ABSTRACT
Introduction: Multimodal exercise training can ameliorate the physiological decline associated with ageing. This study aimed to investigate whether 12 weeks of a home-based online multimodal training and health education intervention could improve functional ability and perceptions of physical and mental health in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Sixty-one male (N = 18, 59.1 ± 7.0 years) and female (N = 43, 60.9 ± 6.8 years) participants with various clinical conditions completed two 60-minute training sessions per week for 12 weeks delivered online via Zoom. All sessions included aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises. One weekly session incorporated 15 minutes of health and fitness education. The pre/post testing sessions were conducted in a local community centre in line with COVID-19 public health guidelines. Paired samples t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed rank tests were utilised to compare scores pre and post intervention. Results: There were significant improvements in participants 6-minute walk (p < 0.0001), sit-to-stand (p < 0.0001), timed-up-and-go (p < 0.0001), sit-and-reach (p < 0.0001), squat jump (p < 0.0001), core endurance (p < 0.0001), grip strength (right hand p = 0.03, left hand p = 0.04) and balance (right leg p < 0.0001, left leg p = 0.004) tests post intervention. Perceptions of physical (p < 0.0001) and mental (p < 0.0001) health also improved significantly. Discussion: Twelve weeks of online multimodal training and health education can significantly improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, power, balance, flexibility, and perceptions of physical health, mental health, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults. While there are some limitations to online interventions, the benefits are numerous and equal to those reported for onsite interventions and should be considered for wider rollout in this population. Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
ABSTRACT
Background: There is limited data regarding the risk of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19 in Ireland. Objectives: We used the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) registry data to study outcomes and their predictors. Methods: We examined data on patients and their disease-related characteristics entered into the COVID-19 GRA provider registry from Ireland (24th March 2020 to 31st August 2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic and clinical characteristics with hospitalisation. Results: Of 105 patients, 47 (45.6%) were hospitalised and 10 (9.5%) died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed age (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.10), number of comorbidities (OR=1.93, 95%CI 1.11 to 3.35), and glucocorticoid use (OR=15.01, 95%CI 1.77 to 127.16) were significantly associated with hospitalisation. A diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with a lower odds of hospitalisation (OR=0.09, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.32). Conclusion: Increasing age, comorbidity burden, and glucocorticoid use were associated with hospitalisation, while a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis was associated with lower odds of hospitalization.