Preventing and managing constipation in older inpatients.

Purpose Constipation in hospitalised older adults leads to adverse events and prolonged stay. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to effectively prevent and manage constipation in older adults undergoing inpatient rehabilitation using a multidisciplinary war on constipation (WOC) algorithm. Design/methodology/approach A quality improvement project in older adults undergoing rehabilitation for prevention and constipation management was conducted. Quality improvement "plan-do-study-act" cycles included an initial constipation audit in the wards and meetings with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to develop an algorithm for the preventing, detecting and effectively treating constipation. Findings The project resulted in a 14 per cent reduction in constipation incidence after the newly developed WOC algorithm was introduced. The project also improved communication between patients and the MDT around patients' bowel habits. Practical implications The project shows that using quality improvement methods in rehabilitation settings, earlier detection, earlier intervention and overall reduction in constipation in older adults can be achieved. Originality/value The WOC algorithm has been developed and institutionalised in the current setting. This algorithm may also be applicable in other inpatient settings.

Age-related normative changes in phasic orthostatic blood pressure in a large population study: findings from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

BACKGROUND: In this report, we provide the first normative reference data and prevalence estimates of impaired orthostatic blood pressure (BP) stabilization, initial orthostatic hypotension, and orthostatic hypotension based on beat-to-beat blood pressure methods in a population-representative sample. METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants were recruited from a nationally representative cohort study (≥50 years). Beat-to-beat systolic BP, diastolic BP, and heart rate records were analyzed among those who underwent an active stand test (n=4475). Normograms were estimated by use of generalized additive models for location, shape, and scale with Box-Cox power exponential distribution. Prevalence estimates of impaired BP stabilization, initial orthostatic hypotension, and orthostatic hypotension are reported. Orthostatic BP responses in adults aged 50 to 59 years stabilized within 30 seconds of standing, with older groups taking 30 seconds or longer. The total prevalence of impaired BP stabilization was 15.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.1%-17.1%), increasing with age to 41.2% (95% CI, 30.0%-52.4%) in people ≥80 years old. Initial orthostatic hypotension occurred in 32.9% (95% CI, 31.2%-34.6%) of the population aged ≥50 years, with no age gradient evident. The prevalence of orthostatic hypotension was 6.9% (95% CI, 5.9%-7.8%) in the total population, increasing to 18.5% (95% CI, 9.0%-28.0%) in those aged ≥80 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Significant age-related differences exist in the time course of postural BP responses, with abnormal responses taking longer than 30 seconds to stabilize. Impaired BP stabilization is more common as we age, affecting more than two-fifths of the population aged ≥80 years, and may play a future role in the management of falls and syncope.

Higher orthostatic heart rate predicts mortality: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hemodynamic signals may predict adverse outcomes in elders. AIMS: To study the association between orthostatic hemodynamics and incident mortality in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). METHODS: Wave 1 subjects underwent an active stand with non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring. We compared wave 1 active stands, dead vs alive in wave 2. RESULTS: Compared to the 4,415 participants who had not died, the 53 who had died had a higher baseline heart rate [HR mean of 69 vs 65 beats per minute (bpm)] and a higher mean orthostatic HR, especially between 30 and 60 s post-stand (mean of 79 vs 73 bpm). After adjusting for age, sex, baseline HR, mini-mental state examination score and cardiovascular comorbidities and medications, the mean HR between 30 and 60 s post-stand independently predicted mortality (baseline HR did not). DISCUSSION: Higher early orthostatic HR may be an independent risk marker. Further validation is required.

Insights into the clinical management of the syndrome of supine hypertension--orthostatic hypotension (SH-OH): the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

BACKGROUND: Our previously proposed morphological classification of orthostatic hypotension (MOH) is an approach to the definition of three typical orthostatic hemodynamic patterns using non-invasive beat-to-beat monitoring. In particular, the MOH pattern of large drop/non-recovery (MOH-3) resembles the syndrome of supine hypertension-orthostatic hypotension (SH-OH), which is a treatment challenge for clinicians. The aim of this study was to characterise MOH-3 in the first wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), with particular attention to concurrent symptoms of orthostatic intolerance (OI), prescribed medications and association with history of faints and blackouts. METHODS: The study included all TILDA wave 1 participants who had a Finometer® active stand. Automatic data signal checks were carried out to ensure that active stand data were of sufficient quality. Characterisation variables included demographics, cardiovascular and neurological medications (WHO-ATC), and self-reported information on comorbidities and disability. Multivariable statistics consisted of logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 4,467 cases, 1,456 (33%) were assigned to MOH-1 (small drop, overshoot), 2,230 (50%) to MOH-2 (medium drop, slower but full recovery), and 781 (18%) to MOH-3 (large drop, non-recovery). In the logistic regression model to predict MOH-3, statistically significant factors included being on antidepressants (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.50 - 2.64, P < 0.001) and beta blockers (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.26 - 2.04, P < 0.001). MOH-3 was an independent predictor of OI after full adjustment (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.25 - 1.73, P < 0.001), together with being on hypnotics or sedatives (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.31 - 2.54, P < 0.001). In addition, OI was an independent predictor of history of falls/blackouts after full adjustment (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.48, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressants and beta blockers were independently associated with MOH-3, and should be used judiciously in older patients with SH-OH. Hypnotics and sedatives may add to the OI effect of MOH-3. Several trials have demonstrated the benefits of treating older hypertensive patients with cardiovascular medications that were not associated with adverse outcomes in our study. Therefore, the evidence of benefit does not necessarily have to conflict with the evidence of potential harm.

Depression: a modifiable factor in fearful older fallers transitioning to frailty?

OBJECTIVE: Fear of falling is one of the most common fears among community-dwelling older people and is as serious a health problem as falls themselves. Understanding fear of falling in fallers transitioning to frailty may help us identify effective strategies to reduce it in this already vulnerable group of older people. Our aim was to evaluate the psychological factors associated with fear of falling in a group of fallers transitioning to frailty when compared with robust or non-frail fallers. METHODS: Cross-sectional design where 301 fallers underwent assessment at the Technology Research for Independent Living Clinic in Dublin (http://www.trilcentre.org/) is seen. Fear of falling was measured using the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, and frailty was measured using the Biological Syndrome Model. Psychological measures included assessment of anxiety, depression, loneliness, personality factors and cognition. RESULTS: Frailer fallers had increased fear of falling when compared with robust fallers (p < 0.001). Age, female gender and lower cognitive scores were associated with greater fear of falling in the robust group. For frailer fallers, higher depression score was the only factor associated with fear of falling on multivariate analysis. The odds ratio of having case level depressive disorder (CESD-8 ≥ 4) if you were a frailer faller was significantly higher than if you were robust (OR = 2.6, CI 1.3-5.2, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Fallers at a transitional level of frailty may represent a particularly vulnerable group psychologically who would benefit most from interventional strategies with specific intervention components addressing depressive symptoms.

Frailty, depression, and anxiety in later life.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are common in older people but are often missed; to improve detection we must focus on those elderly people at risk. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome inferring increased risk of poor outcomes. Our objective was to explore the relationship between frailty and clinically significant anxiety and depression in later life. METHODS: This study had a cross-sectional design and involved the assessment of 567 community-dwelling people aged ≥ 60 years recruited from the Technology Research for Independent Living (TRIL) Clinic, Dublin. Frailty was measured using the Fried biological syndrome model; depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; and anxiety symptoms measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Higher depression and anxiety scores were identified in both pre-frail and frail groups compared to robust elders (three-way factorial ANOVA, p ≤ 0.0001). In a logistic regression model the odds ratio for frailty showed a significantly higher likelihood of clinically meaningful depressive and anxiety symptoms even controlling for age, gender and a history of depression or anxiety requiring pharmacotherapy (OR = 4.3; 95% CI 1.5, 11.9; p = 0.005; OR = 4.36; 95% CI 1.4, 13.8; p = 0.013 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that even at the earliest stage of pre-frailty, there is an association with increased symptoms of emotional distress; once frailty develops there is a higher likelihood of clinically significant depression and anxiety. Frailty may be relevant in identifying older people at risk of deteriorating mental health.

Residential Area Socioeconomic Deprivation is Associated with Physical Dependency and Polypharmacy in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Analysis of Health Administrative Data in Ireland.

Introduction: Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in ageing. Whether this negative impact persists in populations of more advanced age and dependency is less clear. We aimed to determine the association between residential area deprivation and pre-specified health characteristics among community-dwelling dependent older adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 1591 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older of mean age 83.9 ± 7.1 years and in receipt of state home support in Ireland. The HP Pobal Deprivation Index was used to categorize residential areas by socioeconomic deprivation. Health variables analysed included physical dependency (Barthel Index), polypharmacy (≥5 medications), previous acute hospital admission, cognitive impairment, and mental health diagnoses. Associations between residential area deprivation and prespecified health outcomes were explored in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: In socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, high physical dependency was twice that observed in affluent areas (16.2% vs 6.9%, p = 0.009). Similarly, acute hospitalization, as the trigger for increased dependency, was more common in deprived settings (41.6% v 29.1%, p < 0.001). Polypharmacy was common in this population (67.6%), but significantly higher in deprived vs affluent settings (74.7% v 64.5%, p = 0.030). The findings persisted in multivariable analyses when adjusted for age and gender. While all participants were accessing home support, those in deprived areas were on average 6.5 years younger than in affluent areas. Associations between residential deprivation and mental health conditions or cognitive impairment, however, were not observed in this study. Conclusion: Community-dwelling older adults living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas experienced greater polypharmacy, high physical dependency, hospitalization-associated dependency, and a 6.5-year earlier need for state home support than in affluent settings. The findings suggest that health inequality persists in populations of more advanced age and dependency and highlight a need for further research as well as community-based health and social care initiatives.

Amnesia for loss of consciousness is common in vasovagal syncope.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of amnesia for loss of consciousness (A-LOC) in those who have a history suggestive of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and who develop syncope on head-up tilt (HUT) table testing. Furthermore, we wished to determine if A-LOC is an age-dependent phenomenon in VVS and whether haemodynamic parameters on tilting can predict for A-LOC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were recruited in a dedicated syncope unit and underwent neurocardiovascular evaluation as indicated under European Society of Cardiology guidelines to illicit a diagnosis of VVS. A set protocol of questioning occurred following induced syncope to determine the presence of A-LOC. The prevalence of A-LOC following syncope on tilting was 28% (44/159). Forty-two per cent of those≥60 years of age vs. 20%<60 years of age experienced amnesia post-induced syncope (P=0.003). However, regression analysis did not show age to be an independent predictor for A-LOC. Blood pressure change between those without amnesia and those with amnesia showed no significant difference (P=0.687). There was a significant difference in heart rate response; those experiencing amnesia had reduced bradycardic response on HUT compared with those without amnesia (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Amnesia for loss of consciousness is common in VVS. Although more prevalent, it is not unique to older age-groups. Absence of syncope associated bradycardia during HUT testing predicts for A-LOC.

The effect of sleeping with the head of the bed elevated six inches on elderly patients with orthostatic hypotension: an open randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: the evidence for 6-inch tilt sleeping-head-up (SHU), a common therapy for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in older people, is unavailable. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the effects of 6-inch SHU for 6 weeks in community-living patients with chronic OH. DESIGN: open labelled randomised controlled trial. METHODS: one hundred patients aged ≥60 with chronic OH were randomised into SHU or control groups. Primary outcome measures were mean arterial pressure (MAP) and symptoms. Repeated measures of orthostatic haemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, MAP, heart rate, percentage change of Modelflow parameters), weight, frequency of dizziness, 24-h urinary sodium and volume, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (24-ABPM) and presence of ankle oedema were collected at baseline and at 6 weeks. RESULTS: symptoms improved, to a similar extent, in both groups. There were no differences in MAP or other haemodynamic parameters, weight, urinary volume or 24-ABPM between SHU and controls. SHU were more likely to have leg oedema. CONCLUSIONS: these findings suggested that SHU at 6 inches has no additional effects on symptoms or haemodynamic parameters at 6 weeks than existing non-pharmacological measures in older patients with OH. Its use in this group should therefore be discouraged.

Falls and falls efficacy: the role of sustained attention in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous evidence indicates that older people allocate more of their attentional resources toward their gait and that the attention-related changes that occur during aging increase the risk of falls. The aim of this study was to investigate whether performance and variability in sustained attention is associated with falls and falls efficacy in older adults. METHODS: 458 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Mean and variability of reaction time (RT), commission errors and omission errors were recorded during a fixed version of the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). RT variability was decomposed using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) procedure, to help characterise variability associated with the arousal and vigilance aspects of sustained attention.The number of self-reported falls in the previous twelve months, and falls efficacy (Modified Falls Efficacy Scale) were also recorded. RESULTS: Significant increases in the mean and variability of reaction time on the SART were significantly associated with both falls (p < 0.01) and reduced falls efficacy (p < 0.05) in older adults. An increase in omission errors was also associated with falls (p < 0.01) and reduced falls efficacy (p < 0.05). Upon controlling for age and gender affects, logistic regression modelling revealed that increasing variability associated with the vigilance (top-down) aspect of sustained attention was a retrospective predictor of falling (p < 0.01, OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03-1.26) in the previous year and was weakly correlated with reduced falls efficacy in non-fallers (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Greater variability in sustained attention is strongly correlated with retrospective falls and to a lesser degree with reduced falls efficacy. This cognitive measure may provide a novel and valuable biomarker for falls in older adults, potentially allowing for early detection and the implementation of preventative intervention strategies.

Nursing home patients and Emergency Department attendance in a single urban Irish catchment area: an observational study surrounding the introduction of a community medicine for older person service.

BACKGROUND: Nursing home (NH) patients are at a high risk of Emergency Department (ED) attendance, and adverse events in the ED. With an increasing NH population, monitoring trends in ED utilization is important to aid service planning, and attention to potentially preventable attendances should be paid, to identify areas that may benefit from specialist support. AIMS: This 12-year (2008-2019) study aimed to observe trends in ED utilization of NH patients in a single urban Irish catchment area, surrounding the introduction of a Community Medicine for the Older Person (CMOP) outreach program. METHOD: A retrospective review of all NH attendances within the catchment area was performed based upon NH address. Attendance, admission, discharge, and died in department (DID) were adjusted per annual NH bed numbers (PBC). Trends were observed and compared pre and post the CMOP activation. Comparisons of continuous variables were performed using an unpaired parametric Student's t test. RESULTS: There were 6877 attendances, with 58% (n = 3989) admitted, 40% (n = 2785) discharged, and 2% (n = 123) DID. There was a statistically significant difference in mean discharge rate PBC pre and post the CMOP introduction (0.22 vs 0.16, P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in attendance, admission, or DID. CONCLUSION: This is the first Irish study of NH ED utilization over an extended period. ED attendances PBC have not decreased since the introduction of the CMOP. Discharges PBC, however, have decreased and may represent a decrease in potentially preventable attendance/improvement in appropriateness of ED transfers, following the introduction of this intervention.

Mayer wave activity in vasodepressor carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

AIMS: Mayer waves are low frequency blood pressure waves, whose modulation involves central/peripheral baroreflex pathways. Although vasodepressor carotid sinus hypersensitivity (VDCSH) is a common hypotensive disorder in ageing, the mechanism of VDCSH is unknown. We hypothesize that VDCSH is due to impaired baroreflex function and that Mayer wave amplitude and oscillation frequency are therefore altered. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten minutes ECG and continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure (TNO Finapres(c)) recordings were taken in supine position. Blood pressure variance, spectral power (0.04-0.15 Hz) and centre of frequency was examined across a number of frequency bands. Vasodepressor carotid sinus hypersensitivity was defined as 50 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during carotid sinus massage. Syncope facility was used in this study. Twelve patients with VDCSH median age 72 range (50-92) were compared with 36 case-controls median age 78 range (48-88). Diastolic blood pressure variability (median SD) was significantly higher in the VDCSH 6.6 (1.9-12.9) mmHg compared with controls 4.0 (1.7-9.5) mmHg; P < 0.05. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) variability (median SD) was significantly higher in the VDCSH 6.6 (2.9-10.1) mmHg compared with controls 4.6 (2.5-9.1) mmHg; P < 0.05. Low frequency Mayer wave activity in MAP in VDCSH compared with controls was increased at 0.06 Hz [controls -21.7 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 30.8); VDCSH -31.5 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 72.0) P < 0.05] and at 0.1 Hz [controls -4.9 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 9.4); VDCSH -11.5 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 12.9) P < 0.1]. High frequency blood pressure fluctuations were significantly increased at 0.3 Hz in VDCSH group in SBP [controls -4.1 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 10.4); VDCSH -17.4 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 47.9) P < 0.05] and MAP records [controls -32.5 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 76.9); VDCSH -64.6 mmHg(2)/Hz (IQR: 59.8) P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: Blood pressure variability in particular activity at Mayer wave frequencies was higher in VDCSH. Future work will investigate this approach as a basis for diagnosis of VDCSH, with implications for syncope and falls management.

Intolerance to initial orthostasis relates to systolic BP changes in elders.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of early symptoms of orthostatic intolerance (OI) with systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure changes in a sample of community-dwelling older people undergoing an active stand test; and to establish whether SBP and DBP changes have different symptomatic correlates during early orthostasis. METHODS: A total of 224 community-dwelling older subjects (mean age 72.6 years, 68.8% females) were included. All had a Mini-Mental State Examination score >or=23 and no risk factors for autonomic neuropathy. Subjects were monitored with the Finometer Pro device. Variables reflecting blood pressure changes (absolute low: nadir, magnitude of drop: delta, and speed of recovery) were extracted for SBP, DBP and MAP with the BeatScope software (5-s averages method), and correlated with self-reported OI during active stand. RESULTS: Of the 224 subjects, 62 (27.7%) reported OI. SBP changes had strong bivariate associations with OI, but not DBP changes. A logistic regression model suggested that the rate of recovery of SBP during the first 30 s following active stand is more important as a determinant of OI than SBP nadir or delta. Subjects who recovered at least 80% of their baseline SBP within 30 s post-stand were very unlikely to report OI. INTERPRETATION: Our study suggests that orthostatic SBP changes may be more important than DBP changes as determinants of early OI during active stand. The crucial importance of the quick recovery of SBP in order to avoid OI is biologically plausible and is discussed in the context of initial OH pathophysiology.

Acute haemodynamic response to sleeping head-up at 6 inches in older inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the effect of monotherapy of sleeping head-up (SHU) at 6 in. in a group of older inpatients with OH from all causes. METHODS: We recruited nine consecutive inpatients (mean age (SD) 76(5) years) with persistent, symptomatic OH with a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) drop on standing and nadir SBP of 68 (27.8) and 94 (19.2) mmHg respectively. All patients underwent SHU for 1 week. Beat-to-beat haemodynamics during lying and standing, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, supine haematocrit, urea/electrolytes, plasma renin activity and aldosterone were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: One week after SHU, SBP, stroke volume and cardiac output increased significantly (all P < 0.05) by 12 mmHg, 15 ml and 1.3 l/minutes respectively while heart rate and total peripheral resistance were significantly reduced by 3.6 bpm and 0.355 dynes/s/cm(5) respectively during 2 minute of standing. Serum creatinine was also significantly lower. Five patients improved in their mobility following SHU. INTERPRETATIONS: SHU for 1 week at 6 in. was well tolerated by older in-patients with OH, associated with improved orthostatic tolerance, and with haemodynamic changes in keeping with increased extracellular volume. SHU at 6 in. has a role in the acute treatment of OH for patients in hospital, but its longer-term effects and in the out-patient setting require further study.

Impairments in Hemodynamic Responses to Orthostasis Associated with Frailty: Results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the relationships between orthostatic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate recovery and frailty in an older population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Two health centers in the Republic of Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing participants aged 50 and older (N=4,334). MEASUREMENTS: Continuous noninvasive BP responses during active standing were captured using digital photoplethysmography. Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Linear mixed models (random intercept) with piecewise splines were used to model differences in rate of BP and heart rate recovery. RESULTS: Ninety-three (2.2%) participants were frail, and 1,366 (31.5%) were prefrail. Adjusting for age and sex, frailty was associated with a slower rate of systolic BP recovery 10 to 20 seconds after standing (frailty by time = -4.12, 95% confidence interval=-5.53 to -2.72) and with subsequent deficits in BP 20 to 50 seconds after standing. Similar results were seen for diastolic BP and heart rate. Further adjustment for health behaviors, morbidities, and medications reduced, but did not attenuate, these associations. Of the 5 frailty criteria, only slow gait speed was consistently related to impaired BP and heart rate responses in the full model. CONCLUSION: Frailty, particularly slow gait speed, was associated with slower rate of BP and heart rate recovery after active standing. Impaired BP recovery may be a marker of physiological frailty.

Orthostatic hypotension, orthostatic intolerance and frailty: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging-TILDA.

Because frailty may represent impaired response to physiological stress we explored the associations between frailty and orthostatic hypotension (OH), and orthostatic intolerance (OI). This study was based on a cross-sectional analysis of 5692 community dwelling adults aged 50 years and older included in wave 1 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging. Frailty was assessed using both the phenotypic (FP) and frailty index (FI) models. OH was defined as a drop of ≥20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure or a drop of ≥10 mmHg diastolic pressure on standing from a seated position. OI was defined as reporting feeling dizzy, light headed or unsteady during this test. 346 (6.1%) participants had OH and 381 (6.7%) participants had OI. The prevalence OH in frail participants was 8.9%, compared to 5% in robust. Similarly the prevalence of OI was 14.3% in frail and 5.7% in robust participants. After adjustment for age and gender, OH was not significantly related to the FP (OR=1.10 95% CI=0.67, 1.81). Conversely OI was (OR=1.80 95% CI=1.13, 2.87), even after adjustment for age, gender, cardiovascular factors and mental health. In fully adjusted models OI remained related to slowness and low muscle strength and to higher FI scores. These data suggest OI symptoms in older adults may reflect various important underlying health deficits, indicative of increasing levels of frailty. Further assessment of frailty in patients experiencing OI is a potential opportunity for early intervention to delay functional decline.

Falls classification using tri-axial accelerometers during the five-times-sit-to-stand test.

The five-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSS) is an established assessment of lower limb strength, balance dysfunction and falls risk. Clinically, the time taken to complete the task is recorded with longer times indicating increased falls risk. Quantifying the movement using tri-axial accelerometers may provide a more objective and potentially more accurate falls risk estimate. 39 older adults, 19 with a history of falls, performed four repetitions of the FTSS in their homes. A tri-axial accelerometer was attached to the lateral thigh and used to identify each sit-stand-sit phase and sit-stand and stand-sit transitions. A second tri-axial accelerometer, attached to the sternum, captured torso acceleration. The mean and variation of the root-mean-squared amplitude, jerk and spectral edge frequency of the acceleration during each section of the assessment were examined. The test-retest reliability of each feature was examined using intra-class correlation analysis, ICC(2,k). A model was developed to classify participants according to falls status. Only features with ICC>0.7 were considered during feature selection. Sequential forward feature selection within leave-one-out cross-validation resulted in a model including four reliable accelerometer-derived features, providing 74.4% classification accuracy, 80.0% specificity and 68.7% sensitivity. An alternative model using FTSS time alone resulted in significantly reduced classification performance. Results suggest that the described methodology could provide a robust and accurate falls risk assessment.

Diurnal variations in the outcomes of instrumented gait and quiet standing balance assessments and their association with falls history.

One in three adults aged over 65 falls every year, resulting in enormous costs to society. Incidents of falling vary with time of day, peaking in the early morning. The aim of this study was to determine if the ability of instrumented gait and balance assessments to discriminate between participants based on their falls history varies diurnally. Body-worn sensors were used during a 3 m gait assessment and a series of quiet standing balance tests. Each assessment was performed four times during a single day under supervised conditions in the participant's homes. 40 adults aged over 60 years (19 fallers) participated in this study. A range of parameters were derived for each assessment, and the ability of each parameter to discriminate between fallers and non-fallers at each recording time was examined. The effect of falls history on single support time varied significantly with recording time, with a significantly reduced single support time observed at the first and last recording session of the day. Differences were observed between fallers and non-fallers for a range of other gait parameters; however, these effects did not vary with assessment time. The quiet standing assessments examined in this study revealed significant variations with falls history; however, the sensitivity of the examined quiet standing assessments to falls risk does not appear to be time dependent. These results indicate that, with the exception of single support time, the association of gait and quiet standing balance parameters with falls risk does not vary diurnally.

Continuous noninvasive orthostatic blood pressure measurements and their relationship with orthostatic intolerance, falls, and frailty in older people.

OBJECTIVES: To identify morphological orthostatic blood pressure (BP) phenotypes in older people and assess their correlation with orthostatic intolerance (OI), falls, and frailty and to compare the discriminatory performance of a morphological classification with two established orthostatic hypotension (OH) definitions: consensus (COH) and initial (IOH). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Geriatric research clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred forty-two participants (mean age 72, 72% female) without dementia or risk factors for autonomic neuropathy. MEASUREMENTS: Active lying-to-standing test monitored using a continuous noninvasive BP monitor. For the morphological classification, four orthostatic systolic BP variables were extracted (delta (baseline - nadir) and maximum percentage of baseline recovered by 30 seconds and 1 and 2 minutes) using the 5-second averages method and entered in K-means cluster analysis (three clusters). Main outcomes were OI, falls (≥1 in past 6 months), and frailty (modified Fried criteria). RESULTS: The morphological clusters were small drop, fast overrecovery (n=112); medium drop, slow recovery (n=238); and large drop, nonrecovery (n=92). Their characterization revealed an increasing OI gradient (17.9%, 27.5%, and 44.6% respectively, P<.001) but no significant gradients in falls or frailty. The COH definition failed to reveal clinical differences between COH+ (n=416) and COH- (n=26) participants. The IOH definition resulted in a clinically meaningful separation between IOH+ (n=85) and IOH- (n=357) subgroups, as assessed according to OI (100% vs 11.5%, P<.001), falls (24.7% vs 10.4%, P<.001), and frailty (14.1% vs 5.4%, P=.005). CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the IOH definition be applied when taking continuous noninvasive orthostatic BP measurements in older people.

An instrumented sit-to-stand test used to examine differences between older fallers and non-fallers.

An instrumented version of the five-times-sit-to-stand test was performed in the homes of a group of older adults, categorised as fallers or non-fallers. Tri-axial accelerometers were secured to the sternum and anterior thigh of each participant during the assessment. Accelerometer data were then used to examine the timing of the movement, as well as the root mean squared amplitude, jerk and spectral edge frequency of the mediolateral (ML) acceleration during the total assessment, each sit-stand-sit component and each postural transition (sit-stand and stand-sit). Differences between fallers and non-fallers were examined for each parameter. Six parameters significantly discriminated between fallers and non-fallers: sit-stand time, ML acceleration for the total assessment, and the ML spectral edge frequency for the complete assessment, individual sit-stand-sit components, as well as sit-stand and stand-sit transitions. These results suggest that each of these derived parameters would provide improved discrimination of fallers from non-fallers, for the cohort examined, than the standard clinical measure - the total time to complete the assessment. These results indicate that accelerometry may enhance the utility of the five-times-sit-to-stand test when assessing falls risk.