Functional Status Of Elderly People Research Articles

Enlightening the Brahmamudra- As Per Yogmimansa in Management of Manyastambh w.s.r. to Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a degenerative and age-related condition affecting neck joints. It is also known as cervical osteoporosis. This is usually found in men and women at the age of 40 years or above. The aim of present study to reduces the symptoms and increases in functional activities of elderly patients with spondylosis before and after Bramhamudra.(Yoga posture) In this clinical study, total 30 patients were enrolled. All patients were treated on Brahmamudra fallowed by micro exercise and diet on the day of enrollment and after 30 day with the schedule as 0th 7th 15th 30th day fallow up. There is no drop out. Clinical assessment done on day 1st and 30th day of fallow up, shows results of improvement in all the assessment criteria in neck region. Neck pain and the symptoms was assessed examination (X-ray, MRI) by symptomatic score used by VAS (Visual analog scale), physical examination through ROM (range of movement), cervical disability score questionnaire, radiological and examination by pathological test (uric acid, ESR, RA factor, BMD in the patient willing to do) on the day of enrollment. Then after fallow up the neck pain was examination by symptomatic score used by VAS, physical examination through ROM, cervical disability score questionnaire (radiological and examination by pathological test if required). In conclusion, a combination of Yoga with diet control is found to be effective in reducing pain, and facilitating improvement in functional status of elderly people suffering from CS.

POSTURAL DISORDERS IN THE ELDERLY IN STATIC ASSESSMENT

Physical activity is one of the most important element of a healthy lifestyle and determinant of the physical and mental health. According to the WHO, limited physical activity is the fourth most common premature death risk factor in the world. Regular sport and active recreation is very important for our health. Physical exercise is the most effective method used by physiotherapists to prevent and slow down the aging process of the body, and consequently, diseases of elderly (e.g. osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and injuries). Physical activity has a positive effect on the quality of life and cognitive functions of elderly. The physiotherapeutic program should be based on functional training involving the entire human body. To plan and monitor the effectiveness of the training, different types of tests are used to assess the functional status of elderly people. These tests are based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment considering the state of health, physical and mental fitness as well as social and environmental determinants.

Evaluation of the Effect of 16 Weeks of Multifactorial Exercises on the Functional Fitness and Postural Stability of a Low-Income Elderly Population

A multifactorial exercise programs for older people should be introduced to low-income communities. Of the 138 people who volunteered for the trial, 50 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the study group (multifactorial exercises and health education; MEE) or the control group (health education; E). Results shown that the MEE group had significantly improved tandem test results and mobility. Improvement in all items of the Senior Fitness Test was also observed. No statistically significant changes were observed in the control group. A multifactorial exercise program combined with health education resulted in a significant improvement in the functional status of elderly people with low incomes.

Nutritional status, physical performance and disability in the elderly of the Peruvian Andes.

Although nutritional status plays an important part in the physical performance and disability of older people, this relationship has been little studied in developing countries. A study on the effects of nutritional status on the physical performance and functional status of elderly people living in rural areas of the Peruvian Andes. The study concerned 222 people aged ≥65years living in a rural area of the Peruvian Andes. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to classify participants as malnourished (MNA<=17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA 18-23), or well-nourished (MNA>=24). The short physical performance battery (SPPB) and six-minute walking test (6MWT) were used to measure participants' physical performance. Disabilities were investigated by assessing participants' self-reported difficulty in performing one or more basic activities of daily living (ADL), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The prevalence of malnutrition was 9.4%, and more than half of our samples were at risk of malnutrition. After adjusting for potential confounders, malnourished individuals performed significantly worse than the other MNA groups in the SPPB (p for trend=0.001), 6MWT and IADL (p for trend<0.0001 for bothoutcomes), but not in the ADL (p for trend=0.23). Taking the well-nourished for reference, and after adjusting for potential confounders, malnutrition was significantly associated with disability in IADL (OR 5.36, 95% CI 1.02-56.94; p=0.05), and poor performance in the 6MWT (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.06-12.08; p=0.03) and SPPB (OR 4.94, 95% CI 1.01-24.07; p=0.04). Poor nutritional status was found significantly associated with poor physical performance and poor functional status in elderly Peruvian individuals.

Condición física y estado de salud mental en mujeres mayores físicamente independientes

Existe un deterioro físico y mental que repercute en el estado funcional de los mayores. Se pretende determinar nivel de condición física y estado de salud mental de mujeres mayores físicamente independientes y establecer relaciones. Se tomó una muestra de 30 mujeres con 67.52±3.1 años. La condición física se valoró con el SFT. El estado de salud mental con el Mini-Mental. Se registraron peso y talla y se calculó el índice de masa corporal. Con respecto al IMC, siguiendo los criterios de obesidad de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, la muestra se encuentra dentro de la normalidad. Según las puntuaciones del SFT, los resultados se encuentran dentro de la normalidad, exceptuando los test de dos minutos marcha y flexibilidad del tren inferior, equilibrio y agilidad. Respecto a los resultados del Mini-Mental, se encuentran dentro de la normalidad. El test de equilibrio estático presenta una correlación moderada positiva (r=0.67) con el de fuerza de la extremidad inferior. Las personas con más fuerza en extremidad inferior tienen menores puntuaciones en test de agilidad (r=-0.67). Existe correlación moderada positiva (r=0.62) entre el test de agilidad y el de velocidad de la marcha. Las correlaciones de los test físicos con el Mini-Mental son bajas. El nivel de condición física y estado de salud mental se encuentra dentro de la normalidad. No encontramos relación entre condición física y estado de salud mental.

Physical Condition and Mental Health Status in Physically Independent Older Women

There exists both a physical and mental deterioration that affects the functional status of elderly people. It is expected to determine the level of physical condition and the mental health status of old physically autonomous women and establish relationships. A sample of thirty women aged 67.52±3.1 was taken. While physical condition was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), for the mental health was used the Mini-Mental test. Besides, weight and height were recorded and body mass index was calculated (BMI). Regarding BMI and following World Health Organization’s criteria related to obesity, the sample is not outside the typical limits. Scores of SFT determined that all results were within normal limits except those of the two-minute walk’s test and the flexibility focused on the lower body, balance and agility. The Mini-Mental test results are also within the normal limits. A positive moderate correlation (r=0.67) was obtained from the static equilibrium test thanks to a strength test of the lower extremity. People with more strength in the lower extremity obtained lower scores in the agility test (r=-0.67). There is moderate positive correlation (r=0.62) between the test of agility and speed of travel. Correlations of physical test with the Mini-Mental are low. Definitely, the level of physical fitness and mental health is in the normal range. It has not been found a relationship between the physical fitness and the mental health status.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on Alzheimer's disease severity: A mouse model study

ponents of successful ageing, in this context activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are reflecting functional status of elderly people. In this study? our aimwas to demonstrate the association between functional ability andnatural serum oxidants and antioxidants. Methods.– A total of 1418 elderly persons (48% man) with a mean age of 69.4were evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment. Functional status was measured by using the Barthel Index for basic ADL, while the Lawton–Brody Index was used for IADL. Laboratory tests including uric acid, albumin, bilirubin and GGT were performed by a hospital auto-analyzer. Results.– Therewas a significant positive relationship between ADL and IADL scoreswith serumnatural antioxidants. In addition a negative, weak correlation was found between ADL and IADL scores with serum GGT levels as a oxidative stress marker. Conclusion.– The impact of oxidative stress on ageing could be noticed not only on cellular level also on functional ability. Further studies are needed to clarify the main role of serum natural oxidants and antioxidants in ageing.

Is there a link between functional ability and serum natural antioxidants in elderly?

Ageing is an unavoidable complex biological process that is defined as a decline in intrinsic physiological and biochemical functions of the major systems, leading to an increase in the risk of disease and mortality [1]. It is assumed that with ageing, mitochondrial functions decline progressively and cause accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2]. Oxidative stress, caused by imbalance between ROS and antioxidants, is responsible for various age-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis, malignancies and neurodegenerative diseases. Serum uric acid, albumin, and bilirubin are strong natural hydrophilic antioxidants, while gamma glutamyl transferase (cGT) is a marker of oxidative stress in body. Functional ability is one of the main components of successful ageing; in this context, activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) reflect the functional status of elderly people. We hypothesized that there may be an association between functional ability and natural serum oxidants and antioxidants. The patients with end stage renal disease, malignant disease, severe liver failure, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson were excluded from the study. A total of 1,418 elderly persons (48 % men) with a mean age of 69.4 were evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment. The age range of the men and women was 63–84 and 64–87, respectively. Functional status was measured by using the Barthel index [3] for basic ADL, while the Lawton–Brody index [4] was used for IADL. Laboratory tests including uric acid, albumin, bilirubin and cGT were performed by a hospital autoanalyzer. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between ADL and IADL scores with serum natural antioxidants as summarized in Table 1. In addition, a negative, weak correlation was found between ADL and IADL scores with serum cGT levels as oxidative stress marker (Table 1). We have also measured serum uric acid, albumin, bilirubin and cGT levels of a middle-aged group including 331 persons (51 % men) with a mean age 41.3 (29–51). In comparison with elderly group, serum bilirubin and albumin levels were significantly higher in middle-aged group (P = 0.03 and P \ 0.01). There was no difference in the levels of serum uric acid and cGT between two groups. There is a growing body of evidence linking oxidative stress and ageing. In this regard, two recent studies demonstrated that serum natural antioxidants were lower in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis [5, 6]. Uric acid is a strong, endogenously produced watersoluble antioxidant and can scavenge numerous oxidants including superoxide, hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite [7]. Emerging data indicate that bilirubin, end product of heme metabolism, has more potent antioxidant effect than other antioxidants, including a-tocopherol, superoxide dismutase and catalase [8]. Moreover, bilirubin also has immunomodulatory functions [9]. The main antioxidant role of albumin could be linked to its physiological properties including inhibition of lipid peroxidation and scavenging of oxygenand carbon-centered free radicals [10]. On the other hand, cGT is a prominent oxidative stress marker and cGT-induced glutathione cleavage results in the production of the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide [11]. Furthermore, serum free radicals were found to be higher in patients with diabetes mellitus, coronary heart Z. A. Ozturk (&) Y. Kepekci Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Sahinbey, 27100 Gaziantep, Turkey e-mail: zaodr79@yahoo.com

Cognitive and functional status of elderly people of a long stay institution of the municipality Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the functional capacity and cognitive status of elderly people living in a long-stay institution of the municipality of Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State. The population consisted of 67 elderly people aged between 62 and 102 years, 76% female and 24% male. Data were gathered using the Barthel index of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a form for the social characterization. A significant correlation was observed between the Barthel index and the MMSE, i.e. between functional capacity and cognitive status. Also a significant correlation was detected between education and mental state and between age and mental and functional state. The sex of the participants had no influence on the results. A percentage of 55% had no cognitive impairment, 39% were considered independent and 37% semi-dependent, and only 24% were totally dependent to perform activities of daily living. Therefore, it is emphasized the importance of thinking about the reasons that take to the institutionalization of elderly people.

Cognitive and functional status of elderly people of a long stay institution of the municipality Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil - 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v34ispec.11938

<b>Cognitive and functional status of elderly people of a long stay institution of the municipality Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil</b> - 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v34ispec.11938

Procena stanja starih osoba u gerijatriji

Elderly people are characterized by certain peculiarities evolving as a consequence of the process of ageing and relate to the all components of health. Geriatric assessment includes an objective view of the health condition in elderly people, taking into consideration their peculiarities, and it provides a suitable approach to their treatment and their health care. The treatment and health care of elderly patients are based on the comprehensive geriatric estimation which should be done within a team. Due to a number of reasons the geriatric estimation is very significant for the old people, their family, medical staff, health prevention system, narrow and wide social community; the reasons include greater diagnostic accuracy, improvement of the functional status of elderly people, improvement of the health condition of patients, decrease in the morbidity and mortality rate in elderly people, decrease in the need for permanent accommodation of the elderly people, more frequent use of home care and social service, more rational medication prescription, decrease in neglect within health protection, improvement of life quality of old people, lower expenses used for taking care of elderly people, etc. The assessment of the old people condition requires the knowledge from several areas, each of which is multidimensional: functional status (everyday activities and instrumental everyday activities); mental health; physical health; social sources; economic sources; environment conditions; problems of people providing health care.

Should the provision of home help services be contained?: Validation of the new preventive care policy in Japan

BackgroundTo maintain the sustainability of public long-term care insurance (LTCI) in Japan, a preventive care policy was introduced in 2006 that seeks to promote active improvement in functional status of elderly people who need only light care. This policy promotes the use of day care services to facilitate functional improvement, and contains the use of home help services that provide instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) support. However, the validity of this approach remains to be demonstrated.MethodsSubjects comprised 241 people aged 65 years and over who had recently been certified as being eligible for the lightest eligibility level and had began using either home help or day care services between April 2007 and October 2008 in a suburban city of Tokyo. A retrospective cohort study was conducted ending October 2009 to assess changes in the LTCI eligibility level of these subjects. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to calculate the relative risk of declining in function to eligibility Level 4 among users of the respective services.ResultsMultivariate analysis adjusted for factors related to service use demonstrated that the risk of decline in functional status was lower for users of home help services than for users of day care services (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.98). The same result was obtained when stratified by whether the subject lived with family or not. Furthermore, those who used two or more hours of home help services did not show an increase in risk of decline when compared with those who used less than two hours.ConclusionsNo evidence was obtained to support the effectiveness of the policy of promoting day care services and containing home help services for those requiring light care.

Functional status of elderly people with hearing loss

The objective is to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in people over 65 years of age, to describe the functional status of people with hearing loss and to identify the need for hearing aid use. In a cross-sectional study, a random sample of 1387 people aged 65 years and over was selected. The primary study variables were: hearing level by audiometric assessment, self-perceived hearing loss, screening for hypoacusia using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) and physical, cognitive and emotional functional status. Using the HHIE-S it was determined that 11.3% of the subjects had severe hearing handicap. According to the Ventry/Weinstein criteria 43.6% had hearing handicap. When asked about the use of hearing aids, 4.5% of the study subjects said they used them, although 41.9% had hearing loss of 35 dB or more in their better ear. The variables associated with the need for a hearing aid were age >75 years (odds ratio = OR = 3.2), ADL dependence (OR = 2.7), cognitive impairment (OR = 2.0), multiple health problems (OR = 1.8), male sex (OR = 1.6) and single/widowed (OR = 1.5). In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of hearing loss associated with other functional limitations. Of those people who would benefit from a hearing aid (more than a third of people over 65 years old), 89.3% do not own one. The screening of hearing loss needs to be improved.

Factors Associated with the Functional Status of Community-dwelling Elderly

This research sought to answer the following question: To what extent is the functional status of elderly people explained by gender, age, geographical residence, level of cognitive function, and depression? Two hundred randomly selected community-dwelling elderly people aged 65 to 80 years old completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Physical Performance Test (PPT). Correlation analysis and simple linear regression models showed that age, MMSE, GDS, and geographical residence were significantly associated with the functional level, whereas gender was not. In the multiple regression model, MMSE and geographical residence together explained 40% of the variance in functional status; age and GDS did not add to the explanation. Since cognitive function had the strongest association with functional performance to an extent greater than the other variables, adding a treatment regimen that stimulates cognitive function might further enhance functional level or prevent decline of functional status compared with an exercise intervention alone.

Determinant factors of functional status among the elderly

To investigate the impact of health-related demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as the impact of factors associated to social activity and the subjective health evaluation on the functional status of elderly people. A cross-sectional multicentric study was conducted in a representative population sample in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1989. Functional status was evaluated using a scale of activities of personal and instrumental daily living. It was studied as a dichotomous variable: absence of dependency - disability/difficulty in none of the activities in contrast with moderate/severe dependency - disability/difficulty in 4 or more activities. Multiple regression analysis was applied to hierarchically clustered factors. Those with the following features were more associated to moderate/severe dependency: illiterate, retired, pensioner, house keeper, living in a rented home, age over 65 years, multigenerational family composition, hospitalization in the last 6 months, mental health screening case, no visiting friends, and having a pessimistic perception of his/her own health when compared to their peers. The identified features associated to moderate/severe dependency suggest a complex net of causes for the declining functional status. However, one can assume that preventive measures directed to specific factors can benefit these population by improving their well-being.

Multidisciplinary assessment for the elderly in a day hospital: 1

Many scales have been developed to describe the functional status of elderly people before discharge from hospital. This twopart article reports on the outcome of a multidisciplinary assessment and recording method that was developed for elderly people living in the community. In the first part of this article, the literature on elderly assessment scales is reviewed.

Functional status of elderly people treated for asthma-related symptoms: a population based case-control study

There are few data on the disability caused by asthma in elderly subjects. The aim of this survey was to assess the functional status of a population aged 65 years or more, being treated for asthma-related symptoms. A representative sample of 3,777 elderly people, living at home in the South-West of France, was surveyed using a standardized questionnaire on factors of ageing and their consequences. To assess the functional status, five scales were used: Activities of Daily Living (ADL); Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); Rosow and Breslau scale; Mobility; and a Subjective Health Scale. Patients treated for asthma-related symptoms were identified by means of their use of the anti-asthma drugs mentioned in the questionnaire. In a second stage, the presence of asthma-related symptoms was further established by enquiring from their general practitioners and by direct questioning of the patients. Among 135 subjects taking anti-asthma drugs, 83 (61%) had positive responses to specific questions, either from their doctors or from themselves, allowing them to be identified as "asthmatic". In comparison with a control group matched for age and sex (n = 166; two controls for each patient), asthmatic patients had a higher dependence in the IADL scale, a greater self-assessment of poor health, and a greater handicap in mobility. However, they had the same level of ADL disability as controls. Despite adjustment for residential area, depressive symptoms, Mini Mental Status (MMS) Exam score, visual and auditory impairment, and joint pain, patients treated for asthma still had a higher risk of disability in daily life, and a poorer subjective health than controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A scale for the functional status of the elderly living at home

Many scales have been developed to describe the functional status of geriatric patients. These scales are of limited use for describing the functional status of elderly people living at home, because of their poor capacity for differentiation. This article reports the results of a postal questionnaire among elderly people living at home. The findings will be analysed to see whether the inventory on performance of household and daily living activities describes the functional status of elderly people in a useful manner. A combined scale was constructed, which has satisfactory Guttman coefficients when applied to elderly people living at home. In addition, the scale is informative for those providing home care with regard to the elderly person's quantitative and qualitative needs for assistance. As such, it could be an instrument to be applied in community nursing. The applicability of the scale to institutionalized elderly people remains to be investigated.

Association of Muscle Strength with Functional Status of Elderly People

We have studied the association of muscle strength (quadriceps, biceps, handgrip), measured by a portable chair technique, with functional status (Barthel Index, manual dexterity, Mental Test Score, history of falls, fracture, prescribed drugs), in a sample of 92 elderly subjects attending a Local Authority Day Centre and Day Hospital. Anthropometric measurements and hand-grip strength were also measured in 30 young controls. Muscle area, mass and strength were significantly greater in young controls. Elderly men had significantly greater muscle area, mass and strength than elderly women. Muscle strength correlated with several measures of functional status. Using stepwise multiple regression, an independent association of muscle strength with manual dexterity, Barthel Index and receipt of domiciliary services is demonstrated.