Quality Of Life In Elderly Women Research Articles

Effect of a 12-Week Multi-Exercise Community Program on Muscle Strength and Lipid Profile in Elderly Women.

This study targeted elderly women over 60 years old (109 persons), divided them into an exercise group and a control group, and implemented a 12-week physical activity program for the exercise group. Body composition, muscle, blood tests, depression, quality of life (QoL), nutritional status, and physical strength were compared and analyzed. The physical activity program was organized through a consultative body of experts, was performed for about 60 min each time in the type and order of exercise appropriate for elderly women, and consisted of a combination of exercise using a band, gymnastics, and stretching. Changes in the muscle index and muscle mass before and after the program were selected as the primary efficacy evaluations. In the exercise group, waist circumference significantly decreased, and the muscle index significantly increased compared to the control group. The number of subjects who showed sarcopenia with a muscle index of 5.4 or less in the exercise group significantly decreased from 22 (38.6%) before program implementation to 13 (22.8%). According to the results of secondary effectiveness evaluation, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein (Apo) A were significantly increased in the exercise group compared to the control group, and Apo B, triglyceride, and c-reactive protein showed a significant decrease. Regular physical activity is very important for improving the health and QoL of elderly women, and as a result of applying a customized program, effects such as increased muscle index, improvement of sarcopenia, and improvement of blood lipid status were confirmed. Therefore, it is believed that the physical activity program developed through this study can be applied as a community program for elderly women.

The impact of small group education methods on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life in Iranian elderly women

ABSTRACT Enhancing health and quality of life (QoL) of elderly people is technically challenging. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of small group education method on adherence to Mediterranean diet and QoL in elderly women. In this randomized-controlled study, one hundred 60-74-year-old women were selected from two health centers using random sampling, in 2019, Shiraz, Iran. Each health center was randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (50 women in each group). The intervention group received four weekly education sessions using small group education method (group discussion, brainstorming and role-playing). We collected data through 14-item Mediterranean diet adherence, LEIPAD 31-item quality of life, and researcher-made knowledge and attitude questionnaires. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the participants’ age in the control and intervention groups were 62.7 ± 3.9 and 63.1±3.7 years, respectively (p=0.71). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the controls (p<0.001). The mean ± SD of adherence to the Mediterranean diet changed from 7.24 (2.04) to 10.58 (1.33) in the intervention group (p<0.001). The total QOL score and two subscales, physical and depression/anxiety, increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.015, p< 0.001 and p<0.018, respectively). Similarly, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude increased significantly in the intervention group compared to those of the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.001). It appears that small group education method can provide an effective strategy for increasing adherence to Mediterranean diet and QoL in the elderly.

Land-based versus water-based walking programs in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis: preliminary results of a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (kOA) is a chronic degenerativedisorder. Aerobic exercise programs have been effectivetreatments to reduce symptoms in kOA. However, studiescomparing land- and water-based interventions did notcontrol for the intensity of exercise programs. Objectives:Investigate the effects of walking programs with a controlledprogressive workload in water compared to land in terms ofpain, functional and physical performance, and quality oflife in elderly women with kOA. Materials and Methods: Thewalking training programs were divided into two groups:1) land-based aerobic training (LB); and 2) water-based aerobictraining (WB). Each training session was divided intothree phases: 1 – Warm-up (5 minutes): stretching exercises;2 - Training (30 to 55 minutes): walking at target heart rate;3 – Cool-down (5 minutes). Sixteen elderly women with kOAunderwent assessments of functional performance using thesix-minute walk test (6MWT) and the stair test (ST), whilephysical performance, maximum oxygen consumption (VO-2max) and anaerobic threshold (AT) were determined during aprogressive test. kOA was assessed by the Western Ontario andMcMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), andquality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). All parameters werereevaluated after 12 weeks of aerobic training that consisted ofwalking (duration: 30-55 min.; intensity: 72-82% of maximalheart rate). Results: No significant difference between the LBand WB groups was found. There was a reduction in self-reportedpain (by WOMAC), increased performance in the 6MWTand ST, increased VO2max and VO2max corresponding to ATand improved quality of life (by SF-36) in both groups aftertraining compared with before intervention. Conclusion:Land-based aerobic training was as effective as its water-basedequivalent in clinical, physical and functional parameters inelderly women with knee OA.Keywords: Osteoarthritis of knee; Elderly; Aerobic training.

타이치 운동이 여성노인의 체력과 삶의 질에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical fitness and quality of life (QOL) in elderly women. Methods: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The subjects were elderly women over 60 years old who enrolled senior citizen centers and elderly welfare center. Thirty-three people were conveniently assigned to an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=18). The data were collected from September 2009 to May 2010. The experimental group was trained Tai Chi exercise for 8 weeks (one hour Tai Chi classes twice a week and once a week by themselves at home). Data were analyzed by Fisher’s exact test, x 2 -test and independent t-test. Results: The experimental group experienced significant improvements in flexibility. The experimental group experienced significant improvements in physical component summary (p=.017) and mental component summary (p=.027) of QOL. Conclusion: Tai Chi exercise can be used as a nursing intervention for improvement of physical fitness and QOL in elderly women.

Body composition and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly offered by the “University Third Age” (UTA) in Brazil

The investigation of the factors that interfere in the well-being of the elderly and their QoL can provide theoretical and methodological subsidies in structuring actions and policies in the health area, in order to fulfill the needs of that population. In this descriptive transversal study, body composition and QoL of elderly women at the UTA program in Piracicaba (São Paulo, Brazil) were verified. The participants were 81 women from UTA, and the general levels of physical activity were evaluated, as well as body weight (BW), height, and body mass index (BMI). The waist circumference (WC) was measured at the level of the umbilical scar and the body composition by impedance (BIA 310e). QoL was verified by means of WHOQOL-Bref and statistical analysis developed with the SAS program. The decrease of weight, height, BMI, and fat-free mass (FFM) was observed among the several age groups, although with no significant difference. The average levels of the general QoL scores and physical, psychological and environmental domains decreased in higher age groups, but social domains showed the opposite result. This fact can be a particular characteristic of the UTA group, and factors the influence such behavior are yet to be studied.

"Quality of life" assessment of urination in elderly Japanese men and women with some medical problems using International Prostate Symptom Score and King's Health Questionnaire.

To investigate the relationships among lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), satisfaction at urination, and quality of life (QoL) in elderly Japanese men and women, who attended physicians for their medical problems. A total of 437 Japanese men and 196 women, aged 50 or older, responded to a questionnaire, which included seven questions regarding urination, one question about bothersomeness (QoL index) from the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), two questions about frequency of urinary incontinence and 16 questions from the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Of 401 patients who completed the IPSS and KHQ questionnaires, 235 (72.3%) men and 85 (64.7%) women had moderate to severe LUTS. In both genders, LUTS severity was significantly correlated with satisfaction status and KHQ-QoL domain scores. Satisfaction status also correlated with KHQ-QoL scores. Thirty-eight (13.5%) men and 27 (22.7%) women had frequent incontinence episodes. When excluding the patients with frequent incontinence episodes, KHQ-QoL scores of severe LUTS decreased in the domains of role, physical and social limitations, personal relationships and sleep/energy in women alone. Urination problems and related QoL status could be easily assessed by IPSS and QoL index in the elderly. Urinary incontinence appeared to be more associated with QoL in elderly women. The KHQ may be useful to assess the detailed urination-related QoL status of elderly men and women with LUTS or urinary incontinence.