Evaluation of costs, osteoporosis treatment, and re-fractures in German collaborative orthogeriatric care after fragility fractures.

Orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) may provide benefits for geriatric fragility fracture patients in terms of more frequent osteoporosis treatment and fewer re-fractures. Yet, we did not find higher costs in OGCM hospitals for re-fractures or antiosteoporotic medication for most fracture sites within 12 months, although antiosteoporotic medication was more often prescribed. PURPOSE: Evidence suggests benefits of orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) for hip fracture patients. Yet, evidence for other fractures is rare. The aim of our study was to conduct an evaluation of economic and health outcomes after the German OGCM for geriatric fragility fracture patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was based on German health and long-term care insurance data. Individuals were 80 years and older, sustained a fragility fracture in 2014-2018, and were treated in hospitals certified for OGCM (ATZ group), providing OGCM without certification (OGCM group) or usual care (control group). Healthcare costs from payer perspective, prescribed medications, and re-fractures were investigated within 6 and 12 months. We used weighted gamma and two-part models and applied entropy balancing to account for the lack of randomization. All analyses were stratified per fracture site. RESULTS: We observed 206,273 patients within 12-month follow-up, of whom 14,100 were treated in ATZ, 133,353 in OGCM, and 58,820 in other hospitals. Total average inpatient costs per patient were significantly higher in the OGCM and particularly ATZ group for all fracture sites, compared to control group. We did not find significant differences in costs for re-fractures or antiosteoporotic medication for most fracture sites, although antiosteoporotic medication was significantly more often observed in the OGCM and particularly ATZ group for hip, pelvic, and humerus fractures. CONCLUSION: The observed healthcare costs were higher in ATZ and OGCM hospitals within 12 months. Antiosteoporotic medication was prescribed more often in both groups for most fracture sites, although the corresponding medication costs did not increase.

Budget impact analysis of a Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program for older people in Germany: a Markov model based on data from the LiFE-is-LiFE trial.

BACKGROUND: Fall prevention is important for healthy ageing, but the economic impact of fall prevention are scarcely investigated. A recent cost-effectiveness analysis compared a group-delivered Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise Program (gLiFE) with an individually-delivered program (LiFE) in community-dwelling people (aged ≥ 70 years) at risk of falling. In addition, the current study aimed to analyze the budget impact of LiFE and gLiFE, compared with standard care in Germany. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to reflect falls and associated care needs for community-dwelling persons over 5 years. The intervention effects of LiFE and gLiFE were shown to be equivalent in a non-inferiority trial, although the costs differed. Outpatient, inpatient, and intervention costs were assessed from a payer's perspective. The effect of parameter uncertainty was assessed in sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The budget impact due to intervention costs was €510 million for LiFE and €186 million for gLiFE. Over five years, health care expenditures were €35,008 million for those receiving standard care, €35,416 million for those receiving LiFE, and €35,091 million for persons receiving gLiFE. Thereby, LiFE and gLiFE could prevent 2700 deaths and 648,000 falls over 5 years. Parameter uncertainties in the risk of falling, uptake of an intervention offer, and in the intervention effects had a major influence; thus cost savings for LiFE and gLiFE compared with standard care could be achieved for individuals with a high risk of falling. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that cost savings for LiFE and gLiFE compared with standard care could only be achieved for individuals at high risk of falling, with gLiFE being superior to LiFE. Future research should consider benefits and aspects of fall prevention beyond falls (e.g., physical activity, social aspects, and personal preferences of participants). TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was preregistered under underclinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT03462654) on 12th March 2018; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03462654 .

Association of two geriatric treatment systems with anti-osteoporotic drug treatment and second hip fracture in patients with an index hip fracture: retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, geriatricians deliver acute geriatric care during acute hospital stay and post-acute rehabilitation after transfer to a rehabilitation clinic. The rate patients receive acute geriatric care (AGC) or are transferred to post-acute rehabilitation (TPR) differs between hospitals. This study analyses the association between the two geriatric treatment systems (AGC, TPR) and second hip fracture in patients following an index hip fracture. METHODS: Nationwide health insurance data are used to identify the rate of AGC and TPR per hospital following hip fracture surgery in patients aged ≥ 80 years. Outcomes are a second hip fracture after surgery or after discharge within 180 or 360 days and new specific anti-osteoporotic drugs. Cox proportional hazard models and generalised linear models are applied. RESULTS: Data from 29,096 hip fracture patients from 652 hospitals were analysed. AGC and TPR are not associated with second hip fracture when follow-up started after surgery. However, during the first months after discharge patients from hospitals with no AGC or low rates of TPR have higher rates of second hip fracture than patients from hospitals with high rates of AGC or high rates of TPR (Hazard Ratio (95% CI) 1.35 (1.01-1.80) or 1.35 (1.03-1.79), respectively). Lower rates of AGC are associated with lower probabilities of new prescriptions of specific anti-osteoporotic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests beneficial relationships of geriatric treatment after hip fracture with a) the risk of second hip fractures during the first months after discharge and b) an improvement of anti-osteoporotic drug treatment.

Health-economic evaluation of orthogeriatric co-management for patients with forearm or humerus fractures: an analysis of insurance claims data from Germany.

Orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) describes a collaboration of orthopedic surgeons and geriatricians for the treatment of fragility fractures in geriatric patients. While its cost-effectiveness for hip fractures has been widely investigated, research focusing on fractures of the upper extremities is lacking. Thus, we conducted a health economic evaluation of treatment in OGCM hospitals for forearm and humerus fractures.In a retrospective cohort study with nationwide health insurance claims data, we selected the first inpatient stay due to a forearm or humerus fracture in 2014-2018 either treated in hospitals that were able to offer OGCM (OGCM group) or not (non-OGCM group) and applied a 1-year follow-up. We included 31,557 cases with forearm (63.1% OGCM group) and 39,093 cases with humerus fractures (63.9% OGCM group) and balanced relevant covariates using entropy balancing. We investigated costs in different health sectors, length of stay, and cost-effectiveness regarding total cost per life year or fracture-free life year gained.In both fracture cohorts, initial hospital stay, inpatient stay, and total costs were higher in OGCM than in non-OGCM hospitals. For neither cohort nor effectiveness outcome, the probability that treatment in OGCM hospitals was cost-effective exceeded 95% for a willingness-to-pay of up to €150,000.We did not find distinct benefits of treatment in OGCM hospitals. Assigning cases to study groups on hospital-level and using life years and fracture-free life years, which might not adequately reflect the manifold ways these fractures affect the patients' health, as effectiveness outcomes, might have underestimated the effectiveness of treatment in OGCM hospitals.

"TiC-TUG": technology in clinical practice using the instrumented timed up and go test-a scoping review.

Digitized assessments have a considerable potential to guide clinicial decision making and monitor progress and disease trajectories. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) has been long established for assessment in geriatric medicine and instrumented versions (iTUG) have been developed and validated. This scoping review includes studies that applied the iTUG and aims to identify use cases to show where and how iTUG assessment could guide interventions and clinical management. The literature search was limited to peer-reviewed studies that performed pre- and post-intervention measurements with a 3-meter TUG instrumented with body-worn technology in samples of at least 20 subjects aged 60+ years. Of 3018 identified articles 20 were included. Four clinical use cases were identified: stratification for subsequent therapy, monitoring of disease or treatment-associated changes and evaluation of interventions in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (1), and patients with Parkinson's disease (2); monitoring after joint replacement surgery (3), and evaluation after different exercise and rehabilitation interventions (4). The included studies show diversity in terms of iTUG technology and procedures. The identified use cases highlight clinical relevance and high potential for the clinical application of the iTUG. A consensual approach as well as comprehensive reporting would help to further exploit the potential of the iTUG to support clinical management. Future studies should investigate the benefits of segmental iTUG analysis, responsiveness and participants' perspectives on clinically meaningful changes in iTUG.

[Cooperation of geriatrics and trauma surgery in certified geriatric trauma centers : Insights into different care models and the implementation of requirements resulting from certification]. / Zusammenarbeit von Geriatrie und Unfallchirurgie in zertifizierten alterstraumatologischen Zentren : Einblicke in unterschiedliche Versorgungsmodelle und in die Umsetzung von Anforderungen, die sich aus der Zertifizierung ergeben.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, different models of orthogeriatric co-management have been implemented in certified geriatric trauma centers. So far, it is not clear how the different models are implemented and what influence the certification has on the structures and processes within the centers. The present study examined the extent of cooperation between surgery and geriatrics and if the quality of care had changed since the certification of the centers. METHODS: In this study 4 guided focus group interviews (FGI) were conducted in different teams of certified geriatric trauma centers in 3 federal states with 16 participants. To specify the content of the FGI, two additional interviews were conducted with system auditors. Both types of interview were analyzed by content analysis. RESULTS: The certification supported the implementation of structures and processes in the different orthogeriatric models; however, the quality of care and cooperation between surgery and geriatrics depends on the spatial proximity and the orthogeriatric care model in the geriatric trauma centers. Simultaneously, challenges in the area of geriatric syndromes and the recruitment of skilled staff became relevant. DISCUSSION: The results can help to reflect processes in the certified geriatric trauma centers and to treat geriatric syndromes more effectively. In the future, the challenge will be to establish geriatric care under the existing shortage of skilled staff.

Listening to the patients' voice: a conceptual framework of the walking experience.

BACKGROUND: walking is crucial for an active and healthy ageing, but the perspectives of individuals living with walking impairment are still poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: to identify and synthesise evidence describing walking as experienced by adults living with mobility-impairing health conditions and to propose an empirical conceptual framework of walking experience. METHODS: we performed a systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative evidence, searching seven electronic databases for records that explored personal experiences of walking in individuals living with conditions of diverse aetiology. Conditions included Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip fracture, heart failure, frailty and sarcopenia. Data were extracted, critically appraised using the NICE quality checklist and synthesised using standardised best practices. RESULTS: from 2,552 unique records, 117 were eligible. Walking experience was similar across conditions and described by seven themes: (i) becoming aware of the personal walking experience, (ii) the walking experience as a link between individuals' activities and sense of self, (iii) the physical walking experience, (iv) the mental and emotional walking experience, (v) the social walking experience, (vi) the context of the walking experience and (vii) behavioural and attitudinal adaptations resulting from the walking experience. We propose a novel conceptual framework that visually represents the walking experience, informed by the interplay between these themes. CONCLUSION: a multi-faceted and dynamic experience of walking was common across health conditions. Our conceptual framework of the walking experience provides a novel theoretical structure for patient-centred clinical practice, research and public health.

Comparison of falls and cost-effectiveness of the group versus individually delivered Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program: final results from the LiFE-is-LiFE non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: the individually delivered Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) was shown to improve physical activity (PA) and reduce fall incidence, however being rather resource-consuming due to one-to-one delivery. A potentially less resource-intensive group format (gLiFE) was developed and compared against the original program, considering higher risk of falling due to possible PA enhancement. OBJECTIVE: to investigate non-inferiority in terms of PA-adjusted fall risk and cost-effectiveness of gLiFE at 12-month follow-up. DESIGN: single-blinded, randomised, multi-centre non-inferiority trial. SETTING: community. SUBJECTS: in total, 309 adults aged 70+ years at risk of or with history of falling; n = 153 in gLiFE, n = 156 in LiFE. METHODS: LiFE was delivered one-to-one at the participants' homes, gLiFE in a group. PA-adjusted fall risk was analysed using negative binomial regression to compare incidence rate ratios (IRR). Cost-effectiveness was presented by incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, considering quality-adjusted life years, PA and falls as effect measures. Secondary analyses included PA (steps/day) and fall outcomes. RESULTS: non-inferiority was inconclusive (IRR 0.96; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.67; 1.37); intervention costs were lower for gLiFE, but cost-effectiveness was uncertain. gLiFE participants significantly increased PA (+1,090 steps/day; 95% CI 345 and 1.835) versus insignificant increase in LiFE (+569, 95% CI -31; 1,168). Number of falls and fallers were reduced in both formats. CONCLUSION: non-inferiority of gLiFE compared with LiFE was inconclusive after 12 months. Increases in PA were clinically relevant in both groups, although nearly twice as high in gLiFE. Despite lower intervention costs of gLiFE, it was not clearly superior in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Changes in Psychological Determinants of Behavior Change after Individual versus Group-Based Lifestyle-integrated Fall Prevention: Results from the LiFE-is-LiFE Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) intervention has been shown to promote physical activity in fall-prone older adults. However, the underlying mechanisms of how LiFE functions remain unclear. This study compares the effects of the individual and group-based LiFE formats on psychological determinants of behavior change derived from the health action process approach, habit formation theory, and self-determination theory. METHODS: Secondary analysis on basis of the randomized, non-inferiority LiFE-is-LiFE trial were performed. Questionnaire data on psychological determinants were obtained from older adults (M = 78.8 years, range 70-95) who took part in either the individual (n = 156) or the group-based (n = 153) LiFE intervention. Measurement points varied from three to six times, and from baseline (T1) up to a 12-month follow-up (T6). A generalized linear mixed model was specified for each determinant. RESULTS: Both LiFE and gLiFE participants reported lower levels of motivational determinants at T6. LiFE participants showed significantly higher values of action planning and coping planning at T6. Participants in both formats showed increased levels of action control at T6, whereas participants' habit strength decreased post-intervention but then stabilized over time. LiFE participants showed higher levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness throughout the study, but levels of intrinsic motivation did not differ between formats and from T1 to T6. CONCLUSION: In both formats, but especially in the individual LiFE, the behavior change techniques used affected volitional rather than motivational or general determinants of behavior change. Habit strength as an important indicator of the sustainability of the LiFE exercises stabilized over time, indicating that participants, at least partly, sustained their formed habits long-term.

Assessing real-world gait with digital technology? Validation, insights and recommendations from the Mobilise-D consortium.

BACKGROUND: Although digital mobility outcomes (DMOs) can be readily calculated from real-world data collected with wearable devices and ad-hoc algorithms, technical validation is still required. The aim of this paper is to comparatively assess and validate DMOs estimated using real-world gait data from six different cohorts, focusing on gait sequence detection, foot initial contact detection (ICD), cadence (CAD) and stride length (SL) estimates. METHODS: Twenty healthy older adults, 20 people with Parkinson's disease, 20 with multiple sclerosis, 19 with proximal femoral fracture, 17 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 12 with congestive heart failure were monitored for 2.5 h in the real-world, using a single wearable device worn on the lower back. A reference system combining inertial modules with distance sensors and pressure insoles was used for comparison of DMOs from the single wearable device. We assessed and validated three algorithms for gait sequence detection, four for ICD, three for CAD and four for SL by concurrently comparing their performances (e.g., accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, absolute and relative errors). Additionally, the effects of walking bout (WB) speed and duration on algorithm performance were investigated. RESULTS: We identified two cohort-specific top performing algorithms for gait sequence detection and CAD, and a single best for ICD and SL. Best gait sequence detection algorithms showed good performances (sensitivity > 0.73, positive predictive values > 0.75, specificity > 0.95, accuracy > 0.94). ICD and CAD algorithms presented excellent results, with sensitivity > 0.79, positive predictive values > 0.89 and relative errors < 11% for ICD and < 8.5% for CAD. The best identified SL algorithm showed lower performances than other DMOs (absolute error < 0.21 m). Lower performances across all DMOs were found for the cohort with most severe gait impairments (proximal femoral fracture). Algorithms' performances were lower for short walking bouts; slower gait speeds (< 0.5 m/s) resulted in reduced performance of the CAD and SL algorithms. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the identified algorithms enabled a robust estimation of key DMOs. Our findings showed that the choice of algorithm for estimation of gait sequence detection and CAD should be cohort-specific (e.g., slow walkers and with gait impairments). Short walking bout length and slow walking speed worsened algorithms' performances. Trial registration ISRCTN - 12246987.

[Lifestyle-integrated functional exercise for fall prevention : How and why do walking characteristics change?] / Lebensstilintegriertes funktionelles Training zur Sturzprävention : Wie und warum verändert sich das Gehverhalten?

BACKGROUND: The lifestyle-integrated functional exercise (LiFE) program has been shown to increase physical activity. It remains unclear, however, how these changes translate into long vs. short walking episodes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to investigate changes in short vs. long walking episodes between baseline and 6­month follow-up and to determine which factors are associated with these changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a two-arm randomized noninferiority study with 309 older adults (mean age 78.7 ± 0.3 years; 73.5% female) at risk of falling who exercised either in a group (gLiFE; n = 153) or individually (LiFE; n = 156). Walking episodes were measured using activPAL 4micro sensors: a distinction was made between walking episodes < 10s, < 20s, and > 60 s. Changes in walking episodes between baseline and 6­month follow-up were analyzed, including calculation of effect sizes (Cohen's d). Determinants of changes in the walking episodes were analyzed using multiple regression. RESULTS: The walking episodes < 10s and < 20 s showed a significant increase in both intervention groups but not for > 60 s. The overall daily walking duration and average steps per day had an influence on changes in the walking episodes between baseline and 6 months. Parameters of objective and subjective function explained a very small but significant amount of the variance. CONCLUSION: The LiFE program seems to work on a behavioral rather than on a functional level. By accumulating short walking episodes, large gains in physical activity can potentially be achieved. This can be of health-promoting benefit especially for persons living in institutional settings or for those who are cautious or even anxious to undertake longer walking episodes (e.g., outdoors).

[Update of the recommendations of the Federal Falls Prevention Initiative-Identification and prevention of the risk of falling in older people living at home]. / Update der Empfehlungen der Bundesinitiative Sturzprävention ­ Identifizierung und Prävention des Sturzrisikos bei älteren zu Hause lebenden Menschen.

BACKGROUND: To reduce falls and their consequences, evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations are needed for risk stratification, screening, assessment, and fall prevention as well as treatment. In 2020, the Federal Falls Prevention Initiative (BIS) published recommendations for physical training for falls prevention as a group or individual intervention for older people living at home. In 2022, the world guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults (WFG) were published. OBJECTIVE: To update the recommendations of the BIS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The recommendations of the BIS were compared with those of the WFG and, if necessary, extended by methodological and subject-specific aspects. The following areas were considered: 1) screening and risk stratification, 2) interventions, 3) multifactorial assessment and interventions, and 4) specific target groups. RESULTS: The BIS recommendations are largely consistent with those of the WFG. The main reason for differences is the previous focus of the BIS recommendations on physical training. The multifactorial approach, which is described in detail by the WFG, has so far been mentioned in the recommendation paper on physical training in individual settings but not elaborated in detail. The BIS recommendations are supplemented or clarified in this respect. CONCLUSION: By updating the BIS recommendations, the establishment and promotion of fall prevention services for older people in Germany can be further advanced. The implementation can thus be carried out as consistently and scientifically proven as possible.

Effect of an osteoporotic fracture prevention program on fracture incidence in routine care: a cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Fractures are a major health problem in aging societies. Preventive approaches combining bone health and fall prevention are rare. The osteoporotic fracture prevention program in rural areas (OFRA) is a health care fund-driven program for older people in randomly selected districts in Germany. The components of the program were falls prevention exercise classes, examination of bone health by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, and a consultation about "safety in the living environment." The aim of this study was to evaluate this complex preventive intervention in a routine health care setting. METHODS: This cluster-randomized trial was performed from October 2015 to October 2018 and took place in 186 administrative districts in five federal states, 47 districts served as intervention districts, and 139, as controls. Within these districts, we included (a) all community-living women and men aged 70-85 years with prior fragility fractures and (b) all community-living women aged 75-80 years. The analysis used routine data collected by a health insurance company. The primary endpoint was all fragility fractures combined. Fracture types, mortality, and nursing home admission were explorative endpoints. Cox frailty models were used for comparative analyses with a median follow-up time of 365 days (interquartile range: 0 days). RESULTS: Nine thousand four hundred eight individuals were approached to participate in one of the program components, 27,318 individuals served as controls. The mean age was 78.7 years. Of those approached to participate, nearly 30% joined the exercise classes. DXA measurement was reimbursed for 13.6%, and 51.8% received advice about measures to increase "safety in the living environment." The incidence of fragility fractures did not differ between the intervention and the control group (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.80-1.11). However, femoral fractures, the most frequent fracture type, were reduced in the intervention group (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.59-0.99). Mortality and nursing home admission did not differ between the intervention and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive fracture prevention program for older people living in rural areas was implemented. The program did not affect the primary endpoint of all fragility fractures combined. It has to be considered that we used a modified intention to treat approach based on geographic randomization and information about endpoints relied exclusively on routine data of the health care insurance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS-ID: 00009000.

Quo vadis geriatric rehabilitation?

The sustainability of healthcare of older people in Europe is at stake. Many experts currently focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. But there are other elements coming up that might even have a greater impact. Healthcare systems, geriatric care and geriatric rehabilitation in particular, will face disruptive changes due to both demographic demand and a shortage of human and financial resources. This decade will be transformed by a high proportion of the older health workforce transitioning to retirement. This expertise must be retained. The brain drain of health care workers migrating from Eastern parts to Western Europe is diminishing. Discussing and deciding upon the priorities of value-based health care for older people such as equity and access is required. The acute healthcare sector in most countries focuses on fee-for-service models instead of building systemic approaches to maximise independence and autonomy of older citizens. In this commentary, we build on recent book chapters and articles on geriatric rehabililtation. Our main questions for the anniversary edition of Age and Ageing is what it is that geriatric rehabilitation could, should and must contribute in the roaring 2020s?

Protective responses of older adults for avoiding injury during falls: evidence from video capture of real-life falls in long-term care.

BACKGROUND: falls are common in older adults, and any fall from standing height onto a rigid surface has the potential to cause a serious brain injury or bone fracture. Safe strategies for falling in humans have traditionally been difficult to study. OBJECTIVE: to determine whether specific 'safe landing' strategies (body rotation during descent, and upper limb bracing) separate injurious and non-injurious falls in seniors. DESIGN: observational cohort study. SETTING: two long-term care homes in Vancouver BC. METHODS: videos of 2,388 falls experienced by 658 participants (mean age 84.0 years; SD 8.1) were analysed with a structured questionnaire. General estimating equations were used to examine how safe landing strategies associated with documented injuries. RESULTS: injuries occurred in 38% of falls, and 4% of falls caused injuries treated in hospitals. 32% of injuries were to the head. Rotation during descent was common and protective against injury. In 43% of falls initially directed forward, participants rotated to land sideways, which reduced their odds for head injury 2-fold. Upper limb bracing was used in 58% of falls, but rather than protective, bracing was associated with an increased odds for injury, possibly because it occurred more often in the demanding scenario of forward landings. CONCLUSIONS: the risk for injury during falls in long-term care was reduced by rotation during descent, but not by upper limb bracing. Our results expand our understanding of human postural responses to falls, and point towards novel strategies to prevent fall-related injuries.

Mobility endpoints in marketing authorisation of drugs: what gets the European medicines agency moving?

BACKGROUND: Mobility is defined as the ability to independently move around the environment and is a key contributor to quality of life, especially in older age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of mobility as a decisive outcome for the marketing authorisation of drugs by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). METHODS: Fifteen therapeutic areas which commonly lead to relevant mobility impairments and alter the quantity and/or the quality of walking were selected: two systemic neurological diseases, four conditions primarily affecting exercise capacity, seven musculoskeletal diseases and two conditions representing sensory impairments. European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs) published by the EMA until September 2020 were examined for mobility endpoints included in their 'main studies'. Clinical study registries and primary scientific publications for these studies were also reviewed. RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-four EPARs yielded 186 relevant documents with 402 'main studies'. The EPARs reported 153 primary and 584 secondary endpoints which considered mobility; 70 different assessment tools (38 patient-reported outcomes, 13 clinician-reported outcomes, 8 performance outcomes and 13 composite endpoints) were used. Only 15.7% of those tools distinctly informed on patients' mobility status. Out of 402, 105 (26.1%) of the 'main studies' did not have any mobility assessment. Furthermore, none of these studies included a digital mobility outcome. CONCLUSIONS: For conditions with a high impact on mobility, mobility assessment was given little consideration in the marketing authorisation of drugs by the EMA. Where mobility impairment was considered to be a relevant outcome, questionnaires or composite scores susceptible to reporting biases were predominantly used.

World guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults: a global initiative.

BACKGROUND: falls and fall-related injuries are common in older adults, have negative effects on functional independence and quality of life and are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and health related costs. Current guidelines are inconsistent, with no up-to-date, globally applicable ones present. OBJECTIVES: to create a set of evidence- and expert consensus-based falls prevention and management recommendations applicable to older adults for use by healthcare and other professionals that consider: (i) a person-centred approach that includes the perspectives of older adults with lived experience, caregivers and other stakeholders; (ii) gaps in previous guidelines; (iii) recent developments in e-health and (iv) implementation across locations with limited access to resources such as low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: a steering committee and a worldwide multidisciplinary group of experts and stakeholders, including older adults, were assembled. Geriatrics and gerontological societies were represented. Using a modified Delphi process, recommendations from 11 topic-specific working groups (WGs), 10 ad-hoc WGs and a WG dealing with the perspectives of older adults were reviewed and refined. The final recommendations were determined by voting. RECOMMENDATIONS: all older adults should be advised on falls prevention and physical activity. Opportunistic case finding for falls risk is recommended for community-dwelling older adults. Those considered at high risk should be offered a comprehensive multifactorial falls risk assessment with a view to co-design and implement personalised multidomain interventions. Other recommendations cover details of assessment and intervention components and combinations, and recommendations for specific settings and populations. CONCLUSIONS: the core set of recommendations provided will require flexible implementation strategies that consider both local context and resources.

Gender-Specific Differences of Renal Heat Tolerance in Older Adults during Heat Waves.

BACKGROUND: Heat waves are known to cause increased morbidity and mortality in susceptible populations like old and functionally impaired people. The objective of the study was to assess renal tubular stress, a predictor for development of acute kidney injury, during heat waves in Central Europe. As a marker of renal tubular stress tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 [TIMP-2]·insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 [IGFBP7], a new FDA-cleared renal tubular stress biomarker, was used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 68 residents from facilities of sheltered housing with urine samples collected at heat waves in 2015 and at control visits were included. Urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] was compared between the heat waves and the control visits. Multivariate linear models were adjusted for age, frailty index, and functional comorbidity index. RESULTS: The median age was 82.0 years, 82.3% were women. The percentage of elevated levels of urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] (>0.3 [ng/mL]2/1,000) in the total study population was higher at the heat waves than at the control visits (25.0% vs. 17.7%). The effect of the heat waves on urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] was stronger in men than in women: The percentage of elevated levels was 75.0% in men and 14.3% in women. In the multivariate analysis, the mean urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] was 0.48 (95% CI 0.25; 0.70) (ng/mL)2/1,000 higher in men than in women. Except gender, a number of additional variables did not show an association with urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] at the heat waves or the control visits. CONCLUSIONS: At heat waves, urinary [TIMP-2]·[IGFBP7] was elevated and higher in men than in women. This suggests gender-specific differences in renal heat tolerance in older people.

Association of two geriatric treatment systems on care home admission and mortality in patients with hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: In Germany, geriatricians deliver acute geriatric care during an acute hospital stay and subacute rehabilitation after transfer to a rehabilitation clinic. However, the proportion of patients who receive acute geriatric care (AGC) or are transferred to subacute rehabilitation (TSR) differs considerably between hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between the two geriatric treatment systems and care home admission or mortality in patients following hip fracture. METHODS: Health insurance claims data were used to identify the rate of AGC per hospital and the rate of TSR per hospital following hip fracture surgery in patients aged ≥ 80 years. Outcomes were cumulative admission to a care home and cumulative mortality within 6 months after hospital admission. RESULTS: Data from 23,046 hip fracture patients from 561 hospitals were analysed. The rate of AGC was not associated with care home admission. However, compared to high rates of AGC medium rates or no AGC were associated with increased death rates by 12% or 20%, respectively. Treatment in hospitals with low rates of TSR was associated with a 8% higher risk of care home admission and a 10% increased risk of death compared to treatment in hospitals with high rates of TSR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests potential effects of geriatric treatment: reduction of mortality in hospitals with high rates of AGC or reduction of care home admission and mortality in hospitals with high rates of TSR.

Injuries from falls by older adults in long-term care captured on video: Prevalence of impacts and injuries to body parts.

BACKGROUND: Falls are the leading cause of injuries in older adults. However, most falls in older adults do not cause serious injury, suggesting that older adults may fall in a manner that reduces the likelihood of impact to body sites that are most vulnerable to injury. In this observational study of falls in long-term care (LTC), we tested whether body parts differed in their probability of impact and injury. METHODS: We recorded and analyzed videos of 2388 falls by 658 LTC residents (mean age 84.0 (SD = 8.1); 56.4% female). We used Linear Mixed Models to test for differences between body parts in the probability of impact and injury, and injury when impacts occurred. RESULTS: Injuries were reported in 38.2% of falls, and 85.9% of injuries involved direct impact to the injured body part. Impact occurred most often to the hip/pelvis (probability (standard error) = 0.95 (0.01); p < .001 relative to other body parts), and least often to the head (0.35 (0.01)). Conversely, injury occurred most often to the head (p < .001 relative to other body parts). The probability of injury when impacts occurred was 0.40 (0.01) for the head, and 0.11 or less for all other body parts. CONCLUSION: Our results help to explain why most falls by older adults in LTC do not cause serious injury: residents land on body parts that are the most resilient to injury. The high susceptibility of the head to injury reinforces the need to enhance upper limb protective responses for fall arrest. The dominant role of direct impact as the mechanism of injury supports approaches to attenuate impact forces through strategies like protective clothing and compliant flooring.