall risk and inform appropriate interventions is making use of such models achievable. Having a dynamic prediction model that reflects the changing status of an aged care client is key to this moving forward for fall prevention interventions.

Epidemiology of falls in 25 Australian residential aged care facilities: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study using routinely collected data.

BACKGROUND: Falls are frequent among older adults and have significant health and economic consequences. There have been few studies on the epidemiology of falls in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of falls in RACFs using longitudinal routinely collected incident data over 5 years (July 2014-December 2019). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study is conducted using fall incident data from 25 RACFs in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Incidents relating to a population of 6163 aged care residents aged ≥65 years were included. Outcome measures were incidents of all falls, injurious falls and falls requiring hospitalization. The risk-adjusted incidence rate (IR) for each outcome indicator for each of the 25 facilities was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 27 878 falls were reported over 3 906 772 resident days (a crude rate of 7.14 incidents per 1000 resident days; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.81-7.48). Of these, 10 365 (37.2%) were injurious and 2733 (9.8%) required hospitalization. The crude IRs were 2.65 incidents per 1000 resident days (95% CI 2.53-2.78) for injurious falls and 0.70 incidents per 1000 resident days (95% CI 0.66-0.74) for falls requiring hospitalization. The incidence of falls was significantly higher in respite compared to permanent residents for all falls (adjusted IR ratio (aIRR) 1.33; 95% CI 1.18-1.51) and injurious falls (aIRR 1.30; 95% CI 1.14-1.48) and for men compared to women for all outcomes (all falls aIRR 1.69; 95% CI 1.54-1.86; injurious falls aIRR 1.87; 95% CI 1.71-2.04 and falls requiring hospitalization aIRR 1.29; 95% CI 1.12-1.48). The risk-adjusted IRs per 1000 resident days between facilities varied substantially (all falls 0.57-12.93 falls; injurious falls 0.25-4.47 and falls requiring hospitalization 0.10-1.70). CONCLUSION: Falls are frequent in RACFs, often resulting in injury and hospitalization. The study provides robust and comprehensive information that may help inform future initiatives to minimize the incidence of falls in RACFs.

The association between white matter hyperintensity volume and cognitive/physical decline in older people with dementia: A one-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and cognitive and physical decline in people with dementia will assist in determining potential treatment strategies. Currently there is conflicting evidence describing the association between WMHs and cognitive decline and, WMHs association with declines in objective measures of physical function have not been examined. We examined the relationship between baseline WMH volume and physical/cognitive decline over one-year in older people with dementia. METHODS: Twenty-six community-dwelling older people with dementia (mean age = 81 ± 8 years; 35% female) were assessed at baseline and follow-up (one-year) using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (including verbal fluency), Trail Making Test A, the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), timed-up-and-go (TUG) and gait speed. WMH volumes were quantified using a fully automated segmentation toolbox, UBO Detector. RESULTS: In analyses adjusted for baseline performance, higher baseline WMH volume was associated with decline in executive function (verbal fluency), sensorimotor function (PPA) and mobility (TUG). Executive function (semantic/category fluency) was the only domain association that withstood adjustment for age, and additionally hippocampal volume. CONCLUSIONS: In unadjusted analyses, WMH volume was associated with one-year declines in cognitive and physical function in older people with dementia. The association with executive function decline withstood adjustment for age. More research is needed to confirm these findings and explore whether vascular risk reduction strategies can reduce WMH volume and associated cognitive and physical impairments in this group.

Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older People with Cognitive Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Dementia and depression often coexist. Understanding how concomitant comorbidities affect function can improve assessment and management strategies. We examined the relationship between cognitive, psychological, and physical function and depressive symptoms in people with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using baseline data from the iFOCIS randomized controlled trial involving 309 participants with mild-moderate cognitive impairment. The association between cognitive (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III [ACE-III], Frontal Assessment Battery), psychological (Goldberg Anxiety Scale; Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale), and physical (Physiological Profile Assessment; Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) function, and quality of life (QoL), physical activity levels and activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]) were assessed (adjusted for age, sex, education, and ACE-III as appropriate). RESULTS: Participants with depressive symptoms (GDS ≥4) had significantly more falls in the previous year and a higher number of comorbidities than people without depressive symptoms (GDS <4). Each point increase in the GDS was associated with better memory, higher levels of anxiety and concern about falling, poorer balance, slower gait speed, and reduced QoL. The relationship between the GDS and poor balance and QoL withstood additional adjustment for comorbidity tertiles. The relationship between GDS and concern about falls withstood additional adjustment for previous falls (12 months) and SPPB scores. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptomatology is associated with poorer physical and psychological function and reduced QoL in people with cognitive impairment. These factors should be considered when assessing and intervening in this group. Future research could examine these relationships longitudinally to establish causality and examine intervention efficacy in this group.

Sensorimotor, Cognitive, and Affective Functions Contribute to the Prediction of Falls in Old Age and Neurologic Disorders: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether impairments across cognitive and affective domains provide additional information to sensorimotor deficits for fall prediction among various populations. DESIGN: We pooled data from 5 studies for this observational analysis of prospective falls. SETTING: Community or low-level care facility. PARTICIPANTS: Older people (N=1090; 74.0±9.4y; 579 female); 500 neurologically intact (NI) older people and 3 groups with neurologic disorders (cognitive impairment, n=174; multiple sclerosis (MS), n=111; Parkinson disease, n=305). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensorimotor function was assessed with the Physiological Profile Assessment, cognitive function with tests of executive function, affect with questionnaires of depression, and concern about falling with falls efficacy questionnaires. These variables were associated with fall incidence rates, obtained prospectively over 6-12 months. RESULTS: Poorer sensorimotor function was associated with falls (incidence rate ratio [95% CI], 1.46 [1.28-1.66]). Impaired executive function was the strongest predictor of falls overall (2.91 [2.27-3.73]), followed by depressive symptoms (2.07 [1.56-2.75]) and concern about falling (2.02 [1.61-2.55]). Associations were similar among groups, except for a weaker relationship with executive impairment in NI persons and a stronger relationship with concern about falling in persons with MS. Multivariable analyses showed that executive impairment, poorer sensorimotor performance, depressive symptoms, and concern about falling were independently associated with falls. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in cognition (executive function) and affect (depressive symptoms) and concern about falling are as important as sensorimotor function for fall prediction. These domains should be included in fall risk assessments for older people and clinical groups.

Scale-up of the Stepping On fall prevention program amongst older adults in NSW: Program reach and fall-related health service use.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: We describe the reach of the scale-up of Stepping On, a fall prevention program targeting community-dwellers aged ≥65 years in NSW, along with fall-related ambulance service use and fall-related hospitalisations after scale-up. METHODS: Data on program provision were received from Local Health Districts. Routinely collected fall-related ambulance usage and hospital admissions in NSW residents aged ≥65 years between 2009 and 2015 were compared within Statistical Local Areas prior to and following the implementation of Stepping On using multilevel models. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2014 the program was delivered in 1077 sites to 10 096 older adults. Rates of fall-related ambulance use and hospital admissions per 100-person-years were 1-2 in people aged 66-74, 4-5 in people aged 75-84 and 12-13 in people aged ≥85. These rates increased over time (P < .001). The interaction between time and program delivery was not significant for fall-related ambulance use or hospital admissions. The time-related increase in fall-related ambulance usage in people aged 75-84 years may have been moderated by the Stepping On program (rate ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.93-1.00, P = .045). CONCLUSIONS: There was no indication of a reduced rate of fall-related ambulance use or hospital admissions across the entire sample. Ambulance call-outs for falls in people aged 75-84 years may have reduced following program participation. SO WHAT?: Program scale-ups need to reach a large proportion of the target population with a focus on those groups contributing most to fall-related health service utilisation. Linking individual participants' health data as part of large-scale evaluations may provide better insights into program outcomes.

Exercise to Reduce Mobility Disability and Prevent Falls After Fall-Related Leg or Pelvic Fracture: RESTORE Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Disability and falls are common following fall-related lower limb and pelvic fractures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an exercise self-management intervention on mobility-related disability and falls after lower limb or pelvic fracture. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-six community dwellers aged 60+ years within 2 years of lower limb or pelvic fracture recruited from hospitals and community advertising. INTERVENTIONS: RESTORE (Recovery Exercises and STepping On afteR fracturE) intervention (individualized, physiotherapist-prescribed home program of weight-bearing balance and strength exercises, fall prevention advice) versus usual care. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes were mobility-related disability and rate of falls. KEY RESULTS: Primary outcomes were available for 80% of randomized participants. There were no significant between-group differences in mobility-related disability at 12 months measured by (a) Short Physical Performance Battery (continuous version, baseline-adjusted between-group difference 0.08, 95% CI - 0.01 to 0.17, p = 0.08, n = 273); (b) Activity Measure Post Acute Care score (0.18, 95% CI - 2.89 to 3.26, p = 0.91, n = 270); (c) Late Life Disability Instrument (1.37, 95% CI - 2.56 to 5.32, p = 0.49, n = 273); or in rate of falls over the 12-month study period (incidence rate ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.34, n = 336, p = 0.83). Between-group differences favoring the intervention group were evident in some secondary outcomes: balance and mobility, fall risk (Physiological Profile Assessment tool), physical activity, mood, health and community outings, but these should be interpreted with caution due to risk of chance findings from multiple analyses. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant intervention impacts on mobility-related disability and falls were detected, but benefits were seen for secondary measures of balance and mobility, fall risk, physical activity, mood, health, and community outings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12610000805077.

Prehabilitation for the Frailty Syndrome: Improving Outcomes for Our Most Vulnerable Patients.

Anesthetists are increasingly faced with the challenge of delivering perioperative care to frail older people. Patients with frailty undergoing surgical intervention are at a significantly increased risk of perioperative complications, mortality, and longer length of stay. Moreover, frailty is often associated with multimorbidity and a range of geriatric syndromes including functional dependency, cognitive impairment, and malnutrition which further increases risk and complexity of care. There is a growing body of evidence that prehabilitation-intervention delivered during the preoperative period to improve overall health and function-can improve postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing surgery. However, whether this vulnerable population stand to benefit from prehabilitation is less clear. We review the evidence for prehabilitation for patients with frailty including whether the risks associated with and outcomes from surgery can be modified through comprehensive geriatric assessment.

The role of concern about falling on stepping performance during complex activities.

BACKGROUND: There is limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms explaining the role of concern about falling on fall risk in older people. Anxiety is known to interact with cognitive resources and, as people get older, they require more cognitive resources to maintain balance. This might affect an individual's ability to perform cognitive-motor tasks concurrently. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a visuospatial dual-task on stepping performance in older people with and without concern about falling and the impact of repeating this task in those with high concern about falling. METHODS: Three-hundred-eight community-dwelling older people, aged 70 to 90 years old, participated in the study. Participants were asked to perform a Choice Stepping Reaction Time (CSRT) task in two conditions; once without any other tasks (single task condition), and once while simultaneously performing a visuospatial task (dual-task condition). Participants were asked to rate their levels of concern and confidence specifically related to each of the 25 stepping trials (before/after). We also measured general concern about falling, affect, and sensorimotor and cognitive functioning. RESULTS: Total stepping reaction times increased when participants also performed the visuospatial task. The relation between general concern about falling and stepping reaction time, was affected by sensorimotor and executive functioning. Generalised linear mixed models showed that the group with moderate to high levels of general concern about falling had slower total stepping reaction times than those with lower levels of concern about falling, especially during the dual-task condition. Individuals with greater general concern about falling showed reduced confidence levels about whether they could do the stepping tasks under both conditions. Repeatedly performing the stepping task reduced the immediate task-specific concern about falling levels and increased confidence in all participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that people with higher general concern about falling experienced more difficulties during a dual-task condition than people with lower levels of concern. Of further interest, better sensorimotor and cognitive functioning reduced this effect. Graded exposure has potential to reduce concern about falling during fear-evoking activities, especially in conjunction with therapies that improve balance, mood and cognitive function.

The role of cognitive function and physical activity in physical decline in older adults across the cognitive spectrum.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate physical decline over 1-year in a cohort of older people across the cognitive spectrum. METHODS: Physical function was assessed using the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) in 593 participants (cognitively normal [CN]: n = 342, mild cognitive impairment [MCI]: n = 77, dementia: n = 174) at baseline and in 490 participants available for reassessment 1-year later. Neuropsychological performance and physical activity (PA) were assessed at baseline. RESULTS: Median baseline PPA scores for CN, MCI and dementia groups were 0.41 (IQR = -0.09-1.02), 0.66 (IQR = -0.06-1.15) and 2.37 (IQR = 0.93-3.78) respectively. All baseline neuropsychological domains and PA were significantly associated with baseline PPA. There were significant interaction terms (Time × Cognitive Group, Global Cognition, Processing Speed, Executive Function and PA) in the models investigating PPA decline. In multivariate analysis the Time × Executive Function and PA interaction terms were significant, indicating that participants with poorer baseline executive function and reduced PA demonstrated greater physical decline when compared to individuals with better executive function and PA respectively. DISCUSSION: Having MCI or dementia is associated with greater physical decline compared to CN older people. Physical inactivity and executive dysfunction were associated with physical decline in this sample, which included participants with MCI and dementia. Both factors influencing physical decline are potentially amenable to interventions e.g. exercise.