Fast gait spatiotemporal parameters in adults and association with muscle strength - The Yishun study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on fast gait speed and spatial-temporal parameters across age groups among Asian adults, and the associations between upper and lower extremity muscle strength with gait. RESEARCH QUESTION: What values characterise fast gait spatiotemporal parameters across the age groups of an Asian population? Are hand grip strength (HGS) and knee extension strength (KES) associated with fast gait speed and spatiotemporal parameters? METHODS: Healthy community-living adults between 21-90 years (n = 487) were recruited. Fast gait was assessed using a 6 m instrumented walkway, and spatiotemporal parameters including variability for fast gait speed, stride length, stride width, stride time, stance time, swing time, single support time and double support time were analysed. Maximum HGS and KES were also assessed. Linear regression modelling was used to explore the association of HGS and KES with fast gait speed, spatiotemporal parameters and their variability. RESULTS: Age reduced fast gait speed and stride length, but increased stride width, stance time, stride time and double support time. Age increased all investigated gait variabilities except stride width variability. Gender differences were observed for all gait features except for fast gait speed and double support time. Both HGS and KES were positively associated with fast gait speed in both young and old adults. KES was positively associated with spatiotemporal variations in stride length, stride time, stance time and double support time. HGS was also significantly associated with two additional temporal parameters - positively with swing time and negatively with double support time variability. SIGNIFICANCE: The data from this study contributes to reference values database for the use of fast gait assessments in adults.

Coexistence of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity in communitydwelling adults e The Yishun Study

Objectives@#To 1) report prevalence of ‘osteosarcopenia’ (OS) and osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) entities using evidence-based diagnostic techniques and definitions, 2) examine if OSO offers additional predictive value of functional decline over its components, and 3) identify associated factors in a multi-racial Southeast Asian population. @*Methods@#We performed a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 542 community-dwelling adults (21–90 years old), and assessed anthropometry, cognition, functional performance, and self-report sociodemographic, health and lifestyle questionnaires. Low muscle mass, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria, were used to assess sarcopenia. Obesity was defined using percentage body fat and fat mass index. Osteopenia/osteoporosis was determined using lumbar spinal bone mineral density. Associated factors were examined using logistic regression, and OSO’s value investigated using linear regressions with functional performance. @*Results@#OS and OSO prevalence were 1.8% and 0% (21–59 years), 12.9% and 2.8% (≥ 60 years), 17.3% and 4.1% (≥ 65 years), and 25.5% and 7.0% (≥75 years), respectively. OSO entity as defined was not a significant predictor (P > 0.05) and did not improve explanations for functional decline over sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity. Age, sex, race and body mass index (BMI) were associated with OS, while age, sex, race and alcoholism were associated with OSO. @*Conclusions@#Our results do not support OSO as a distinct entity in relation to functional decline. Aside from biological age, sex, and race, amenable lifestyle factors such as BMI and alcohol intake are important variables that can influence the co-existence of osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity.

Coexistence of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity in communitydwelling adults e The Yishun Study

Objectives@#To 1) report prevalence of ‘osteosarcopenia’ (OS) and osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) entities using evidence-based diagnostic techniques and definitions, 2) examine if OSO offers additional predictive value of functional decline over its components, and 3) identify associated factors in a multi-racial Southeast Asian population. @*Methods@#We performed a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 542 community-dwelling adults (21–90 years old), and assessed anthropometry, cognition, functional performance, and self-report sociodemographic, health and lifestyle questionnaires. Low muscle mass, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria, were used to assess sarcopenia. Obesity was defined using percentage body fat and fat mass index. Osteopenia/osteoporosis was determined using lumbar spinal bone mineral density. Associated factors were examined using logistic regression, and OSO’s value investigated using linear regressions with functional performance. @*Results@#OS and OSO prevalence were 1.8% and 0% (21–59 years), 12.9% and 2.8% (≥ 60 years), 17.3% and 4.1% (≥ 65 years), and 25.5% and 7.0% (≥75 years), respectively. OSO entity as defined was not a significant predictor (P > 0.05) and did not improve explanations for functional decline over sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity. Age, sex, race and body mass index (BMI) were associated with OS, while age, sex, race and alcoholism were associated with OSO. @*Conclusions@#Our results do not support OSO as a distinct entity in relation to functional decline. Aside from biological age, sex, and race, amenable lifestyle factors such as BMI and alcohol intake are important variables that can influence the co-existence of osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity.

The development and validation of a prototype mobility tracker for assessing the life space mobility and activity participation of older adults.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in examining the life space mobility and activity participation of older adults in the community using sensor technology. Objective data from these technologies may overcome the limitations of self-reported surveys especially in older adults with age-associated cognitive impairment. This paper describes the development and validation of a prototype hybrid mobility tracker for assessing life space mobility and out-of-home activities amongst 33 community-ambulant older adults in Singapore. METHODS: A hybrid mobility tracker was developed by combining a passive Global Positioning System logger, tri-axial accelerometer and radio-frequency identification. Objective measures of life space, derived from 1 week of tracking data using Geographic Information Systems, were the maximum Euclidean distance from home (Max Euclid) and the area of the minimum convex polygon surrounding all GPS waypoints (MCP area). Out-of-home activities were quantified by visually identifying the total number of activity nodes, or places where participants spent ≥5 min, from mobility tracks. Self-reported measure of life space in 4 weeks was obtained using the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Life Space Assessment (UAB-LSA) questionnaire. Self-reported out-of-home activities were recorded daily in a travel diary for 1 week. Bivariate correlations were used to examine convergent validity between objective and subjective measures of life space and out-of-home activities. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 69.2 ± 7.1 years. The mean UAB-LSA total score was 79.1 ± 17.4. The median (range) Max Euclid was 2.44 km (0.26-7.50) per day, and the median (range) MCP area was 3.31 km2 (0.03-34.23) per day. The UAB-LSA total score had good correlation with Max Euclid (r = 0.51, p = 0.002), and moderate correlation with MCP area (r = 0.46, p = 0.007). The median (range) total number of activity nodes measured by tracker of 20 (8-47) per week had a good correlation with the total activity count recorded in the travel diaries of 15 (6-40) per week (r = 0.52, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The tracking system developed to understand out-of-home travel was feasible and reliable. Comparisons with the UAB-LSA and travel diaries showed that it provided reliable and valid spatiotemporal data to assess the life space mobility and activity participation of older adults.