Geriatric Individuals Research Articles

Yaşlılarda Diyabet Bilgi Düzeyi, Fiziksel Aktivite ve Yaşam Kalitesi Arasındaki İlişki

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between knowledge about diabetes, physical activity, and quality of life in older adults with type 2 diabetes. 
 Materials and Method: A total of 188 geriatric individuals with a mean age of 75.2 years were included in this study. The level of knowledge about diabetes was assessed by the Diabetes Information Questionnaire-24, the Kasari index was used to assess the level of physical activity, and quality of life was assessed by the Diabetes-39 Quality of Life Questionnaire. 
 Results: The participants’ knowledge about diabetes, their physical activity levels according to the Kasari index, and Diabetes-39 quality of life scores were all low. It was determined that level of knowledge was significantly related to physical activity and the Diabetes-39 diabetes control subgroup score (p

Road traffic injury-related disabilities in geriatric population

BackgroundThe geriatric population, which constitutes ten percent of the world's population as of 2021, has been increasingly involved in traumatic conditions including road traffic injuries. In this article, geriatric cases transferred to a forensic medicine clinic in a tertiary care center for evaluation of road traffic injury-related disability were evaluated retrospectively. ObjectiveIt is intended to explore the challenges and causes that arise after road traffic injuries in the older population, in the light of the literature, taking into account their unique health conditions and vulnerability. Methods271 cases aged 65 and over, who applied to the Department of Forensic Medicine at Hacettepe University for determination of the disability rate due to road traffic injuries between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, were included in the study. Age, gender, initial injuries, sequels, and disability rates of the cases have been investigated. ResultsOf the cases, 138 (50.9%) were male and 133 (49.1%) were female. Pedestrians consist almost half of the cases. The most common trauma site was extremities, and the most common fractured bone was femur. Disability secondary to a psychiatric diagnosis was observed in only 1.8% of the cases. Mean disability rate was 28.45% (±21.30). ConclusionsApart from road and vehicle-related precautions to protect geriatric individuals from road traffic injuries at the pre-traumatic stage, the importance of orthopedic treatment and post-treatment rehabilitation is clear. Also, vulnerability and conditions with high prevalence in the geriatric population should be kept in mind to minimize financial losses in these patients.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANCER INFORMATION OVERLOAD AND ATTITUDES FOR CANCER SCREENING IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD SURGICAL PROCEDURE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

This study aimed to determine the relationship between cancer information overload and attitudes toward cancer screening in elderly patients who underwent surgery. A total of 123 geriatric individuals participated in the cross-sectional study. The mean age of the participants in the study was 70.63±5.81. It was determined that 17.1% of the individuals had cancer, 30.9% had cancer in their first degree relatives, 52% had cancer screening before, and the most common screenings were colonoscopy (23.6%), pap smear (14.6%), and breast self-examination (8.1%). It was determined that the total score averages of the attitude scale for cancer screening of those who obtained information about cancer from the internet/media were significantly lower (p=0.030). It was determined that there was a significant moderate negative correlation between cancer information overload and the total scores of the attitude scale for cancer screening (r=-0.303, p=0.001). To encourage screening in the geriatric population and to prevent the risks of unnecessary screening, arrangements should be made to facilitate access to accurate information.

Relationship Between Fear of Coronavirus and Life Satisfaction in Geriatric Individuals

Relationship Between Fear of Coronavirus and Life Satisfaction in Geriatric Individuals

Evaluation of Psycho-Social Problems of Geriatric Individuals during the Curfew: The Provincial Example from Türkiye

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psycho-social problems experienced by geriatric individuals during the curfew, in Samsun, Türkiye. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in Samsun, Türkiye. The population of the research consisted of individuals aged 65 and over who were served on the "Psycho-social Support Line" between June 1 and July 31, 2020 (N=2700). The responses of 452 participants were included in the study. A total of a 35-item survey, created by scanning the literature, were used to collect data to evaluate socio-demographic data, Life Routine, Psycho-social Evaluation, and Psycho-social Support Needs. In the study, a questionnaire was applied to the volunteer participants selected by the simple random method of telephone interview technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney-U test, Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher's Exact Test. P

Association between Clinical Frailty Scale and Risk of Hip Fractures among Geriatric Population

Background The study aims to identify the association between frailty and risk of hip fracture among the geriatric population admitted in the orthopaedic wards of tertiary care hospitals for the procedure of hip arthroplasty to determine if the cause of hip fracture is underlying frailty as estimated using a Clinical Frailty Scale. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the orthopedic ward of a tertiary care hospital, involving a total of 345 geriatric individuals who were admitted due to a hip fracture. The study examined various factors related to hip fractures in individuals aged 65 years and above, encompassing both males and females. Results The association between clinical frailty scale and hip fracture were determined, and the findings revealed that 34.78% of the participants who had suffered from hip fracture had a clinical frailty score of 7 which is severely frail, whereas 29.85% had a clinical frailty score of 6 (moderately frail), 21.7% were at 5 (mildly frail), 3.76% were at a score of 4 (vulnerable), 2.89% were at a score of 3 (managing well), 2.31 at a score of 2 (well) and 1.73% who suffered from hip fracture were not frail at all and found at a score of 1 (very well). Conclusion A higher frailty score is associated with a higher risk of hip fracture among the older adult population. Keywords Geriatrics, Hip fracture, Frailty, Orthopedics.

#3659 KIDNEY FAILURE MANAGEMENT IN THE ELDERLY: A PRELIMINARY SURVIVAL ANALYSIS

Abstract Background and Aims Dialysis treatment (DT) is the most common approach for patients with kidney failure. However, this may not be optimal for geriatric individuals, as more than half of elderly patients who initiate DT die within the first year. As a result, current guidelines advocate for presenting comprehensive conservative management (CM) as an alternative option for vulnerable patients and their families. A recent meta-analysis (2022) revealed that DT had a median survival time of 20-67 months, compared to 6-31 months for CM, indicating that individuals who opt for DT may have higher survival benefits. This distinction, however, disappears in +80 y/o patients, suggesting that both therapies may yield similar outcomes in this population. The efficacy of CM, however, remains poorly recognized due to the difficulty in comparing the treatments and the heterogeneous nature of the studies conducted. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate and compare the survival of the elderly who elected to undergo either conservative therapy or dialysis. Method We present a preliminary analysis of a prospective observational study conducted across 3 Nephrology Units (Veneto, Italy). We enrolled 117 patients in the pre-dialysis or CM clinics, meeting the eligibility criteria: ≥75 y/o, eGFR>15 ml/min/1.73 m2 (CKD-EPI formula), and had not already undergone DT or CM (personalized pharmacological therapy combined with a low-protein diet). At baseline, socio-demographic information, patient comorbidities, and blood and urine tests were collected through medical records and interviews. Additionally, the SF-36 questionnaire, the Barthel questionnaire, and the Mini-Mental State Examination assessed the quality of life, functional status, and global cognitive functioning. Survival was evaluated at 3 and 9 months after follow-up initiation, defined as the date of the first dialysis session or when the eGFR dropped below 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 in CM patients. The follow-up ended when patients reached the 9th month, died from any cause, switched treatments, discontinued medical follow-up, dropped out of the study voluntarily, or at the end of the project. To determine if any across-group differences existed at the baseline, non-parametric tests were used for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Kaplan-Meyer curve, Log Rank Test and Cox regression were performed for survival analysis. Results Of the 117 enrolled patients, 64 initiated the follow-up, 47 (59.6% M) in CM, and 17 (64.7% M) in DT. The patients in CM were older than those in DT (p = 0.028), with a median age of 82.5 (75.4-91.7) compared to 78.9 (75.6-87.9). At baseline, there were other statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in median levels of BUN, creatinine, PTH, haemoglobin, and total cholesterol. Comorbidities were similar in both groups. During the follow-up, 11 patients died (17.2%), 10 in CM (21.3%) and 1 in DT (5.9%). One patient in CM had an unavailable death date and was, therefore, excluded from further analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves and Log Rank Test revealed no significant difference in survival (p = 0.25). The median survival time was undefined, as over 50% of subjects in both groups did not experience the event during follow-up. In CM, unadjusted survival rates at 3 and 9 months were 91.3% and 78.2%, respectively. The effect of the therapies resulted in not significant after adjusting for important prognostic covariates. Conclusion In this study, we found that middle-term survival in the elderly is comparable to DT and CM. Despite limitations, these results provide valuable information for clinical decision-making. Our results suggest that well-organized CM can be a reasonable option for elderly patients with kidney failure.

Investigation of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Tacrolimus in Different Age Groups: Results from a Turkish Nationwide Study

Background: The blood level of tacrolimus (TAC) used for post-transplant immunosuppression should be within the therapeutic index. Geriatric individuals may be at risk of organ rejection because, in this age group, routine drug use is usually disrupted, and the bioavailability of aging-related drugs is decreased. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the age-related variability of blood TAC levels in patients in Turkey. Methods: In this study, 697,616 patients who underwent TAC measurement in the laboratories of public, private, and university hospitals between 2018 and 2020 were identified from the Health-net database of the Ministry of Health. The results of patients aged ≥65 years were compared with those of patients aged <65 years. The differences between the sexes in the same age group were also examined. Data from the Turkish Ministry of Health National Electronic Database were used to design a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Results: The study included 697,616 patients. The mean TAC concentration was 7.2 ± 6.25 ng/mL for all the patients, 7.13 ± 6.7 ng/mL for the female patients, and 7.24 ± 5.96 ng/mL for the male patients. A statistically significant difference in TAC concentration was found between men and women in the general population. Groups aged ≥65 years were compared among themselves. A statistically significant decrease in TAC concentration was found only in the age group of 75–79 years (5.63 ± 4.09 ng/mL) of women compared with the men. In all other age groups, the TAC levels of the men were lower. Conclusions: The proportion of patients with TAC concentrations lower than the therapeutic index was higher in the groups aged ≥65 years. Thus, patients aged ≥65 years may be at risk of organ rejection, as optimum immunosuppression cannot be achieved. In these patients, more frequent drug monitoring and providing training to ensure the compliance of the patient and the patient's relatives in the use of TAC may be recommended.

Kinematic Features of Mandibular Movement during Mastication in Geriatric Individuals Who Are Provided with a Dysphagia Diet at Long-Term Care Facilities.

Providing a normal diet to a care recipient who is unable to form an adequate bolus may cause suffocation or aspiration pneumonia. We investigated whether differences in kinematic data of mandibular movements during mastication can be used as an indicator of the need for a dysphagia diet in the elderly in long-term care facilities. We included 63 participants who were provided with solid food in two long-term care facilities. The primary outcome variable was the kinematic data on mandibular movement during cracker chewing. The analysis results were compared between the normal and dysphagia diet groups. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed. Significant differences were observed in the masticatory time, cycle frequency, total change amount, number of linear motions, and circular motion frequency between the normal and modified diet groups. The odds ratio for the circular motion frequency was -0.307, and the calculated cutoff value was 63%, with a sensitivity of 71.4%, a specificity of 73.5%, and an area under the curve of 0.714. Thus, these characteristics may be useful for detecting care recipients who need to be provided with a dysphagia diet. Moreover, the circular motion frequency could be used as a screening test to identify people who need a dysphagia diet.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms as Indicators of Fall Risk in Geriatric Inpatients.

Background and Objectives: It is well established that patients with cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of falls. However, the impact of coexisting neuropsychiatric symptoms on the overall risk of falls in hospitalized geriatric individuals with and without dementia has not been extensively studied. This cross-sectional study will assess the association between neuropsychiatric symptoms and fall risk in geriatric individuals analyzed by sex. Materials and Methods: A total of 234 patients, both with and without dementia, admitted to the geriatric ward at Leszek Giec Upper-Silesian Medical Centre of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland, between January 2019 and January 2020 were included in this study. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire was used to assess the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Increased fall risk was defined by Berg scores of ≤40. Results: The mean age of the study group was 80.7 ± 6.6, and women accounted for 62.8% of the study population. Apathy was the most common neuropsychiatric symptom, affecting 58.1% of patients, and it was the most common symptom among people with dementia, affecting 67.80% of patients. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis revealed that a high fall risk was significantly associated with the total number of neuropsychiatric symptoms (≥4) and the total intensity of these symptoms (≥6). For women, high fall risk was associated with three or more neuropsychiatric symptoms and a total neuropsychiatric symptom intensity score of at least 6. For men, the association of high fall risk with the total number of NPS was not significant; a total NPS intensity score of 10 or more was associated with high fall risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified associations with fall risk for hallucinations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly hallucinations is associated with an increased risk of falls in geriatric inpatients. In addition, the cumulative total of NPS and their cumulative intensity are both independently associated with an increased risk of falls. These results suggest that fall prevention strategies should include the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in hospitalized geriatric individuals.

Anatomical and epidemiological examination of the structure and localization of osteophytes of cervical vertebrae in geriatric patients by using computed tomography method

Background: To evaluate the osteophytes seen in the cervical vertebrae of geriatric individuals in various parameters. Materials and Methods: 764 (M: 413, F: 351) individuals who were admitted to the State Hospital Radiology Outpatient Clinic with various complaints between the years 2018 and 2023 and who met the criteria were examined in our study. A total of 1209 osteophytes were found in the individuals. The osteophytes were evaluated in terms of gender, age, grade, vertebral level, vertebral spacing, anatomical aspect, anatomical surface and length parameters. Results: Osteophyte formation increased with age in individuals (p<0.05). Osteophyte formation was observed more frequently in men when compared to women (p>0.05). Claw type osteophytes were observed commonly in all individuals (p<0.05). While fused type osteophytes were observed commonly in men, traction-type osteophytes were observed more frequently in women (p<0.05). Osteophyte formation of grade 2 severity was observed in all individuals (p>0.05). While fused osteophytes were commonly observed at grade 4 severity, claw and traction type osteophytes were observed at grade 2 severity (p<0.05). Osteophytes were commonly observed at the C5 vertebra level in all individuals (p>0.05). Fused and traction type osteophytes were commonly seen at the C6 level, while claw type osteophytes are commonly seen at the C5 level (p<0.05). In all individuals, osteophytes were most common in the C5-6 space, followed by the C4-5, C6-7 (p>0.05). Osteophytes were commonly seen anteriorly in both sexes and all osteophyte types (p<0.05). All osteophyte types were commonly observed in the inferior surface of the vertebra (p<0.05). Males had relatively longer osteophytes (mm) than females (p<0.05). Claw type osteophyte was observed in longer dimensions than traction type osteophyte (p<0.05) Conclusions: Osteophyte type and grade severity were found to vary between individuals. In the examinations, varying features were observed in the vertebral level, anatomical aspect, surface and length parameters of the osteophytes.

Assessment of the functional results of hemiarthroplasty in geriatric individuals with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures

Background: The objective of our study is to measure early weight bearing, mobilization, rapid rehabilitation, complications in unstable intertrochanteric femur after hemiarthroplasty fractures in elderly patients. Methods: Prospective and retrospective, non-randomized study was conducted to assess functional results of hemiarthroplasty in elderly individuals with unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures following surgery in patients who underwent surgery from 2019 to 2021 in department of orthopaedics of Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad. Out of total 44 participants, there were 16 males and 28 females with mean age of 79.54 years of study participants. The patients were evaluated radiologically with routine X-rays i.e. pelvis with both hip joint anteroposterior (AP) view and affected side hip lateral view and clinically early weight bearing, mobilization, rapid rehabilitation and complication with Harris hip score. Results: In our study we observed good result of 86.53±5.73 mean Harris hip score at the end of 1 year was following surgery in 44 study participants who underwent hemiarthroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients. Conclusions: Primary hemiarthroplasty offers an essentially pain-free movable joint and is a preferable mode of treatment for older osteoporotic patients who suffers from unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. Hemiarthroplasty allows for early mobilization and offers rapid stability and mobility, preventing the issues associated with recumbency. Hemiarthroplasty has a lower rate of complications and revision surgery than fixation. According to the Harris hip score, primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty results in a good functional outcome, but long-term monitoring is necessary.

A cross-sectional epidemiological study of socio-demographic characteristics, and the functional assessment in geriatric population in field practice area of an urban health centre

Background: India like many other developing countries in the world is witnessing the rapid aging of its population. Urbanization, modernization, and globalization have led to change in the economic structure, the erosion of societal values, weakening of social values, and social institutions such as the joint family. Active aging aims to extend healthy life expectancy and quality of life (QOL) in older persons, and the QOL are largely determined by its ability to maintain autonomy and independence. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted at a teriary apex institute to study the socio-demographic characteristics, and the functional assessment in the elderly subjects in urban community. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at the area situated near western suburb of metro city and population of around one lakh sixty thousand. It consisted of housing buildings, multiple slum area. The current study was conducted over 1 year 6 months (18 months).The sampling unit being 102 Geriatric individuals of selected area of urban health center. Results: Out of 102 study, subjects 22 (21.56%) were complete independent to perform daily instrumental activities. Maximum study 48 (47.05%) subjects were required moderate assistance for performing the instrumental activities. Numbers of female study subjects were more among moderates assistance 24 (44.44%) and modified assistance 20 (19.60%). Out of 102 study subjects 55 (53.92%) were complete independent followed by 30 (29.41%) modified independence. Numbers of female subjects were more among moderate assistance 10 (58.82%). Conclusion: No study subject was dependent or maximal assistance for their self-care activities. Male and female in the present study can perform their self-care activities of daily living with equal efficiency.

An Analysis of the Relationship between Cognitive Flexibility and Anger in Geriatric Individuals

Introduction. In geriatrics, cognitive flexibility, which is known to be effective in individuals’ being patient with events, is the ability to activate one’s cognition in the face of sudden unexpected situations by processing. Being cognitively positive or negative affects geriatric individuals’ cognitive flexibility levels. It is important to examine the anger levels of geriatric individuals in the evaluation of their cognitive flexibility.
 Aim. This study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive flexibility and anger in geriatric individuals.
 Material and Methods. The current study was held in a Nursing Home in Central Turkey. The purposive sampling method was used in sample selection. The present research is designed as a descriptive study.
 Results. There are statistically significant and negative correlations between the CFS and State-Anger, Anger/In, and Anger/Out. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant and positive correlation between the CFS and Anger/Control.
 Conclusions. It is seen that the daily forgetfulness level and the mean scores of Anger/In and Anger/Out, which are state-anger and trait-anger styles, increased, while the mean scores of Anger/Control and Cognitive Flexibility decreased. (JNNN 2023;12(1):9–16)

Evaluation of the relationship between the geriatric anxiety and COVID-19 anxiety and fear levels in geriatric dental patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illness, social isolation and loneliness may cause different psychological problems in the geriatric population, including depression and anxiety. Factors such as anxiety and fear can negatively affect dental treatment processes and prognoses. Thus, in terms of dental approach to geriatric individuals, it is important to be aware of the emotional processes the elderly may have experienced during the pandemic. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the geriatric anxiety levels and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) anxiety and fear levels in the geriatric population. In this correlational study, 129 geriatric individuals were selected through the convenience sampling method. To gather the data, the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS), the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS), the COVID-19 Fear Scale (CFS), and a questionnaire assessing demographic variables were used. Simple linear regression and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the relationships between the variables. The sample consisted of 70.5% males and 29.5% females aged ≥65 years. The GAS total score (15.64 ±9.34) and its 3 subscale scores were strongly correlated with the CAS and CFS scores. The GAS total score and its subscale scores had a significant linear regression with both the CAS and CFS scores (p < 0.001). An increase in the anxiety and fear levels associated with the pandemic was observed in geriatric individuals. Thus, it should be considered that geriatric individuals may encounter some difficulties during dental treatment and prosthetic rehabilitation after the pandemic. Therefore, it is important to normalize the anxiety levels with the help of professionals, and to implement interventions such as socialization, physical activity and meditation to help balance the anxiety levels.

Effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on fatigue and activities of daily living in geriatric individuals with COPD

Fatigue is a commonly diagnosed symptom in cancers and many other chronic debilitating diseases. The second most important complaint after dyspnea in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the feeling of fatigue. Fatigue can have significant consequences on health status as it can limit patients' activities of daily living, lead to worsening prognosis, and is an indicator of mortality. It remains unclear how fatigue affects the daily life of COPD patients and what physical, social, and emotional challenges it brings. Some studies are showing that adhering to the Mediterranean diet significantly improves fatigue. In this study, the relationship between fatigue and adherence to a Mediterranean diet in COPD patients was investigated. The present study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study. The study population included ≥65-year-old patients with a diagnosis of COPD who were hospitalized in Chest Diseases Clinics of İzmir Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital and Chest Diseases Clinic of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Hospital. The Personal Information Form, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), COPD and Asthma Fatigue Scale (CAFS), and KATZ Activities of Daily Living Scale (Katz ADL) were used as data collection tools. Of the total 526 participants, 58.7% were men, 52.1% were overweight, 54.3% were ex-smokers, and 65.8% were non-drinkers. In the variables related to the disease, the mean duration of having COPD was 16.41 (SD 5.26) years. According to the GOLD classification of the participants, the severity of the disease was determined as Stage III in 57.4% of them, and the severity of dyspnea was determined as "3" (moderate severity) in 54.5% of them according to the mMRC scale. According to the results of the analysis, the mean MEDAS score was 7.84 (SD: 2.76). According to the participants' levels of adherence to the MD, of them, 43.8% had high adherence to MD and 29% had low adherence to MD. The mean CAFS score indicating the level of disease-related fatigue was 69.17 (SD: 15.73), and the lowest and highest scores were 25 and 100 respectively. According to the independence in activities of daily living of the participants, 77.3% were semi-dependent and 6.4% were independent. The comparison of the level of the participant's adherence to the MD according to their mean CAFS scores demonstrated that those who had high adherence to the MD obtained significantly lower scores than the participants in the other groups (p<0.05). The comparison of the participants' mean MEDAS scores according to their KATZ ADL independence status demonstrated that there was a significant difference (p<0.001). Adherence to the MD was associated with fatigue and independence in older COPD patients. It was found that high adherence to MD is associated with decreased fatigue and increased independence in activities of daily living in older COPD patients.

Serum Ferritin in Geriatric Individuals in the Shanghai Region: Distribution, Correlations, and Reference Intervals.

Serum ferritin levels have a clinical application in diagnosing diseases. However, the clinical standard levels and distribution characteristics of serum ferritin based on reference intervals (RIs) in the geriatric Han Chinese population in the East China region have not previously been well reported. This work aimed to investigate the correlation between serum ferritin levels and 14 metabolic markers, analyse the distribution of serum ferritin, and establish serum ferritin RIs for geriatric (> 60 years) individuals in Shanghai. Four hundred and sixty-nine healthy Chinese Han subjects (age, 61 - 95 years; median, 71 years) were recruited from the Health Examination Center of Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital in 2021. Serum ferritin was measured on a Roche Cobas 8000 e602, and 14 biochemical parameters were measured on a Siemens Atellica CH-930 to analyse distributions and correlations and to establish serum ferritin RIs for the elderly population in Shanghai. Serum ferritin levels were significantly different between genders (p = 0.06). The established RIs for serum ferritin were 24.44 - 627.09 ng/mL and 48.18 - 554.88 ng/mL in males and females, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed that ferritin levels were correlated with 7 parameters, including body mass index (BMI, p = 0.02), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT, p < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, p < 0.01), triglycerides (TGs, p < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, p < 0.01), total protein (TP, p < 0.01) and prealbumin (PAB, p < 0.01). When the participants were further divided by BMI, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was an additional variable that was positively correlated only in the overweight/obese group (p = 0.04), while globulin (GLO) was an additional variable that was positively correlated only in the other group (p < 0.01). Nutrition and metabolism may play a great role in the regulation of serum ferritin levels in geriatric individuals in vivo. The RIs established for serum ferritin may provide precise references for further studies on ferritin-related disease in geriatric individuals.

Effect of Home-Based versus Clinic-Based Exercise Training on Balance and Function in the Geriatric Population with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Non Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 30-40% of the population worldwide by the age of 65 years and is associated with proprioception loss, postural instability, and fall risk. Strengthening and balance exercises at home can prevent these issues. The Otago home exercise program is commonly used for fall prevention in the elderly. Aim: To compare the effects of home-based and clinic-based exercise training on balance and function in geriatric individuals with knee OA. Materials and Methods: A non randomised controlled trial (NRCT) was conducted from October 2017 to December 2017 at an old age home and residential zone of Ahmedabad city. Nineteen participants were divided into two groups: group A (home-based exercise) with nine participants, and group B (clinicbased exercise) with ten participants. The exercises were based on the Otago program. The study duration was eight weeks, and outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for static and dynamic balance, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) for physical function, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test for dynamic balance, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for knee pain. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0, employing the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests for within group and between group comparisons, respectively. Results: Group A (home-based exercise) showed significant improvements in BBS (p-value=0.007), WOMAC (p-value=0.007), and TUG (p-value=0.027). Group B (clinic-based exercise) also showed significant improvements in BBS (p=0.005), WOMAC (p=0.005), and TUG (p=0.041). When comparing the two groups, significant differences were found in BBS (p=0.013) and WOMAC (p=0.039), but not in TUG (p=0.864) and VAS (p=0.908). The clinic-based exercise group demonstrated greater improvement, as indicated by higher pre and postintervention readings. Conclusion: This study concludes that both home-based and clinic-based exercises are effective in improving balance and physical function in geriatric individuals with knee OA. However, clinic-based exercise interventions showed greater improvement, as evidenced by higher pre and postintervention readings in the clinic-based exercise group.

Investigating the Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Reflexology on Balance and Sleep Quality in Geriatric Individuals

"Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and reflexology can be effective in pain, balance and sleep problems in the elderly. Our study aimed to examine the effect of TENS and reflexology on balance and sleep quality in geriatric individuals. Materials and Method: 60 individuals with balance and sleep problems were included in our study and randomly divided into three groups: Reflexology (N=20), TENS (N=20) and control (N=20). All individuals were evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Tinetti Balance Test (TBT) method pre-treatment and post-treatment. Results: It was observed that there was a significant increase in BBS in the reflexology group after the treatment compared to the pre-treatment, while a decrease in pain and an increase in sleep quality were observed in the TENS group post-treatment. While the decrease in the risk of falling was seen in all three groups, the improvement in the risk of falling was mostly seen in the reflexology group. There was no statistical difference between the groups post-treatment (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that reflexology practice increased the balance and decreased the risk of falling. We think that reflexology application as an alternative treatment will reduce the symptoms."

Effect of Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation on Fecal Incontinence among Geriatrics

Background and aim:Incontinenceis one of the most common causes for admission to a residential facility. Fecal incontinence becomes more prevalent at the age of 70. In both men and women, fecal incontinence is a common condition, particularly among the elderly. Although a few research suggests that posterior tibial nerve stimulation can aid with fecal incontinence, more research is needed. Preoperative and postoperative measures are compared to determine treatment outcomes. Thus, the goal of this research is to see how posterior tibial nerve stimulation affects fecal incontinence in geriatrics.Methods:The research was conducted as a pilot study at SIMATS, using samples taken from Saveetha hospital's neuro IPD and physiotherapy OPD. A total of 15 patients were chosen at random based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research included both geriatric men and women with fecal incontinence who were examined using the Wexner score prior and after intervention. The posterior tibial nerve was stimulated with electrical stimulation twice a day for 4 weeks.Result: The occurrence of incontinent episodes in geriatric individuals was drastically decreased, with a significant value of p&lt;0.001.Conclusion: The use of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the elderly has been proven to be asuccessful therapy technique for reducing fecal incontinence episodes. In terms of treatment, the findings of this study seem promising.