Lower extremity performance measures predict long-term prognosis in older patients hospitalized for heart failure.

BACKGROUND: In older heart failure (HF) patients, survival depends on the severity of their cardiac condition and on their functional status. Lower extremity performance, assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), predicts survival in older persons, both in epidemiologic and clinical settings. We evaluated whether SPPB predicts long-term survival in older subjects hospitalized for HF, independent of traditional measures of HF severity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects aged 65+ years were enrolled on discharge after hospitalization for decompensated HF. Participants underwent echocardiography, comprehensive geriatric assessment, and SPPB. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to predict survival over a 30-month follow-up. Of 157 participants (mean age 80 years, range 65-101; 50% men), 61 died. After adjustment for potential confounders, including demographics, ejection fraction, New York Heart Association classification, and comorbidity, we found a graded independent association between SBBP score and mortality risk: compared with an SPPB score of 9-12, scores of 0, 1-4, and 5-8 were associated with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of death of 6.06 (2.19-16.76), 4.78 (1.63-14.02), and 1.95 (0.67-5.70), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SPPB is an independent predictor of long-term survival of older subjects hospitalized for decompensated HF.

Physical function, physical activity and recent falls. Results from the "Invecchiamento e Longevità nel Sirente (ilSIRENTE)" Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A fall is a common and traumatic event in the life of older persons. This study aims: 1) to explore the relationship between recent falls and measures of physical function in elders, and 2) to examine the role played by habitual physical activity in the relationship between recent falls and physical function. METHODS: We used baseline data from 361 community-dwelling persons aged > or = 80 years (mean age 85.9 yrs) enrolled in the "Invecchiamento e Longevità nel Sirente (ilSIRENTE)" study. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and usual gait speed. Muscle strength was measured by hand grip strength. Functional status was assessed by the Basic (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales. Self-reported recent falls over the previous three months were recorded. Analyses of covariance were performed to evaluate the relationship between recent fall events and physical function measures. RESULTS: Fifty participants (13.9%) reported at least one recent fall. Physically active participants had fewer falls and significantly higher physical function compared with sedentary subjects, regardless of recent falls. Significant interactions for physical activity were found in the relationships of usual gait speed and SPPB with recent fall history (p for interaction terms <0.01). A difference in usual gait speed and SPPB according to history of recent falls was found only in physically active subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Physical performance measures are negatively associated with recent falls in physically active, but not sedentary, participants. Physical activity is associated with better physical function, independently of recent fall history.

Physical exercise and comorbidity. Results from the Fitness and Arthritis in Seniors Trial (FAST).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Physical exercise is associated with a lower risk of disability. The impact of comorbidity on the benefits from physical exercise has not been clearly investigated. Elders with comorbidity may benefit from physical exercise to preserve physical function. METHODS: Data are from 435 participants with knee osteoarthritis aged > or = 60 years enrolled in the Fitness and Arthritis in Seniors Trial (FAST), who were randomly assigned to 18-month health educational (HE), weight training (WT), or aerobic exercise (AE) interventions. Comorbidity was defined as the presence of osteoarthritis and > or = 2 clinical conditions. Percent changes in the 6-minute walk test, self-reported disability and knee pain from baseline to 3-, 9-, and 18-month follow-up visits were analyzed according to comorbidity, using analysis of variance. Significances were adjusted using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS: Mean age of the sample was 68.7 years. In participants with comorbidity (n=197), those in the AE intervention showed significant improvement in walking speed, compared to WT and HE groups, since the beginning of follow-up. Subjects with comorbidity in AE and WT groups showed improvement of the disability score at the 3-month follow-up visit compared to those in the HE group. This improvement was maintained at the end of the follow-up by the only AE group compared to the HE one (p=0.06). In participants with comorbidity, the pain score was improved by the AE intervention. CONCLUSIONS: AE and WT interventions improve physical function in individuals with comorbidity. AE improves physical function and knee pain independently of the presence of comorbidity.

Anemia and recovery from disability in activities of daily living in hospitalized older persons.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of hemoglobin levels upon hospital admission on recovery from activity of daily living (ADL) disability during hospital stay in older patients. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING: Geriatric and internal medicine acute care units. PARTICIPANTS: Data are from 5,675 patients aged 65 and older enrolled in the Italian Group of Pharmacoepidemiology in the Elderly Study with ADL disability upon hospital admission. MEASUREMENTS: ADL disability was defined as inability to perform or need for assistance in performing one or more ADLs. Recovery from ADL disability was defined as independence in ADLs upon hospital discharge. Anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were considered as potential confounders. RESULTS: Mean age was 80.5 years; 57.7% of subjects were female. Prevalence of anemia was 46.8%. A total of 536 (9.4%) participants regained independence in all six ADLs at hospital discharge. Patients with anemia had a lower rate of recovery from ADL disability than those with normal hemoglobin levels (7.0% vs 11.6%; P<.001). Adjusted analyses confirmed that anemia was inversely associated with the likelihood of ADL recovery (odds ratio=0.71, 95% confidence interval=0.57-0.88). The probability of ADL recovery in anemic patients was higher at higher hemoglobin concentrations. CONCLUSION: In older hospitalized patients, anemia is inversely associated with the likelihood of regaining ADL independence during a hospital stay.

Age and comorbidity in acute myocardial infarction: a report from the AMI-Florence Italian registry.

A total of 930 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were prospectively recorded in the Florence health district. Factors influencing survival or those associated with use of revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention, 91%) were identified through multivariate analyses (Cox and logistic regression, respectively). The independent protective effect of coronary reperfusion therapy (CRT) was evident at 36 months (39% reduction in the risk of death). After adjusting for all multivariate predictors, CRT use was 63% less likely at age 85 years and older than at under 65 years (p<0.001). Since beyond advancing age, comorbidity appeared to be associated with a reduced chance of CRT, three chronic comorbidity score categories were calculated using information on past medical history. Increased 1-year mortality in patients with higher comorbidity score categories derives, at least in part, from underutilization of CRT. Results confirm that although they might potentially benefit from CRT during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, older and frail patients are excluded from CRT, even when eligible.

Age-related changes in treatment strategies for acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare across four age groups (<65, 65-74, 75-84, > or =85) the determinants of coronary reperfusion therapy (CRT) use in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STE-AMI). DESIGN: Population-based, observational study. SETTING: Performed in the health district of Florence, Italy, where percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred CRT. PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred thirty patients with STE-AMI prospectively enrolled in the Florence AMI registry. MEASUREMENTS: Use of CRT, clinical factors associated with CRT use. RESULTS: CRT use was reduced from 71% at younger than 65 to 31% at aged 85 and older (P<.001). After adjusting for chronic comorbidity, Killip class, admission hospital category, hospitalization delay, and AMI location, CRT use was 29% (P=.17) lower at age 75 to 84 and 63% (P<.001) lower at age 85 and older than at younger than 65. Within each age group, the probability of receiving CRT was three to five times greater in patients directly admitted to the hospital with PCI facilities. Acute cardiac failure and chronic comorbidity were associated with lower CRT use only in patients aged 65 and older. Patients aged less than 85 years who received reperfusive therapy had a significantly lower risk of death (-44%, P=.045) at 1 year, whereas it was less evident and nonsignificant (-27%, P=.27) in patients aged 85 and older. CONCLUSION: Results confirm that, although they might substantially benefit from CRT during STE-AMI, older patients are excluded from CRT even when eligible. This further indicates that clinicians are not yet completely prepared to manage most efficiently frail elderly with AMI, a task requiring a specific interdisciplinary training program in geriatric cardiology.