Comparison of anticholinergic burden with chronic polypharmacy on functional decline and mortality in Korean older people: a retrospective nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the association of anticholinergic burden and chronic polypharmacy with the incidence of functional decline and all-cause mortality, and to determine the difference between anticholinergic burden and chronic polypharmacy among Korean older people. METHODS: This nationwide cohort study included 42,132 older people aged ≥ 65 years who underwent Korean National Health Insurance Service health examinations from 2007 to 2008. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for abnormal Timed Up and Go (TUG) test results were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for all-cause mortality until the end of 2015 were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the participants, 37.19% had abnormal TUG test results, and 7.66% of those died during the 5.7-year mean follow-up. The abnormal TUG test results OR increased by 27% among individuals with Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale (KABS) scores ≥ 3 (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.58) compared to those with KABS scores of 0. The HRs for all-cause mortality increased for individuals with higher KABS scores (P for trend < 0.001) or chronic polypharmacy (P for trend < 0.001) compared to those for individuals without these conditions. The combination of a higher KABS or chronic polypharmacy and abnormal TUG test results increased the risk of all-cause mortality (All P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anticholinergic drug burden shows a better association with functional decline than chronic polypharmacy, and the use of medications and functional decline may be important risk factors for all-cause mortality among older people.

Future Blood Debt: Projecting Blood Supply and Demand of Korea Based on Subnational Population Projections (2021-2050).

BACKGROUND: South Korea faces a critical challenge with its rapidly declining fertility rates and an increasingly aging population, which significantly impacts the country's blood supply and demand. Despite these nationwide trends, regional disparities in blood supply and demand have not been thoroughly studied. METHODS: This research utilized blood donation data from the Korean Red Cross and blood transfusion data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We analyzed these datasets in conjunction with regional population projections to simulate blood supply and demand from 2021 to 2050 across South Korea. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of various factors, including the number of donors, age eligibility criteria for donations, frequency of donations, and blood discard rates. RESULTS: Our projections indicate a decreasing trend in blood supply, from 2.6 million units in 2021 to 1.4 million units by 2050, while demand is expected to peak at 5.1 million units by 2045 before declining. Metropolitan areas, particularly Gyeonggi Province, are projected to experience the most severe shortages. Sensitivity analyses suggest that increasing the donation frequency of existing donors and relaxing age eligibility criteria are more effective strategies in addressing these imbalances than merely increasing the number of new donors. Blood discard rates showed minimal impact on the overall blood shortage. CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted strategies to mitigate national and regional blood supply shortages in South Korea. Encouraging frequent donations from experienced donors and broadening eligibility criteria are critical steps toward stabilizing the blood supply amidst demographic shifts. These strategies must be prioritized to address the impending regional disparities in blood availability.

Estrogen-Related Receptor γ Maintains Pancreatic Acinar Cell Function and Identity by Regulating Cellular Metabolism.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Mitochondrial dysfunction disrupts the synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes in pancreatic acinar cells and plays a primary role in the etiology of exocrine pancreas disorders. However, the transcriptional mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial function to support acinar cell physiology are poorly understood. Here, we aim to elucidate the function of estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) in pancreatic acinar cell mitochondrial homeostasis and energy production. METHODS: Two models of ERRγ inhibition, GSK5182-treated wild-type mice and ERRγ conditional knock-out (cKO) mice, were established to investigate ERRγ function in the exocrine pancreas. To identify the functional role of ERRγ in pancreatic acinar cells, we performed histologic and transcriptome analysis with the pancreas isolated from ERRγ cKO mice. To determine the relevance of these findings for human disease, we analyzed transcriptome data from multiple independent human cohorts and conducted genetic association studies for ESRRG variants in 2 distinct human pancreatitis cohorts. RESULTS: Blocking ERRγ function in mice by genetic deletion or inverse agonist treatment results in striking pancreatitis-like phenotypes accompanied by inflammation, fibrosis, and cell death. Mechanistically, loss of ERRγ in primary acini abrogates messenger RNA expression and protein levels of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex genes, resulting in defective acinar cell energetics. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to ERRγ deletion further triggers autophagy dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and production of reactive oxygen species, ultimately leading to cell death. Interestingly, ERRγ-deficient acinar cells that escape cell death acquire ductal cell characteristics, indicating a role for ERRγ in acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. Consistent with our findings in ERRγ cKO mice, ERRγ expression was significantly reduced in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with normal subjects. Furthermore, candidate locus region genetic association studies revealed multiple single nucleotide variants for ERRγ that are associated with chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings highlight an essential role for ERRγ in maintaining the transcriptional program that supports acinar cell mitochondrial function and organellar homeostasis and provide a novel molecular link between ERRγ and exocrine pancreas disorders.

Associations of social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic with cognitive function among the South Korean older adults.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to demonstrate the associations between social interactions within social distancing norms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and cognitive function among South Korean older adults. METHODS: Data from the 2017 and 2020 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons were used. There were 18,813 participants (7,539 males; 11,274 females). T-test and multiple logistic regression analyses verified whether the mean difference in older adults' cognitive function before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was statistically significant. We also examined the associations between social interactions and cognitive function. The key results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: All participants were more likely to experience cognitive impairment during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (males: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.3-1.78; females: OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40). Cognitive impairment increased linearly with the decreased frequency of face-to-face contact with non-cohabiting children. Possible cognitive impairment was greater for females who had not visited senior welfare centers for the past year (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.69). CONCLUSION: Korean older adults' cognitive function declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with reduced social interactions because of social distancing measures. Alternative interventions should be promoted for safely restoring social networks, considering the adverse effects of long-term social distancing on older adults' mental health and cognitive function.

Trends in Frailty Prevalence Among Older Adults in Korea: A Nationwide Study From 2008 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the nationwide trend of the prevalence of frailty in older adults in Korea from 2008 to 2020 to inform future geriatric healthcare policies. METHODS: The study used data of individuals aged 65 years and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide repeated cross-sectional survey. Frailty was defined using frailty index, classified as non-frail (frailty index ≤ 0.15), pre-frail (0.15 < frailty index ≤ 0.25), or frail (frailty index > 0.25). RESULTS: The study included 17,784 individuals, with the mean age of 72.4 and mean frailty index of 0.2. The prevalence of frailty in older adults in South Korea decreased significantly from 2008 (41.1%) to 2020 (23.1%). The decrease in the frailty index was observed in all age groups (all P < 0.05). As components of frailty index, we found that certain comorbidities, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, have increased over time, while factors such as chewing difficulty, activity limitation, and smoking, have decreased. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of frailty in older adults in South Korea has decreased significantly during the study period. Historical improvements in healthcare access and preventive measures may have contributed to this trend.

Accurate Prediction of Cancer Prognosis by Exploiting Patient-Specific Cancer Driver Genes.

Accurate prediction of the prognoses of cancer patients and identification of prognostic biomarkers are both important for the improved treatment of cancer patients, in addition to enhanced anticancer drugs. Many previous bioinformatic studies have been carried out to achieve this goal; however, there remains room for improvement in terms of accuracy. In this study, we demonstrated that patient-specific cancer driver genes could be used to predict cancer prognoses more accurately. To identify patient-specific cancer driver genes, we first generated patient-specific gene networks before using modified PageRank to generate feature vectors that represented the impacts genes had on the patient-specific gene network. Subsequently, the feature vectors of the good and poor prognosis groups were used to train the deep feedforward network. For the 11 cancer types in the TCGA data, the proposed method showed a significantly better prediction performance than the existing state-of-the-art methods for three cancer types (BRCA, CESC and PAAD), better performance for five cancer types (COAD, ESCA, HNSC, KIRC and STAD), and a similar or slightly worse performance for the remaining three cancer types (BLCA, LIHC and LUAD). Furthermore, the case study for the identified breast cancer and cervical squamous cell carcinoma prognostic genes and their subnetworks included several pathways associated with the progression of breast cancer and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. These results suggested that heterogeneous cancer driver information may be associated with cancer prognosis.

Effect of polydopamine and fluoride ion coating on dental enamel remineralization: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Fluoride treatment is one of the most effective dental caries prevention methods. To continuously prevent dental caries, stably immobilizing the fluoride on the tooth enamel is highly desirable. This study aimed to evaluate the remineralization of tooth enamels by one-pot coating using polydopamine and fluoride ions. METHODS: To prepare the enamel specimens for polydopamine- and fluoride ion-coating, they were treated with polydopamine- and fluoride-containing gels. The enamel specimens were collected from human molars in a blind manner (n = 100) and were randomized into five treatment groups (n = 20, each): 1) untreated, 2) polydopamine-coated, 3) fluoride-containing gel-treated, 4) F varnish-treated, and 5) polydopamine- and fluoride ion-coated enamels. Vickers hardness number (VHN), morphology, and fluoride contents of the specimens were measured before and after the pH-cycling regimen. RESULTS: Polydopamine- and fluoride ion-coated enamels showed the highest fluoride content and lowest VHN reduction among the samples. The fluoride content of the polydopamine/fluoride ion (PD/F)-coated enamel was increased to 182 ± 6.6%, which was far higher than that of the uncoated enamel (112.3 ± 32.8%, P < 0.05). The changes in the VHN values (ΔVHN) of PD/F-coated enamel substrates showed a slight reduction in the VHN (-3.6%, P < 0.05), which was far lower than that in the control group (-18.9%, P < 0.05). In addition, scanning electron microscopy clearly supported the effect of polydopamine- and fluoride ion-coatings on the remineralization of enamel specimens. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that one-pot treatments with polydopamine and fluoride ions could significantly enhance remineralization by inhibiting enamel demineralization through the prolonged retention of fluoride ions.

Old age is associated with worse treatment outcome and frequent adverse drug reaction in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is rapidly increasing globally, especially in the older population. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the impact of aging on the treatment outcomes of NTM-PD. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)-PD and received antibiotic treatment between January 2009 and December 2020 at a tertiary referral hospital in Korea. The main outcomes were (1) long-term treatment success, defined by negative culture conversion for more than 12 months; and (2) adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between age and main outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 614 patients (median age, 65 years, interquartile range [IQR] 57-73 years; men, 35.3%) were included. Median treatment duration (530 days, IQR 290-678 days; P for trend < 0.001) and long-term treatment success (P for trend = 0.026) decreased, whereas ADRs (P for trend < 0.001) increased significantly with age. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that age ≥ 80 years was an independent factor associated with ADRs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-10.28) and worse treatment outcome (aOR 0.42; 95% CI 0.19-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Aging is associated with worse treatment outcome and frequent ADRs of patients with MAC-PD. Individualized treatment with reduced-intensity may be a reasonable alternative for older adults.

A focus group interview with health professionals: establishing efficient transition care plan for older adult patients in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although transition care planning can affect the functional status and quality of life after acute hospitalization in older adults, little is known on problems associated with discharge planning in acute care hospitals in Korea. We aimed to investigate barriers and possible solutions on transfer planning of complex older patients in this study. METHODS: We used focus group interviews with the application of framework analysis. Twelve physicians providing inpatient care from 6 different institutions in Korea participated in the interview. Facilitating questions were extracted from 2 roundtable meetings prior to the primary interview. From transcribed verbatim, themes were constructed from corresponding remarks by participants. RESULTS: We revealed two main domains of the barrier, which included multiple subdomains for each of them. The first domain was a patient factor barrier, a composite of misperception of medical providers' intentions, incomprehension of the healthcare system, and communication failure between the caregivers or decision-makers. The second domain, institutional factors included different fee structures across the different levels of care, high barrier to accessing health service in tertiary hospitals or to be referred to, the hardship of communication between institutions, and insufficient subacute rehabilitation service across the country. CONCLUSIONS: Through the interview, physicians in the field recognized barriers to a smooth transition care process from tertiary level hospitals to community care, especially for older adults. Participants emphasized both the patients and hospital sides of adjustment on behaviors, communication, and greater attention for the individuals during the transition period.

Higher frailty burden in older adults with chronic constipation.

BACKGROUND: Despite constipation being a common clinical condition in older adults, the clinical relevance of constipation related to frailty is less studied. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association between chronic constipation (CC) and frailty in older adults. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based, prospective cohort study of 1278 community-dwelling older adults in South Korea. We used the Rome criteria to identify patients with irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation (IBS-C) and functional constipation (FC). We investigated whether participants consistent with the criteria for IBS-C and FC had CC. Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty phenotype. RESULTS: In the study population with a mean age of 75.3 ± 6.3 years, 136 (10.7%) had CC. The participants with CC were older, had higher medication burdens, and had worse physical performances compared to those without CC (All P < .05). By association analysis, the prevalence of CC was associated with frailty by the CHS criteria (P < .001). The CHS frailty score was associated with the presence of CC by the univariate logistic regression analysis and the multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and multimorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was associated with CC in community-dwelling older people, suggesting that constipation should be considered as an important geriatric syndrome in clinical practice concerning frail older adults.

Clinical outcomes associated with anticholinergic burden in older hospitalized patients with advanced cancer: a single-center database study.

PURPOSE: Although anticholinergic burden has been known to be associated with adverse outcomes in older adults, its clinical importance has been less studied in patients with advanced cancer. We aimed to assess clinical impacts of using anticholinergic medications in older patients with cancer. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective database study. This study included patients with stage IV solid cancer aged 65 years or older who were hospitalized in a hospitalist-operated medical unit of a tertiary hospital. We calculated anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scores on admission and during hospitalization by reviewing all medications during hospital stays and collected the following data: demographic, medical history and clinical severity, occurrence of delirium, location of discharge, in-hospital mortality, and after discharge mortality data. RESULTS: When we divided the patients into two groups based on the change in ACB during hospitalization, the in-hospital mortality rate, incidence of delirium, frequency of transfers to long-term care hospitals, and length of hospital stay were higher in the ACB-increased group than those in the non-increased group. Even after excluding patients with clinically detected delirium, increased ACB were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Patients in the ACB-increased group showed higher mortality risk after discharge than those in the non-increased group based on the Cox proportional hazard model. CONCLUSION: Increased ACB during hospitalization is a predictor of worsening clinical features and higher mortality in older patients with cancer. Further studies investigating causal relationship between an increased ACB and poor prognosis are warranted.

Long-term effect of a 24-week multicomponent intervention on physical performance and frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Multicomponent interventions improve physical function and frailty in older adults, but their long-term benefit remains uncertain. METHODS: This prospective non-randomised study was conducted in 383 older Koreans (mean age, 76.8 years; female 72.3%) who were living alone or receiving medical aid. Of these, 187 individuals chose to receive a 24-week intervention that consisted of group exercise, nutritional supplements, depression management, deprescribing and home hazard reduction. The remaining 196 individuals received usual care. We compared the short physical performance battery (SPPB) score (0-12 points), frailty phenotype scale (0-5 points) and deficit-accumulation frailty index (0-1) at baseline, 6, 18 and 30 months. RESULTS: After 1:1 propensity score matching (n = 117 per group), the mean SPPB scores for the intervention and comparison groups were 7.6 versus 7.6 at baseline, 10.7 versus 7.1 at 6 months (mean difference, 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-4.2), 9.1 versus 7.8 at 18 months (1.3; 95% CI, 0.6-2.0) and 8.6 versus 7.5 at 30 months (1.1; 95% CI, 0.4-1.8). The intervention group had lower frailty phenotype scale (1.1 versus 1.8; difference, -0.7; 95% CI -1.0 to -0.3) and frailty index (0.22 versus 0.27; difference, -0.04; -0.06 to -0.02) at 6 months, but similar scores at 18 and 30 months. The 30-month mean institutionalisation-free survival time was 28.5 months in the intervention group versus 23.3 months in the comparison group (difference, 5.2 months; 95% CI, 3.1-7.4). CONCLUSIONS: The 24-week multicomponent intervention showed sustained improvement in physical function, temporary reduction in frailty and longer institutionalisation-free survival over 30 months.

Longitudinal impact of oral health on geriatric syndromes and clinical outcomes in community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Oral health is essential for daily living and plays a pivotal role in overall health conditions and well-being. This study evaluated the impact of self-reported oral health on geriatric conditions, institutionalization, and mortality. METHODS: This study analyzed the population of the Aging Study of Pyeongchang Rural Area that had undergone geriatric assessments between 2016 and 2017. The oral health status of the participants was determined using three items from the General Oral Health Assessment Index, and the participants were classified into three groups according to the total sum of the scores as good (3), fair (4-7), or poor (8-15). The outcomes were the incidence of geriatric syndromes at 2 years and the composite outcome of mortality and institutionalization. RESULTS: Among the 1189 participants, 44.1 % were women, and the mean age of the study population was 75.0 years. Good, fair, and poor oral health were observed in 597 (50.2 %), 406 (34.1 %), and 186 (15.6 %) individuals, respectively. Worsening oral health status was associated with the incidences of various geriatric syndromes at follow-up, and these associations were attenuated after adjusting for baseline demographic and geriatric parameters. Similarly, the significant association between baseline oral health status and the incidence of the composite outcome was attenuated after adjusting for demographic and geriatric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health affected the geriatric health conditions in this prospective, longitudinal cohort of community-dwelling older adults. The correlations and interactions of oral health status with other functional parameters may deserve consideration as a geriatric domain.

Association between physical performance and incidence of end-stage renal disease in older adults: a national wide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Physical frailty has previously been associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to determine whether impaired physical performance at baseline is associated with the incidence of ESRD, using a nationwide database. METHODS: The timed up-and-go (TUG) test was used to assess physical frailty in 1,552,781 66-year-old individuals, using health examination database records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. As a primary endpoint, incident ESRD was defined operationally using healthcare claims data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. RESULTS: Our results showed that baseline kidney function was significantly worse in individuals with TUG results of > 10 s compared to individuals with an intact TUG performance (≤10 s). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a stepwise dose-response relationship between baseline physical performance and the incidence rate of ESRD (log-rank test P-value of < 0.001). An increasing ESRD incidence rate trend with poor physical performance remained significant after adjusting for characteristics such as baseline glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Poor baseline physical performance was associated with an increased risk of ESRD, suggesting possible interactions between systemic frailty and vascular aging processes.

Development and Validation of 2D-LiDAR-Based Gait Analysis Instrument and Algorithm.

Acquiring gait parameters from usual walking is important to predict clinical outcomes including life expectancy, risk of fall, and neurocognitive performance in older people. We developed a novel gait analysis tool that is small, less-intrusive and is based on two-dimensional light detection and ranging (2D-LiDAR) technology. Using an object-tracking algorithm, we conducted a validation study of the spatiotemporal tracking of ankle locations of young, healthy participants (n = 4) by comparing our tool and a stereo camera with the motion capture system as a gold standard modality. We also assessed parameters including step length, step width, cadence, and gait speed. The 2D-LiDAR system showed a much better accuracy than that of a stereo camera system, where mean absolute errors were 46.2 ± 17.8 mm and 116.3 ± 69.6 mm, respectively. Gait parameters from the 2D-LiDAR system were in good agreement with those from the motion capture system (r = 0.955 for step length, r = 0.911 for cadence). Simultaneous tracking of multiple targets by the 2D-LiDAR system was also demonstrated. The novel system might be useful in space and resource constrained clinical practice for older adults.

Comparison of Two Electronic Physical Performance Batteries by Measurement Time and Sarcopenia Classification.

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a widely accepted test for measuring lower extremity function in older adults. However, there are concerns regarding the examination time required to conduct a complete SPPB consisting of three components (walking speed, chair rise, and standing balance tests) in clinical settings. We aimed to assess specific examination times for each component of the electronic Short Physical Performance Battery (eSPPB) and compare the ability of the original three-component examinations (eSPPB) and a faster, two-component examination without a balance test (electronic Quick Physical Performance Battery, eQPPB) to classify sarcopenia. The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional study which included 124 ambulatory outpatients who underwent physical performance examination at a geriatric clinic of a tertiary, academic hospital in Seoul, Korea, between December 2020 and March 2021. For eSPPB, we used a toolkit containing sensors and software (Dyphi, Daejeon, Korea) developed to measure standing balance, walking speed, and chair rise test results. Component-specific time stamps were used to log the raw data. Duration of balance examination, 5 times sit-to-stand test (5XSST), and walking speed examination were calculated. Sarcopenia was determined using the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guideline. The median age was 78 years (interquartile range, IQR: 73,82) and 77 subjects (62.1%) were female. The total mean eSPPB test time was 124.8 ± 29.0 s (balance test time 61.8 ± 12.3 s, 49.5%; gait speed test time 34.3 ± 11.9 s, 27.5%; and 5XSST time 28.7 ± 19.1 s, 23.0%). The total mean eQPPB test time was 63.0 ± 25.4 s. Based on the AWGS criteria, 34 (27.4%) patient's results were consistent with sarcopenia. C-statistics for classifying sarcopenia were 0.83 for eSPPB and 0.85 for eQPPB (p = 0.264), while eQPPB took 49.5% less measurement time compared with eSPPB. Breakdowns of eSPPB test times were identified. Omitting balance tests may reduce test time without significantly affecting the classifying ability of eSPPB for sarcopenia.

Relationship between age and bronchodilator response at diagnosis in adult-onset asthma.

BACKGROUND: Possible variation in bronchodilator response (BDR) according to age at the diagnosis of adult-onset asthma is unknown. Our aim was to assess if BDR in FEV1 is related to age at diagnosis of adult-onset asthma and how many subjects fulfill the 400 mL criterion of BDR, the suggested cut-off for asthma-like reversibility in asthma-COPD overlap (ACO). METHODS: A total of 1030 patients with adult-onset asthma were included; 245 from SAAS (Seinäjoki Adult Asthma Study, Finland) and 785 from COREA (Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea) cohorts. BDR in FEV1 at the diagnosis of asthma was assessed. Patients were divided into groups based on age at asthma diagnosis: < 40, 40-59.9, and ≥ 60 years. The cohorts were analyzed separately. RESULTS: BDR % in FEV1 did not differ between the groups of different age at asthma diagnosis and no correlation between BDR and age was found. Of patients aged ≥40 years, only 18% (SAAS-cohort) and 5% (COREA-cohort) reached the 400 mL BDR in FEV1. After exclusion of possible ACO patients, the results remained similar. CONCLUSION: By using two large cohorts of steroid-naive patients with asthma, we have shown that BDR at diagnosis of asthma is constant over large age span range, and the limit of 400 mL in BDR in FEV1 is rarely reached. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Seinäjoki Adult Asthma Study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier number NCT02733016 .

Timed Up and Go Test and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Nation-wide Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: If mild parkinsonian signs can be a marker for Parkinson's disease (PD) development, an impaired Timed Up and Go test (TUG) should also be a marker for prodromal PD. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the Timed Up and Go test is associated with PD. METHODS: We included 1,196,614 participants at 66 years of age who underwent the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages for Koreans between 2009 and 2014. Timed Up and Go test times were classified into <10 and ≥10 seconds. Incidence of PD was defined using claims data. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 3.5 years, participants with slow Timed Up and Go test time had significantly increased risk of developing PD compared with those with normal Timed Up and Go test time (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.28; 95% confidence interval: 1.20-1.37). Furthermore, participants with an abnormal Timed Up and Go test result, defined as ≥20 seconds, had a significantly increased risk of PD compared with those with a normal Timed Up and Go test result (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.63-2.92). CONCLUSION: An indicator of subtle motor deficits, the Timed Up and Go test could be a prodromal marker for the risk of PD development. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Longitudinal trajectory of disability in community-dwelling older adults: An observational cohort study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Disability, which is considered a health-related condition, increases care demands and socioeconomic burdens for both families and communities. To confirm the trend of dynamic longitudinal changes in disability, this study aims to explore how disability is divided by the trajectory method, which deals with time-sequenced data. Additionally, this study examines the differences in demographics, geriatric conditions, and time spent at home among the trajectory groups in community-dwelling older adults. Home time is defined as the period during which the patient was not in a hospital or health care facility during their lifetime. METHODS: Records of 786 community-dwelling older participants were analyzed from the Aging Study of PyeongChang Rural Area, a population-based cohort study that took place over three years. Using 7 domains of activities of daily living and 10 domains of instrumental activities of daily living, participants were grouped into no dependency (0 disabled domain), mild (1 disabled domain), and severe (2 or more disabled domains) disability groups. The longitudinal trajectory group of disability was calculated as a trajectory method. Three distinct trajectory groups were calculated over time: a relatively-stable group (78.5%; n = 617), a gradually-aggravated group (16.0%; n = 126), and a rapidly-deteriorated group (5.5%; n = 43). RESULTS: The average age of 786 participants was 73.3 years (SD: 5.8), and the percentage of female was 52.7%. It was found that 78.5% of patients showed relatively no dependence and 5.5% of older adults in a rural area showed severe dependence. Through applying the trajectory method, it was shown that the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score was 10.2 points in the relatively-stable group and 3.1 points in the rapidly-deteriorating group by the 3rd year. Additionally, by the trajectory method, the rate of decrease in home time was 3.33% in the rapidly-deteriorated group compared to the relatively-stable group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the difference in demographics and geriatric conditions (such as SPPB) through the examination of longitudinal trajectory groups of disability in community-dwelling older adults. Significant differences were also found in the amount of home time among the trajectory groups.

Longitudinal analysis to better characterize Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome: Findings from an adult asthma cohort in Korea (COREA).

BACKGROUND: Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS), which has received much attention, has not been unanimously defined. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we tried to demonstrate that longitudinally defined ACOS is more useful in the real world than blending patients with asthma and COPD. METHODS: The study patients had undergone two consecutive pulmonary function tests measured at least 3 months apart (n = 1889). We selected the patients who had positive bronchodilator response or methacholine provocation tests (n = 959). Next, we defined ACOS as a patient with a persistent airflow obstruction [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity <0.7] that was identified twice consecutively by an interval of at least 3 months (n = 228). RESULTS: The proportions of patients who were older, male and smokers were significantly higher, and baseline lung function was lower in patients with ACOS. In the longitudinal analysis, the mean change in lung function was high, and a greater decline in FEV1 was observed in patients with ACOS. In addition, we compared ACOS and severe asthma, and we also performed a cluster analysis and compared the results with our definition of ACOS. According to our definition, ACOS is an independent subtype with distinctive characteristics. Finally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genetic variations associated with ACOS, but no significant single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that ACOS should be defined longitudinally and considered as an independent subgroup distinguished by inherited environmental factors rather than as a genetically distinct independent group.