[Detection of the largest population susceptible to prescription of a program of exercises in Primary Care to prevent frailty]. / Detección de la población mayor susceptible de prescripción de un programa de ejercicios en Atención Primaria para prevenir la fragilidad.

AIM: Identify the population over 70 year's old treated in primary care who should participate in a physical exercise program to prevent frailty. Analyze the concordance among 2criteria to select the beneficiary population of the program. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Primary Care. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly over 70 years old, living in the Peñagrande neighborhood (Fuencarral district of Madrid) from the Peñagrande cohort, who accepted to participate in 2015 (n = 332). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The main variable of the study is the need for exercise prescription in people over 70 years old at the Primary Care setting. It was identified through 2different definitions: Prefrail (1-2 of 5 Fried criteria) and Independent individuals with physical performance limited, defined by Consensus on frailty and falls prevention among the elderly (independent and with a total SPPB score <10). RESULTS: The 63,8% of participants (n = 196) need exercise prescription based on criteria defined by Fried and/or the consensus for prevention of frailty and falls in the elderly. In 82 cases the 2criteria were met, 80 were prefrail with normal physical performance and 34 were robust with a limited physical performance. The concordance among both criteria is weak (kappa index 0, 27). CONCLUSION: Almost 2thirds of the elderly have some kind of functional limitation. The criteria of the consensus document to prevent frailty detect half of the pre-frail individuals in the community.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment for identifying older people at risk of hip fracture: cross-sectional study with comparative group.

Background: Hip fracture (HF) is by far the most common serious fragility fracture. Its care is a major challenge to all healthcare systems. Aim: To determine whether there are characteristics of older people identified via comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) that help identify those with an increased risk of HF. Methods: The demographic, functional, cognitive and nutritional data of a cohort of patients admitted for acute HF were compared with those of a population cohort representing community-dwelling older people in the same urban district without HF. Bivariate analysis was performed on the variables in both the complete samples and in a subsample of age and sex paired subjects, followed by logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 509 HF patients and 1315 community-dwelling older people were included. The HF patients were older and more frequently women and had more frequent disability and cognitive impairment, lower handgrip strength, lower body mass index (BMI) and a higher frequency of vitamin D deficiency compared with the community controls (P < 0.001). The variables most strongly associated with the presence of HF in the multivariate analysis, aside from age and female sex, were BMI<22 kg/m2 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.11], disability (OR = 4.32), muscle weakness (OR = 3.01), and vitamin D deficiency (OR = 2.13). Conclusions: There are easily obtained CGA determinants that are strongly associated with fragility HF. The detection of low weight, disability, malnutrition, muscle weakness, and vitamin D deficiency can help identify at-risk older people to implement prevention strategies.

[Quality of registration of dementia diagnosis in primary care: The situation in Spain in 2002-2011]. / Calidad del registro del diagnóstico de demencia en atención primaria. La situación en España en el periodo 2002-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the diagnosis associated with specific treatment for dementia in the Primary Care Electronic Clinical Record (PC-ECR) and to analyse the factors associated with the quality of registration. METHODS: Descriptive study of patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine registered in Database for pharmacoepidemiological research in PC (BIFAP) 2011: 24,575 patients between 2002 and 2011. Diagnoses associated with first prescription of these drugs were grouped into 5 categories: "dementia", "memory impairment", "dementia-related diseases", "intercurrent processes" and "convenience codes". We calculated the prevalence of each category by age and sex for each study year (95%CI) and analysed the associations and trend for 2002-2011 using difference in proportions in independent samples and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: A code of "dementia" was associated with first prescription in 56.5% (95%CI: 55.8-57.1) of patients. It was higher in women [OR1.09 (95%CI: 1.03-1.15)] and with increasing follow-up time [OR1.07 (95%CI: 1.06-1.08) for each year of follow-up]. "Convenience codes" [16.3% (95%CI: 15.8-16.7)] were coded more frequently in women and in those ≥80 years; "Memory impairment" [12.4% (95%CI: 12.0-12.8)], "related diseases" [4.6% (95%CI: 4.4-4.8)] and "intercurrent processes" [10.3% (95%CI: 9.9-10.6)] were used more in men and in persons <80 years. Between 2002 and 2011 improved the use of "convenience codes". CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine do not have a diagnosis of dementia registered in their PC-ECR. Registration improves with increasing time of follow-up. Improvements are needed in the PC-ECR, adequate care coordination, and proactive approach to increase the quality of dementia registration.

Evolution of physical function, cognition, depressive mood, and quality of life during the Covid-19 pandemic in prefrail elderly people: A longitudinal cohort study (Covid-Mefap).

Confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the living habits and health of the population, notably in the pre-frail elderly. This study aimed to study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical function, mental function (cognition and mood), and quality of life of pre-frail elderly individuals over 70 years of age following confinement as well as to analyze the variables associated with the observed changes. METHODS: Observational study of a cohort of pre-frail community-dwelling older adults over 70 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic conducted in primary care. VARIABLES: The main outcome variables were recorded during face-to-face interviews between December 14 of 2020 and August 12 of 2021 using scales for the evaluation of physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery), cognition (Lobo's Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo), depressive mood (Geriatric Depression Scale), and quality of life (EuroQol-5D-3L). Covariates: sociodemographic data and variables related to the pandemic and general health (social support network, COVID-19 infection, exercising, and leisure activities) were also collected. ANALYSIS: The Student's t-test for paired samples and multivariate linear regression models were employed for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Ninety-two subjects were included in the study. Physical function, cognition, and depressive mood improved during the pandemic, whereas no changes were observed in quality of life. Suffering from COVID-19 was associated with deterioration of the cognitive function (-1.460; CI95%: -2.710 to -0.211). CONCLUSION: Confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with a decline in physical function, cognition, depressive mood, or quality of life in pre-frail individuals over 70 years of age.

[Quality of life and physical activity in prefrail individuals over 70 years in primary care.] / Calidad de vida y actividad física en individuos prefrágiles mayores de 70 años en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty is an increasing problem among the elderly people and it is more frequent in women. Physical activity improves either the function and quality of life. Given the diferences reported by the literature about the quality of life perception and the physical activity practice between men and women, the aim of this study is to analyze the association between health related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical activity in a pre-frail population and to study its relationship with gender. METHODS: Descriptive study in pre-frail individuals over 70 years old assigned to twelve primary care health centers carried out between 2018 Jun and 2020 March in Madrid. The studied variables were registered by clinical interview: Physical activity (Yale), HRQoL (EQ-5D-3L), sociodemographic and clinical variables (comorbidity, depression and pain). Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression for the whole population and stratified by gender, using the quality of life as dependent variable. RESULTS: The study involved 206 pre-frail individuals (152 women) wih an average age of 78 years. Women had less comorbidity (32.3% versus 55.6%) but more pain (60.5% versus 44.4%) than men. The median of physical activity was 40 points (55.9% of that score was attributable to relaxed walk). HRQoL was 0.74 in utility score and 68 in the EQ-VAS. No differences were found by gender. To walk more than 5 hours a week was found associated with better quality of life by EQ-5D utility score (0.08, IC95%: 0.03 to 0.14), and by EQ-VAS score (5.38, IC95%: 0.25 to 10.51). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated to better quality of life in a pre-frail population of individuals older than 70 years old.

OBJETIVO: La fragilidad es un problema de creciente magnitud entre los mayores que afecta en mayor proporción a mujeres. La actividad física mejora tanto la funcionalidad como la calidad de vida. Dadas las diferencias en la percepción de la calidad de vida y en la práctica de actividad física entre hombres y mujeres, se planteó como objetivo analizar la asociación entre calidad de vida y actividad física en mayores de 70 años prefrágiles y su relación con el sexo. METODOS: Estudio descriptivo en mayores de 70 años prefrágiles realizado entre junio de 2018 y marzo de 2020 en 12 centros de salud de Madrid. Se recogieron mediante entrevista clínica, variables de actividad física (cuestionario de Yale), calidad de vida (Euroqol-5D); variables sociodemográficas y de salud (comorbilidad, depresión y dolor). Se realizó análisis descriptivo y modelos de regresión lineal múltiple con calidad de vida como variable dependiente (total población y por sexo). RESULTADOS: Participaron en el estudio 206 individuos (152 mujeres), con una edad media de 78 años. Las mujeres presentaron menos comorbilidad (32,3% versus 55,6%) y más dolor (60,5% versus 44,4%) que los hombres. La media de actividad física fue de 40 puntos (55,9% de la puntuación corresponde a pasear relajadamente). La calidad de vida fue de 0,74 segun utilidades y de 68 en la EVA-EQ5D, sin diferencias según sexo. Pasear más de 5 horas/semana se asoció a mejor calidad de vida según utilidades (0,08, IC95%: 0,03 a 0,14), y según EVA (5,38, IC95%: 0,25 a 10,51). CONCLUSIONES: La actividad física se asoció a una mejor calidad de vida en población prefrágil mayor de 70 años.

Use of Primary Care Services, Care Specialized and Drug Use by Population 65 Years and More in the Community of Madrid, Spain. / Utilización de servicios de atención primaria, atención especializada y consumo de medicamentos por la población de 65 años y más en la Comunidad de Madrid.

BACKGROUND: Ageing of the Spanish population results in an increase in health services required. Therefore, determine the frequency of the health services utilization in this age group and analyze their determinants has a great interest.The aim was to analyze the utilization of health services among older people living in two urban neighborhoods of northern Madrid. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study. It is studied a cohort of 1327 individuals ≥ 65 years, stratified by age and sex. Nine utilization indicators were defined. For each indicator frequencies and the association of each with the other variables were calculated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The distribution of indicators expressed as a percentage of the user population is: GP appoiments/month 64.8% (95%CI 62.3 to 67.4); nursing appoiments/month 44.6% (95% CI 41.2 to 47.2); home medical visits/month 3.1% (95%CI 2.2 to 4.1); home nursing visits/month 3% (95%CI 2.1 to 3.9); hospitalization/year 16.4% (95%CI 14.4 to 18.4); appoiments rheumatologist/orthopedic/year 25.1% (95%CI 22.7 to 27.4); physiotherapist appoiments/year 12.9% (95% CI 11.1 to 14.7); podiatrist appoiments/year 30.6% (95%CI 28.1 to 33.1) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) 55.7% (95% CI 53 to 58.4). Comorbidity was the best predictor of health care utilization ranging from OR 4.10 (95%CI: 3.07-5,49) to OR 1.39 (95%CI: 0.97-1.99) in polymedicated and visit the physiotherapist respectively. Cardiovascular disease (OR 1.34; 95%CI 1.03-1,76) and diabetes (OR 1.46; 95%CI: 1.05 -2.02) were independently associated with increased use of family doctor. Dependence was the main determinant for home healthcare (OR 3.38; 95%CI: 1.38-8.28) and nurses (OR 9.71; 95%CI: 4.19-22.48) Mood disorders were associated to polypharmacy (OR 2.06; 95%CI: 1,48-2.86) and to visits to family doctor (OR 1.52; 95%CI: 1,13-2.04). CONCLUSIONS: The comorbidity is the strongest predictor of health services utilization. Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are independently associated to greater use. Dependence is the main determinant of home care. Mood disorders associated with polypharmacy and increased attendances to the General Practitioner.

OBJETIVO: El envejecimiento de la población española se traduce en un aumento de las prestaciones sanitarias requeridas por la población mayor, por ello conocer la frecuencia de la utilización de los servicios sanitarios de este grupo de edad y analizar sus factores determinantes es de especial interés. El objetivo fue analizar la utilización de servicios sanitarios de la población mayor residente en dos barrios urbanos del norte de Madrid. METODOS: Estudio transversal de base poblacional. Se estudió una cohorte de 1.327 individuos igual o mayor a 65 años, estratificada por edad y sexo. Se definieron 9 indicadores de utilización durante el mes anterio o durante el último año. Para cada indicador se calcularon las frecuencias y la asociación con el resto de variables mediante análisis multivariante. RESULTADOS: la distribución de los indicadores expresada como proporción de la población usuaria fue: consultas médico/mes 64,8% (IC95%:62,3-67,4); consultas enfermería/mes 44,6% (IC95%:41,2-47,2); domicilios médico/mes 3,1% (IC95%:2,2-4,1); domicilios enfermería/mes 3%(IC95%:2,1-3,9); hospitalización/año 16,4% (IC95%:14,4-18,4); consultas reumatólogo/traumatólogo/año 25,1% (IC95%:22,7-27,4); consultas fisioterapeuta/año 12,9% (IC95%:11,1-14,7); consultas podólogo/año 30,6% (IC95%:28,1-33,1) y polimedicados (≥5 fármacos) 55,7% (IC95%: 53-58,4). La comorbilidad fue la variable que mejor predijo la utilización de servicios sanitarios oscilando entre OR 4.10 (IC95%:3.07-5,49) y OR 1,39 (IC95%: 0.97-1.99) para estar polimedicado y visitar al fisioterapeuta respectivamente. Enfermedades cardiovasculares (OR 1,34; IC95%:1.03-1,76) y diabetes (OR 1,46; IC95%:1,05-2,02) se asociaron de forma independiente a mayor utilización del médico de familia. La dependencia fue el principal determinante de atención domiciliaria para el médico (OR 3,38; IC95%: 1,38-8,28) y para enfermería (OR 9.71; IC 95%: 4.19-22.48). Trastornos del ánimo se asociaron a mayor polimedicación (OR 2.06; IC95%: 1,48-2.86) y visitas al médico de familia (OR 1,52; IC 95%:1,13-2.04). CONCLUSIONES: La comorbilidad fue la variable que mejor predijo la utilización de servicios sanitarios. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares y la diabetes se asocian de forma independiente a mayor utilización de servicios. Los trastornos del ánimo se asocian a mayor polimedicación y más visitas al médico de familia.

[Vitamin D deficiency in a cohort over 65 years: prevalence and association with sociodemographic and health factors]. / Déficit de vitamina D en una cohorte de mayores de 65 años: prevalencia y asociación con factores sociodemográficos y de salud.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly, especially among institutionalized and/or hip fracture patients. However, there are few population studies on the prevalence of this deficiency in the general population over 64 years in our environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an urban population cohort of over 64 years, and analyze its relationship with sociodemographic, climatic, and health factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study from «Peñagrande cohort¼, a population-based cohort consisting of people over 64 years. We determined 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and recorded sociodemographic data (age, sex, marital status, education, socioeconomic status), season of measurement and health variables (comorbidity, obesity, malnutrition, renal failure, cognitive impairment, vitamin D supplements, and disability). RESULTS: A total of 468 individuals with a mean age of 76.0 years (SD: 7.7) were included, of which 53.4% were women. The mean value of vitamin D was 20.3 ± 11.7 ng/mL. The large majority (86.3%, 95% CI: 83.0-89.5) had a vitamin insufficiency (≤ 30 ng/ml), and 35.2% (95% CI: 30.8-39.7) showed severe vitamin deficiency (≤ 15 ng/ml). Vitamin insufficiency increases linearly with age (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11), and was associated with low socioeconomic status (OR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.55-6.95). Severe vitamin D deficiency increases with age (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.09), female gender (OR 1.80; 95% CI: 1.18-2.75) and with cognitive impairment (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.04-2.83). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people over 65 years of age in our community is high. It would be advisable to determine the vitamin D values in the high risk elderly in order to introduce measures of pharmacological supplementation in those with inadequate levels.