The effect of sepsis and reactive oxygen species on skeletal muscle interstitial oxygen pressure during contractions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effect of sepsis on the dynamics of skeletal muscle partial oxygen pressure during muscle contractions as well as the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger (ascorbic acid, Asc). METHODS: Twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats (2-3 months old) were randomly assigned to three groups; sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), or CLP plus ascorbic acid treatment group (CLP + Asc). Electrical stimuli-induced muscle contractions and partial oxygen pressure measurements were performed at 3 h after CLP. The interstitial oxygen pressure (PO2 is) in the spinotrapezius muscle was measured by the phosphorescence quenching method. RESULTS: The PO2 is at rest was not different between the three groups. The PO2 is decreased from rest to contraction in all groups. Compared to the sham, the time to decrease PO2 is was significantly faster in CLP but not in CLP + Asc (p < .05). Compared to the sham, the PO2 is during muscle contractions was significantly lower in both CLP and CLP + Asc (p < .05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CLP-induced sepsis accelerated the decay of PO2 is at the onset of muscle contractions and maintained a low level of PO2 is during muscle contractions.

Transcapillary PO2 Gradients in Contracting Muscles of Type I Diabetic Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the effect of Type I diabetes (DIA) on transcapillary PO2 gradients, which are oxygen-driving factors between the blood and the interstitium, in the contracting muscle of rats. METHODS: Wistar male rats were divided into the diabetic (streptozocin i.p.) and sham groups. Microvascular and interstitial PO2 were measured in the extensor digitorum longus muscle during electrical stimulation-induced muscle contraction, using the phosphorescence quenching method. Transcapillary PO2 gradient, ΔPO2, was calculated as microvascular minus interstitial PO2. RESULTS: Resting microvascular PO2 was higher in the diabetic group than in the sham group (6.3 ± 1.7 vs. 4.7 ± 0.9 mmHg, p < 0.05) and remained for 180 s. Interstitial PO2 from rest to muscle contraction did not differ between the groups. The ΔPO2 was higher in the diabetic group than in the sham group at rest and during muscle contraction (4.03 ± 1.42 vs. 2.46 ± 0.90 mmHg at rest; 3.67 ± 1.51 vs. 2.22 ± 0.65 mmHg during muscle contraction, p < 0.05). Marked muscle atrophy was observed in the diabetic group. CONCLUSION: DIA increased microvascular and transcapillary PO2 gradients in the skeletal muscle. The enhanced PO2 gradients were maintained from rest to muscle contraction in diabetic muscle.

Early physical rehabilitation effectiveness in frail older patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia: analysis of a nationwide database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a significant predictor of prognosis in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). No effective therapy has been reported in frail patients with CAP, with frailty determined using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). AIMS: To investigate whether early physical rehabilitation intervention would effectively minimize adverse outcomes in frail older patients (determined using the HFRS) hospitalized for CAP. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis involved patients with CAP aged ≥ 65 years enrolled in the Japanese Diagnostic Procedure Combination Database between 2014 and 2020 and assessed as being frail. We compared 30-day mortality and readmission rates for patients who did and who did not receive physical rehabilitation within three days of admission and evaluated the association between outcomes and receiving early physical rehabilitation using Cox regression models and inverse probability weighting (IPW) for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The analysis involved 31,133 frail older patients hospitalized for CAP (mean age 84.3 ± 6.3 years; females, 49.1%), including 11,515 (37.0%) who received early physical rehabilitation. Cox regression analysis showed that early physical rehabilitation intervention was inversely associated with 30-day mortality and readmission rates. The IPW model also showed similar results. DISCUSSION: Early physical rehabilitation was associated with reduced risks of 30-day mortality, overall in-hospital mortality, and 30-day readmission rates in frail older patients with CAP. CONCLUSIONS: Early physical rehabilitation in frail older patients hospitalized for CAP may improve outcomes. This finding highlights the importance of simultaneously introducing the HFRS and early physical rehabilitation intervention into clinical practice for frail older patients with CAP.

Osteosarcopenia, the co-existence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is associated with social frailty in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcopenia is a newly described, aging-associated condition. Social frailty is an important condition whose prevalence may have risen by physical distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, the relationship between these two remains unclear. AIMS: To examine the association between osteosarcopenia and social frailty. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from outpatients visiting general geriatric hospital frailty clinics. Bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Osteoporosis was defined as a BMD of < 70% of the young adult mean, according to the Japan Osteoporosis Society. Sarcopenia was diagnosed as per the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 recommendation. Osteosarcopenia was defined as the co-existence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. We defined social frailty using a questionnaire comprising four items: general resources, social resources, social behavior, and basic social needs. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed with social frailty status and osteosarcopenia as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. RESULTS: We included 495 patients (mean age = 76.5 ± 7.2 years) in the analysis; of these, 58.2% were robust and 17.2%, 13.5%, and 11.1% had osteoporosis alone, sarcopenia alone, and osteosarcopenia, respectively. Social frailty prevalence increased stepwise from 8.0% in robust patients to 11.8%, 17.9%, and 29.1% among those with osteoporosis alone, sarcopenia alone, and osteosarcopenia, respectively (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that only osteosarcopenia was significantly associated with social frailty (pooled odds ratio: 2.117; 95% confidence interval: 1.104-4.213). DISCUSSION: Comprehensive assessment of osteosarcopenia and social frailty is needed for disability prevention in older adults.

Perceived Exertion Correlates with Multiple Physiological Parameters During Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the Borg scale score with leg-muscle oxygenated haemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb) levels on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the work rate, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2) and minute ventilation (VE) during supine cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in healthy adult men. We also investigated the relationships between the leg-muscle O2Hb and HHb levels and the work rate during supine CPET. Fifteen healthy male volunteers (mean age, 20.7 ± 0.6 years; mean height, 172.1 ± 5.7 cm; mean body weight, 61.7 ± 6.6 kg) participated in this study. The cardiopulmonary and NIRS parameters were assessed during each minute of supine CPET and at the end of the test. The Borg scale score significantly correlated with the work rate, HR, VO2, and VE during supine CPET (Rs = 0.86-0.94, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Borg scale score significantly correlated with the leg-muscle O2Hb and HHb levels during supine CPET (Rs = -0.6, and 0.8, respectively; p < 0.05). The leg-muscle O2Hb and HHb levels had significant correlations with the work rate (R = -0.62 and 0.8, respectively; p < 0.05). The Borg scale score may be used to determine the rating of perceived exertion, whole-body fatigue and local-muscle fatigue during supine exercise. Moreover, leg-muscle oxygenation is associated with the work rate in supine exercise, similar to that observed in upright exercise.

Diet-induced inflammation is associated with sarcopenia and muscle strength in older adults who visit a frailty clinic.

BACKGROUND: Diet-induced inflammation may be associated with sarcopenia; however, few reports have examined this relationship. AIM: To examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and sarcopenia in older adults who visited a frailty clinic in Japan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used outpatient data from the Frailty Registry Study. The DII is an index of diet-induced inflammation, and a dietary assessment was performed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire to calculate the DII score. We classified DII scores by quartiles (Q1-Q4), and sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. Logistic regression analyses for sarcopenia were performed. Age, sex, comorbidities, and physical activity were entered as confounding factors (Model 1) and Models 2, 3, and 4 with BMI, protein intake, and energy intake added to Model 1. RESULTS: We included 304 patients in the analysis (mean age, 77.6 ± 6.3 years; female, 67.4%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 14.5%. Logistic regression analyses showed that DII scores were significantly associated with sarcopenia in Model 1 and 2 (Model 1, reference: Q1, Q4: OR 3.10, P = 0.020; Model 2, Q4: OR 3.40, P = 0,022) but not in Model 3 and 4. DISCUSSION: Diet-induced inflammation is associated with a higher likelihood of sarcopenia; however, this association disappeared after confounding for protein and energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that dietary protein and energy parameters were the main drivers for muscle health in medical patients.

Undernutrition at Admission Suppresses Post-Stroke Recovery of Trunk Function.

OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition and decreased trunk function have a negative influence on the activities of daily living (ADL) prognosis after stroke. However, the relationship between malnutrition and improvement in trunk function has not been clarified. We aimed to examine the influence of malnutrition on the improvement in trunk function in stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study was conducted with cerebral infarction patients aged ≥ 65 years with stroke. The study period was from May 2018 to September 2020. Patients were divided into malnutrition and intact groups according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. The primary outcome was the change in the Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) score (FACT score at discharge - FACT score at admission). RESULTS: A total of 183 participants (mean age, 79.7 ± 7.5 years; males, 56.3%) were included. A total of 79 (43%) and 104 (57%) patients were divided into the malnutrition and intact groups, respectively. The malnutrition group had a lower FACT score at admission (7.7 ± 7.3 vs. 11.9 ± 6.3, P < 0.001) and a lower FACT score at discharge (8.0 ± 7.7 vs. 13.3 ± 6.1, P < 0.001) than the intact group. After adjustment for the confounding factors, malnutrition was associated with a smaller change in the FACT score (coefficient = -1.871, 95% CI = -3.401 to -0.340, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition has a negative influence on the recovery of trunk function in post-stroke patients. This finding should be verified through additional prospective studies.

Early Wearing of Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis Improves Functional Prognosis in Patients after Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is sometimes used for gait training in stroke patients. The impact of the time of wearing KAFO on activities of daily living (ADL) recovery has not been clarified. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the days from onset to KAFO wearing and functional prognosis in patients after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study was conducted with stroke patients who were prescribed a KAFO. Patients were divided into early and delayed groups according to the median days from onset to KAFO wearing. Baseline characteristics were evaluated at the initiation of KAFO wearing. The primary outcome was the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, which was scored by the nurse at baseline and discharge. RESULTS: 112 participants (mean age 67.9 ± 14.0 years, 51.8% male) were included. The time period measure from day of onset to KAFO wearing for the early group was significantly shorter than the delayed group (35.8 ± 6.6 days vs. 73.5 ± 28.9 days). The early group had a higher FIM at discharge (84.9 ± 28.0% vs. 65.1 ± 29.0%, P < 0.001) and higher FIM gain (36.9 ± 19.8% vs. 26.8 ± 22.3, P = 0.013) than did the delayed group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the early group was associated with FIM gain (coefficient = 8.607, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Early wearing of KAFO, irrespective of the difference in ADL at the time of KAFO wearing, may have a positive impact on the improvement of ADL in patients after stroke.

Impact of preoperative 6-minute walk distance on long-term prognosis after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) is a simple way of assessing exercise capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative 6MWD and long-term prognosis after esophagectomy. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved 108 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 2013 and 2020. The patients were classified into the short group (SG: 6MWD < 480 m) or the long group (LG: 6MWD ≥ 480 m). To adjust for the background characteristics of both groups, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed and 32 patients were matched from each group. Five-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to evaluate differences in survival between the groups. After adjusting for other prognostic factors, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the impact of preoperative 6MWD on long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 923 days. Thirty-three deaths were recorded during the study period. After PSM, 5-year OS following surgery was 29.2 and 66.1% (p = 0.003) and 5-year RFS was 27.9 and 58.6% (p = 0.021) in the SG and LG, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards analysis, the SG was a significant independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio 3.33; 95% confidence interval 1.37-8.11, p = 0.008) and RFS (hazard ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval 1.08-4.88, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The preoperative 6MWD is useful for evaluating exercise capacity and predicting the long-term outcome in patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Prevalence of Malnutrition Diagnosed with GLIM Criteria and Association with Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Acute Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with a poor functional outcome in patients with stroke. However, the prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria or its association with activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with acute stroke have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of the malnutrition diagnosed with the GLIM criteria and its association with ADL or discharge destination in patients with acute stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we diagnosed malnutrition with the GLIM criteria and the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) criteria and assessed ADL by functional independence measure motor domain (FIM-M) score in patients with acute stroke. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between FIM-M score or home discharge and malnutrition defined with GLIM or ESPEN criteria. RESULTS: A total of 115 acute stroke patients (39 females; median age: 72 years) were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of malnutrition according to GLIM-criteria and ESPEN-criteria was 28.7% and 16.5%, respectively. Multivariate analyses for FIM-M score after adjusting for potential confounders showed that GLIM criteria and ESPEN criteria were independently associated with FIM-M score (ß = -0.238, p < 0.001; ß = -0118, p = 0.040, respectively). A multivariate analysis for discharge destination found that only malnutrition from the GLIM criteria was significantly associated with home discharge (OR = 0.08, 95% confidential interval = 0.01-0.69, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition with the GLIM criteria is negatively associated with ADL and is also associated with discharge destination in patients with acute stroke.

Inadequate Postoperative Energy Intake Relative to Total Energy Requirements Diminishes Acute Phase Functional Recovery From Hip Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether postoperative voluntary energy intake (EI) affects functional recovery with hip fracture during the acute phase. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Hip fracture patients (N=200) who were consecutively admitted to 3 acute hospitals because of falling. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were stratified into 3 groups based on the ratio of measured EI to estimated total energy expenditure (TEE) as inadequate (EI/TEE<0.7), intermediate (0.7≤EI/TEE<1), and adequate (EI/TEE≥1) groups. The functional status was evaluated using the motor domain of a FIM. We calculated efficiency based on the motor FIM scores (change in postoperative motor FIM scores/length of the rehabilitation period) to assess the beneficial effect of rehabilitation. RESULTS: The median hospital stay was 24 days. The inadequate group comprised 73 (36.5%) patients (median EI/TEE, 0.54; interquartile range, 0.42-0.64); intermediate group comprised 92 (46.0%) patients (median EI/TEE, 0.87; interquartile range, 0.78-0.94), and adequate group comprised 35 (17.5%) patients (median EI/TEE, 1.10; interquartile range, 1.04-1.15). Absolute functional gain (AFG) and efficiency of motor FIM gain (EFG) scores were higher in the adequate group than in the others (P<.01). After adjustment for potential confounders, a significant association between postoperative EI/TEE group and logarithm of EFG scores was observed to persist (inadequate group, standardized ß =-0.14; reference: adequate group; P=0.03; R2 for the entire model =0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative EI that is less than 70% of TEE diminishes functional recovery with hip fracture.

Superselective Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Large Unruptured Renal Angiomyolipoma in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate therapeutic performance and complications of superselective transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for unruptured renal angiomyolipoma (AML) in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and to investigate the correlation between percentage reduction in tumor volume and intratumoral fat content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Superselective TAE was performed in 14 consecutive patients with 15 large unruptured renal AMLs associated with LAM (mean age, 38 y; range, 21-57 y). Patients had renal AML with aneurysms ≥ 5 mm in diameter, tumor-related abdominal symptoms, or both. In all cases, embolization of 1 tumor was achieved in a single session by using multiporous gelatin sponge particles (GSPs) with additional metallic coils in all but 1 case. Tumor volume and fat content percentage were measured on CT or MR imaging before and after superselective TAE (median, 11 months; range, 6-14 months). RESULTS: Residual tumor staining declined by > 90% after all TAE sessions except 2, with embolization of all treated aneurysms. No nontarget embolization or severe complications were encountered. Mean percentage reduction in tumor volume after superselective TAE was 69% (range, 21%-95%). Percentage tumor volume reduction was negatively correlated with fat content before embolization (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Superselective TAE with multiporous GSPs and metallic coils for large unruptured renal AML in patients with LAM is useful for reducing tumor volume and treating intratumoral aneurysms without major pulmonary or renal complications. Extent of tumor reduction may be influenced by fat content before embolization.

Low phase angle: A predictor of functional status and discharge disposition in acute stroke older patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low phase angle (PhA) on functional status and discharge disposition during the acute phase in older patients with acute stroke. METHODS: We included consecutive patients who experienced acute stroke between October 2021 and December 2022. The exclusion criteria included: age<65 years, admission from other than home, death during hospitalization, inability to measure bioelectrical impedance analysis owing to implantation, and missing data. We defined low PhA (<5.28° for male and <4.62° for female) and categorized them into the low PhA group and normal group. The clinical outcomes were functional independence by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (0-2, independence; 3-5, nonindependence) and discharge disposition (home or others). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of low PhA on the mRS score at discharge and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Ultimately, a total of 205 patients were included in this analysis. More patients in the low PhA group were unable to be independent (27.7% vs. 66.7%, P < 0.001) and were unable to be discharged home (53.4% vs. 82.5%, P < 0.001) than in the normal group. Logistic regression analysis of the mRS scores showed that baseline low PhA decreased the likelihood of functional independence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.275, P = 0.003) and home discharge (OR = 0.378, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Low PhA is a risk factor for low functional status at hospital discharge; it decreases the likelihood of home discharge in older patients with acute stroke.

Hospitalization-associated disability prediction using Hospital Frailty Risk Score in older patients undergoing pancreatectomy.

PURPOSE: Frailty and hospitalization-associated disabilities (HAD) are geriatric conditions that should be managed in older patients undergoing pancreatectomy. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) can evaluate frailty based on medical records and could predict postoperative activities of daily living (ADL) decline. This study aimed to investigate whether HFRS affects the postoperative incidence of HAD in older patients who underwent pancreatectomy. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study used data from a nationwide hospital-based database. We included consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th revision code C25) and underwent curative pancreatectomy between April 2014 and August 2020. We evaluated preoperative frailty using HFRS. The primary outcome was HAD following pancreatectomy. Logistic regression analysis was performed for analyzing the impact of frailty on HAD following pancreatectomy. RESULTS: We included 671 patients for the analysis (mean age 74.3 ± 5.6, male 54.8%). The prevalence of intermediate and high risk of frailty with HFRS ≥ 5 was 2.7%. The incidence of HAD was significantly higher in the intermediate- and high-risk groups compared to that in the low-risk group (33.3% vs. 8.4%, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that intermediate and high risks of frailty increased the likelihood of HAD (odds ratio, 3.55; 95% confidence interval: 1.12-11.2). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of frailty evaluated using the HFRS increased the likelihood of developing HAD in older patients undergoing pancreatectomy. Future research on effective perioperative interventions for preventing postoperative HAD and enhancing postoperative ADL recovery is warranted.

Association between energy intake and activities of daily living in patients with acute stroke at hospital discharge: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of energy intake on activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with acute stroke, with a focus on the differences between obese and non-obese patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in a neurological hospital and included patients hospitalized for acute stroke. During the acute phase (1 week after admission), energy intake was assessed, and the main outcome was defined as the Functional Independence Measure in the motor domain (FIM-M) at discharge. All subjects were divided into two groups based on their body mass index (BMI) at admission, with BMI ≥ 25 defining the obese stroke group and BMI < 25 defining the non-obese stroke group. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between energy intake and FIM-M in each group. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients with acute stroke (median age: 72 years) were included in this study, with 118 patients (39%) in the obese stroke group. In the non-obese stroke group, a significant and independent relationship was observed between FIM-M and energy intake (ß = 0.103, p = 0.031, adjusted R2 = 0.687). However, in the obese stroke group, no significant relationship was found between FIM-M and energy intake (ß = 0.076, p = 0.302). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute stroke, energy intake positively affects functional outcomes in non-obese patients but not in obese patients. This study highlights the importance of considering obesity as a potential factor in determining energy intake in patients with acute stroke.

The added value of frailty assessment as the premorbid stroke status on activities of daily living in patients with acute stroke, stratified by stroke severity.

BACKGROUND: The modified Rankin scale (mRS) is extensively used for premorbid evaluation in patients with stroke; however, its limited capacity to assess functional status highlights the need for additional indicators such as frailty. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the impact of the premorbid mRS score and frailty on daily living (ADL) activities at hospital discharge, focusing on varying stroke severities. METHODS: This single-centre, prospective cohort study included patients with acute stroke aged ≥60 years. Key metrics included the frailty index for frailty assessment or mRS for functional status premorbid and the functional independence measure of the motor domain (FIM-M) at discharge for ADL outcomes. The patients were categorized into mild (0-4), moderate (5-15), and severe (16-42) groups based on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed for each group to evaluate the influence of mRS and frailty on FIM-M scores. RESULTS: In the mild stroke group, significant associations were observed with premorbid mRS3 (ß = -0.183, p = 0.004), mRS4 (ß = -0.234, p < 0.001), and frailty status (ß = -0.227, p = 0.005) and FIM-M scores. Premorbid frailty did not show a significant association with the FIM-M scores in the moderate or severe stroke group. Frailty status notably contributed to changes in R², particularly in the mild stroke group (R² change = 0.031, p = 0.002). However, such changes were not evident in the other stroke severity groups. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of incorporating frailty assessments into premorbid evaluations, particularly when considering ADL outcomes in patients with mild stroke. Conversely, the significance of frailty in moderate-to-severe stroke was less evident.

Relationship between nutritional status and clinical outcomes among older individuals using long-term care services: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutritional status is a significant issue in an aging society; however, the impact of the nutritional status of older individuals using long-term care services on the caregiving burden remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of nutritional issues on adverse outcomes in older individuals using long-term care services. METHODS: We used data from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Ichu-shi Web databases. Original articles published in English or Japanese between January 2000 and July 2022 were included. The inclusion criteria were interventional and observational studies on individuals using long-term care services with aged ≥65 years and a focus on body weight or weight loss. Data on adverse outcomes related to caregiving burden, including the number of people requiring care, mortality, complications, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life, were collected. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 7873 studies, of which 35 were ultimately included. Seven observational studies investigated mortality outcomes, and seven examined ADL outcomes. The meta-analysis revealed significantly higher mortality rates in individuals classified as underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) than in those with BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2 (risk ratio [RR] 1.49; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.31 to 1.73, 0.22; I2 93 %). Further, on categorising the participants based on a BMI cutoff of 25 kg/m2, those with a BMI of <25 kg/m2 had a significantly increased mortality rate (RR 1.21; 95 % CI 1.04-1.40; I2 = 98 %). BMI and weight loss did not affect ADL. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that underweight and weight loss are significantly associated with increased mortality in older individuals using long-term care services. Therefore, appropriate weight management is recommended for this population. However, further research is necessary owing to the high heterogeneity observed in this study.

Impact of possible sarcopenia on functional prognosis in patients with acute stroke with premorbid disability.

AIM: How possible sarcopenia affects functional prognosis in patients with premorbid disability remains unclear. This study aimed to compare and investigate the impact of possible sarcopenia at admission on functional outcomes at discharge in patients with acute stroke with and without premorbid disability. METHODS: This cohort study enrolled patients who were consecutively admitted to a single center for acute stroke. Calf circumference and grip strength were measured within 7 days of admission, and possible sarcopenia was determined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score at discharge during the acute phase was the primary outcome. To examine the impact of possible sarcopenia on FIM scores at discharge, patients were divided into two groups according to being with or without premorbid disability according to the modified Rankin Scale, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed in each group. RESULTS: This study included 456 patients with acute stroke (median age, 80 years). In the premorbid-disability group (n = 166), possible sarcopenia was present in 140 patients (84%). Patients without possible sarcopenia had significantly higher FIM scores at discharge compared with those with possible sarcopenia (P < 0.001). However, multiple linear regression analysis showed that possible sarcopenia was not associated with FIM scores at discharge in the premorbid-disability group (ß = -0.054, P = 0.346). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that a high rate of possible sarcopenia was observed in patients with stroke with premorbid disability; however, this did not affect functional prognosis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 359-363.

Diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and clinical outcomes of pediatric sarcopenia: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and decreased muscle strength, significantly affects adults but also influences pediatric health. However, definitions for low muscle mass, decreased strength, and sarcopenia in children are less established, impacting interventions for improving health outcomes. The objective of this scoping review is synthesize the existing literature on the diagnostic criteria, prevalence and clinical outcomes of sarcopenia. METHODS: A scoping review, following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, examined pediatric sarcopenia literature until June 2023. The literature search was performed using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials with the last search conducted on June 30, 2023. Criteria included studies on aged 0-20 years, covering healthy subjects, acutely ill patients, and chronic disease cases excluding specific conditions like neuromuscular diseases or prematurity. RESULTS: Initial search found 503 studies, finally, we included 56 studies. Most studies diagnosed sarcopenia using skeletal muscle mass indicators like total psoas muscle area from Computed Tomography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Around half of the longitudinal studies highlighted sarcopenia as a risk factor for various clinical outcomes, predominantly in hospitalized patients. However, cutoff values for sarcopenia indicators lacked consistency, with studies employing diverse percentile-based measurements or z-scores. CONCLUSION: Pediatric sarcopenia diagnosis primarily relies on skeletal muscle mass, with identified links to future clinical outcomes in specific conditions. The lack of standardized cutoffs for sarcopenia indicators underscores the necessity for age, gender, and race-specific cutoff values derived from studies establishing reference values for muscle mass and strength across diverse pediatric populations.

Coexistence of Non-Lower Body Mass Index and Exercise Habits Reduce Readmission in Older Patients With Heart Failure.

Objective: To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and exercise habits on readmission rates among older patients with heart failure. Methods: Ninety-seven older patients admitted for heart failure (median age: 81 years; 57.7% male) were included in the study. Patients were categorized into four groups based on the presence or absence of lower BMI and/or the absence of exercise habits. Lower BMI was defined as BMI<20.3 kg/m2 at discharge and exercise habits were defined as engaging in 30 or more minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise at least once a week. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission during the 1-year follow-up period. Results: The patients were distributed across four groups: lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=24, 24.7%), lower BMI/exerciser (n=22, 22.7%), non-lower BMI/non-exerciser (n=21, 21.6%), and non-lower BMI/exerciser (n=30, 30.9%). Forty-six patients (47.4%) experienced readmission during the 1-year follow-up period. In a cox proportional hazard analysis, non-lower BMI/exerciser remained an independent prognostic factor even after adjusting for confounding factors (non-lower BMI/exerciser vs. lower BMI/non-exerciser: hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.83; p=0.022). Conclusion: The coexistence of non-lower BMI and regular exercise habits may reduce readmission during the 1-year in older patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct appropriate nutritional assessments for patients with lower BMI at discharge. Additionally, promoting and monitoring sustained physical activity after discharge is crucial for older patients with heart failure.