Alcohol consumption and maxillofacial fractures in times of Covid-19: a cross-sectional study in a cuban university hospital / Consumo de alcohol y fracturas maxilofaciales en tiempos de Covid-19: un estudio transversal en un hospital universitario cubano

Introduction: The consumption of alcoholic beverages reduces the body's ability to deal with dangerous situations and exposes people to trauma. Objective: To determine the association between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures treated at a Cuban university hospital in the context of COVID-19. Material and Methods: An observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study was carried out in the Maxillofacial Surgery unit at the "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" General University Hospital during the year 2020. Prevalence ratios, 95% confidence intervals and p-values were obtained using generalized linear models. Results: In 58.23% of the cases, fractures were related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The fundamental etiology was interpersonal violence (47.75%), regardless of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. There was a prevalence of patients with nasal fractures (n=98; 55.06%), among which, 35.71% had consumed alcoholic beverages at the time of the trauma. Being male (p=0.005), the lack of university studies (p=0.007), the need for surgical treatment (p<0.001), the fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (p=0.023), and the traumas that occurred during the weekends (p<0.001) or during the month of June (p=0.029) were factors associated with a higher frequency of fractures related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. There was a lower frequency of fractures associated with alcohol consumption during the months of January (p=0.006) and March (p=0.001). Conclusion: Six out of ten cases were under the influence of alcoholic beverages. There was a greater number of young and male patients, mainly due to interpersonal violence.

Introducción: La ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas disminuye la capacidad del organismo para enfrentar situaciones de peligro y lo predispone a sufrir traumatismos diversos. Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas y las características de las fracturas maxilofaciales atendidas en un hospital universitario cubano en el contexto de la COVID-19. Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional, analítico y transversal realizado en el servicio de Cirugía Maxilofacial del Hospital General Universitario "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" durante el 2020. Se obtuvieron razones de prevalencia, intervalos de confianza a 95% y valores p mediante modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: En el 58.23% de los casos las fracturas se relacionaron con la ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas. La etiología fundamental fue la violencia interpersonal (47.75%), independientemente del consumo o no de bebidas alcohólicas. Predominaron los pacientes con fracturas nasales (n=98; 55.06%), en los que el 35.71% había consumido bebidas alcohólicas en el momento del trauma. El sexo masculino (p=0.005), la carencia de estudios universitarios (p=0.007), la necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico (p<0.001), las fracturas del complejo cigomático-maxilar (p=0.023), los traumas sucedidos durante los fines de semanas (p<0.001) o durante el mes de junio (p=0.029) fueron factores asociados a una mayor frecuencia de fracturas relacionadas con el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas. Hubo menor frecuencia de fracturas asociadas a este consumo durante los meses de enero (p=0.006) y marzo (p= 0.001). Conclusión: Seis de cada diez casos estuvieron bajo los efectos de la ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas. Existió una mayor afectación de pacientes jóvenes, masculinos, a causa principalmente de la violencia interpersonal.

FALL RELATED GERIATRIC TRAUMA TRENDS IN GEORGIA.

The main of the study was to examine the overall trends and epidemiologic characteristics of fall-related hospitalizations in the population aged 65 years and above in Georgia. For this observational study Hospital database was used. Data were collected from all hospitalized patients aged 65 years and above during 2015-2021 in the country. The number of geriatric patients hospitalized with fall-related injuries increased in 2021 compared with 2015. The upward trend in hospitalizations from 2015 to 2021 was reversed only during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Fall-related hospitalizations are more frequent in women (p<0.001), the women-to-men ratio is 2:1. The highest hospitalization rate of 23% (n=6768) was in the 80-84 age group, followed by the 75-79 and 65-69 age groups at 22% (n=6517) and 21% (n=6146), respectively. The frequency of hospitalizations increases with age (p<0.001). In all other age groups except for the 65-69 age group (OR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.04, p=0.747) the number of fall-related hospitalizations was significantly higher in women than in men. During the study period about half of hospitalizations (51%) were caused by hip injuries. According to age groups, the longest average hospital stay was recorded in the 85+ and 80-84 age groups (5.6 ± 4.5 and 5.3 ± 5.1days, respectively). The number of male fatalities was higher than that of female fatalities (OR 2.57; 95% CI, 2.23 - 2.97). The highest in-hospital mortality was in the 85+ age group (5%). Falls presented the leading mechanism for hospitalization of elderly patients admitted with geriatric trauma. The key epidemiologic characteristics identified in the 7-year study of fall-related geriatric trauma trends provide an evidence-based framework for the development of more effective patient management strategies and appropriate preventive interventions among the population aged 65 years and above.

Patterns of utilisation of specialist care after SARS-Cov-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pattern of health services utilisation of people who had had a documented SARS-Cov-2 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The Italian province of Reggio Emilia. PARTICIPANTS: 36 036 subjects who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection during the period September 2020-May 2021. These were matched for age, sex and Charlson Index with an equal number of subjects never found positive at the SARS-Cov-2 swab test over the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital admissions for all medical conditions and for respiratory or cardiovascular conditions only; access to emergency room (for any cause); outpatient specialist visits (pneumology, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, dermatology, mental health) and overall cost of care. RESULTS: Within a median follow-up time of 152 days (range 1-180), previous exposure to SARS-Cov-2 infection was always associated with higher probability of needing access to hospital or ambulatory care, except for dermatology, mental health and gastroenterology specialist visits. Post-COVID subjects with Charlson Index≥1 were hospitalised more frequently for heart disease and for non-surgical reasons than subjects with Charlson index=0, whereas the opposite occurred for hospitalisations for respiratory diseases and pneumology visits. A previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with 27% higher cost of care compared with people never infected. The difference in cost was more evident among those with Charlson Index>1. Subjects who had anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination had lower probability of falling in the highest cost quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reflect the burden of post-COVID sequelae, providing some specific insight on their impact on the extra-use of health services according to patients' characteristics and vaccination status. Vaccination is associated with lower cost of care following SARS-CoV-2 infection, highlighting the favourable impact of vaccines on the use of health services even when they do not prevent infection.

[Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the incidence and severity of falls in institutionalized older people: A longitudinal study]. / Efecto del confinamiento por COVID-19 sobre la incidencia y gravedad de las caídas en personas mayores institucionalizadas: estudio longitudinal.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, virus contention measures such as strict confinement were declared in nursing homes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of confinement on the incidence of falls and their associated factors in institutionalized older persons during the first year of the pandemic compared to the previous year. METHODS: A multicenter, comparative study was conducted between the pre-pandemic year (March 2019 to February 2020) and the first year (March 2020 to February 2021) in five nursing homes in Catalonia (Spain). The number of falls, date, placement and consequences were recorded, as well as sociodemographic and health information. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed, calculating odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals and statistical significance of p<0.05. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 80 individuals, with a mean age of 84.4 years, 83.7% being women. In the first year of the pandemic, the number of falls per person increased by 0.21% (32.0% in rooms). In multivariate analysis of the pre-pandemic period, the risk of sarcopenia (OR = 4.02; 95% CI [1.09-14.82], p = 0.036) was a risk factor for falls independently of age and hypertension. In the first year of pandemic no statistically significant associated factors were found. CONCLUSIONS: In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 15.6% increase in falls and an 8.7% increase in the number of people who fell compared to the previous year. The falls' location changed from common areas to bedrooms and increased in severity, with a 10.1% increase in fractures. Older age, risk of sarcopenia and arterial hypertension were associated with falls during the pre-pandemic period.

Real World Evidence of Wearable Smartbelt for Mitigation of Fall Impact in Older Adult Care.

Structured Abstract Falls with major injuries are a devastating occurrence for an older adult with outcomes inclusive of debility, loss of independence and increased mortality. The incidence of falls with major injuries has increased with the growth of the older adult population, and has further risen as a result of reduced physical mobility in recent years due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The standard of care in the effort to reduce major injuries from falling is provided by the CDC through an evidence-based fall risk screening, assessment and intervention initiative (STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents and Death Initiative) and is embedded into primary care models throughout residential and institutional settings nationwide. Though the dissemination of this practice has been successfully implemented, recent studies have shown that major injuries from falls have not been reduced. Emerging technology adapted from other industries offers adjunctive intervention in the older adult population at risk of falls and major fall injuries. Technology in the form of a wearable smartbelt that offers automatic airbag deployment to reduce impact forces to the hip region in serious hip-impacting fall scenarios was assessed in a long-term care facility. Device performance was examined in a real-world case series of residents who were identified as being at high-risk of major fall injuries within a long-term care setting. In a timeframe of almost 2 years, 35 residents wore the smartbelt, and 6 falls with airbag deployment occurred with a concomitant reduction in the overall falls with major injury rate.

A realist evaluation of the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of a digital music and movement intervention for older people living in care homes.

BACKGROUND: Low physical activity in care home residents brings about negative mental health consequences, such as higher levels of depression and loneliness. With advancements in communication technology, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the feasibility and effectiveness of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a digital Physical Activity (PA) resource in care homes deserve more research attention. A realist evaluation was used to uncover influencing factors of a feasibility study implementation to inform how a digital music and movement programme would work and under what circumstances this would be most effective. METHODS: Participants were 49 older adults (aged 65 years +) recruited across ten care homes in Scotland. Surveys were administered at baseline and post-intervention comprising psychometric questionnaires on multidimensional health markers validated in older adults with possible cognitive impairment. The intervention comprised 12 weeks of four prescribed digitally delivered movement (n = 3) and music-only (n = 1) sessions per week. An activity coordinator delivered these online resources in the care home. Post-intervention focus groups with staff and interviews with a sub-sample of participants were conducted to gain qualitative data on the acceptability of the intervention. RESULTS: Thirty three care home residents started the intervention, but only 18 residents (84% female) completed both pre- and post-intervention assessments. Activity coordinators (AC) offered 57% of the prescribed sessions, with an average residents' adherence of 60%. Delivery of the intervention did not go as planned due to Covid restrictions in care homes and delivery challenges, including (1) motivation and engagement, (2) changes in cognitive impairment and disabilities of the participants, (3) death or hospitalisation of the participants and (4) limited staffing and technology resources to deliver the programme as intended. Despite this, group participation and encouragement of residents supported the delivery and acceptance of the intervention, with ACs and residents reporting improved mood, physical health, job satisfaction and social support. Improvements with large effect sizes were found for anxiety, depression, loneliness, perceived stress and sleep satisfaction, but no changes in fear of falling, domains of general health or appetite. CONCLUSION: This realist evaluation suggested that this digitally delivered movement and music intervention is feasible. From the findings, the initial programme theory was refined for future implementation of an RCT in other care homes but future research exploring how to tailor the intervention to those with cognitive impairment and/or lacking capacity to consent is needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05559203.

Effect of a video-assisted fall prevention program on fall incidence in community-dwelling older adults during COVID.

BACKGROUND: The study evaluated the effectiveness of a video-assisted exercise intervention program on fall incidence, activities of daily living, and fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A video-assisted 16-week exercise intervention consisting of stretching, strengthening, balance, and dual-task training was delivered to randomly selected 95 older adults with a high risk of falls. The fidelity of implementation was assessed for three areas; exercise program delivery, participant receipt, and enactment. RESULTS: The fall incidence reduced significantly by 45% (IRR 0.55, (95% CI, 0.13-0.86) and difficulty in daily activities decreased (OR: 0.74, 95% CI, 0.16 - 0.96) among participants in the intervention group. Fear of falls did not show any significant difference in the groups at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The video-assisted exercise program was found to be effective in reducing fall incidence among older adults at a higher risk of falls.

A process evaluation of an on-line fall prevention and management program for individuals who use wheelchairs or scooters living with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Falls and resulting injury are a significant concern for individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) that use a wheelchair and/or scooter to support mobility. Effective fall prevention efforts are vital to support the health, wellbeing, and participation for these individuals. Aims: This study reports the findings from the process evaluation conducted in association with a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of Individualized Reduction of FaLLs-Online (iROLL-O), an online, group fall prevention, and management program specifically designed for community-based people living with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) who are full-time wheelchair or scooter users. Methods: A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted, with specific attention to the impact of online delivery on intervention implementation, participant satisfaction, and mechanisms of change (MOC). Multiple data sources were utilized, including post-session and post-intervention participant and trainer feedback forms and participant qualitative interview data. Descriptive analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel. Close-ended questions were analyzed by examining five-point Likert scale responses. Qualitative interview data was explored using thematic analysis. Results: Twelve participants and three trainers (one occupational therapist and two physical therapists) contributed to the study. Online delivery did not compromise session fidelity, which averaged 95%. No significant adaptations to the intervention were made during delivery. Participant satisfaction was high at 4.6/5.0. Post-course Trainer Feedback Forms indicate trainer satisfaction with the group dynamic, ability to address unique group needs, and program content. Reach improved with online delivery as transportation barriers were removed and recruitment from a broader geographic area was enabled. Three themes reflecting key MOC emerged from the analysis: group context, motivation for participant engagement, and the multifaceted nature of the program. The COVID-19 pandemic was identified as a contextual factor impacting community participation. Both participants and trainers identified the group dynamic as a strength. The trainers valued the program's flexibility in allowing them to address individual and/or group-specific fall prevention needs. Conclusion: Feedback from key stakeholders was essential to a meaningful process evaluation. Online delivery supported program implementation, including reach, and resulted in high levels of satisfaction among participants and trainers. Future iterations should aim to uphold the positive group context, recruit, and train skilled interventionists who are licensed as occupational or physical therapists and continue to provide the program's diverse approach to fall prevention and management.

Short Multicomponent Group Exercise Intervention Promotes Long-Term Physical Activity Habits among Community-Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Restrictions: A Cohort Study.

This study investigated whether strength, balance, body mass index, falls self-efficacy, activity levels, self-rated health, and participation in a multicomponent exercise intervention could predict physical activity levels after 5 months of self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included baseline data of 200 community-dwelling older adults (79% women, 21% men) with a mean age of 72 years who participated in a randomized controlled trial investigating a multicomponent exercise program, with 7-month follow-up survey data of their physical activity levels. The results showed significant associations with the activity levels at the 7-month follow-up. The activity levels (odds ratio (OR): 2.83, 95% CI: 1.20-6.71), the self-rated health score (2.80, 1.42-5.53), and being allocated to a specific multicomponent group-based exercise program (2.04, 1.04-4.00) showed a significant association with the activity habits at the 7-month follow-up. As this study suggests, besides the physical activity levels and the self-rated health score, participation in a high challenge multicomponent exercise program was significantly associated with physical activity levels at the 7-month follow-up. This study indicates that a relatively short multicomponent group exercise program (6-9 weeks) can motivate individuals to sustain their own training and activity levels even several months after the program has been paused or terminated. Identifying older adults' physical activity levels and self-rated health scores and prescribing multicomponent group-based exercise programs to promote sustained physical activity habits may be a successful alternative to provide for older adults in the future.

Falls Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with falls in older adult outpatients during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Vietnam. Patients and Methods: From February 2022 to June 2022, this cross-sectional study included 814 patients (aged ≥60 years; mean age 71.8 ± 7.3 years; women, 65.2%) attending three geriatric clinics for a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Self-reported fall events in the past 12 months and post-COVID-19 falls were assessed. Factors associated with falls were determined using logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 188 patients (23.1%) had falls (single fall, 75.5%; recurrent falls, 24.5%). The most frequent location, time, and circumstance of falls were the bedroom (43.1%), morning (54.3%), and dizziness (34.6%), respectively. Most patients experienced health issues after falls (bruise/grazes, 53.7%; fracture, 12.8%; immobility, 9.6%; hospital admission, 14.9%). In the adjusted model, factors associated with falls were being underweight (odds ratio [OR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-4.56, P = 0.003), limitations in instrumental activities of daily living (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.05-3.95, P = 0.036), poor sleep quality (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.10-3.05, P = 0.020), and fear of falling (OR 3.45, 95% CI 2.23-5.33, P <0.001). Among 357 COVID-19 infected patients, post-COVID-19 falls occurred in 35 patients (9.8%) and were associated with fear of falling (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.18-8.40, P = 0.023) and post-COVID-19 lower limb weakness (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.07-6.10, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Our study found a substantial prevalence of falls among older outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. Management of factors associated with falls may be needed to reduce the burden of falls in the older population.

Maxillofacial Fractures in the Province of Terni (Umbria, Italy) in the Last 11 Years: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic.

The main purpose of this retrospective study is to analyze the main causes and the main anatomical structures involved in maxillofacial traumas in the province of Terni, Umbria. From January 2009 to July 2021, 603 patients were admitted with a maxillofacial trauma diagnosis and underwent surgery at "Santa Maria Hospital" in Terni, Italy. The collected data included sex, age, nationality, cause of trauma, type of fractures, comorbidities, clinical signs, symptoms, date of admission, and date of discharge from the hospital. Causes were divided into 5 categories: road traffic accidents, accidental falls, physical assault, sport accidents, and occupational injuries. Men were more involved than women, with a male:female ratio of 325:1. The mean age of the population was 41.7 years. The main cause of trauma were road traffic accidents (36%), followed by accidental falls (27%), an increasing phenomenon during the current SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic. The orbital floor was the most fractured anatomical site, followed by zygoma and nasal bones.

Frailty: an overview of concepts, risk factors, assessment tools and interventions.

Frailty is a distinctive health state and a life-limiting syndrome seen in older people and in those living with multiple long-term conditions. It is likely that every nurse will encounter patients living with frailty in their clinical practice, even more so if they work in older people's nursing. People living with frailty are more vulnerable than others to stressors and insults due to a decline in their physiological reserve and function. There are tools that can be used to assess people's frailty or risk of frailty and interventions that can be used to prevent or reduce frailty. This article describes frailty and explains how to assess, prevent and reduce it. The article also outlines the relationship between frailty and coronavirus disease 2019 and the frailty trajectory at the end of life.

Factors Associated with Falls During Hospitalization for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

BACKGROUND During the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, falls have been identified as a potential presenting symptom in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection; however, data on factors increasing fall risk in this patient population are limited. This study aimed to examine the factors that may predispose hospitalized COVID-19 disease patients to falls. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this retrospective observational study, hospitalized COVID-19 disease patients were examined for fall incidence, as well as demographics, comorbidities, and clinical and laboratory data. Patients were stratified according to their fall status and their characteristics were compared using Fisher's exact test or Mann-Whitney U test. A total of 312 hospitalized COVID-19 disease patients were enrolled (median age, 75 years; males, 51.3%), of whom 11 (3.5%) fell. RESULTS There was a greater prevalence of falls among patients who experienced arrhythmias than those that did not (28.6% vs 1.7%; P<0.001). Additionally, a significantly greater proportion of those that were discharged to the internal ward and to the intensive care unit fell (10.3% and 10.0%, respectively) compared to those that were discharged home (1.6%, P=0.008). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was significantly elevated in patients who fell (5.3 vs 0.97 µIU/mL, P=0.013), while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly lower in those who fell (17.1 vs 33.5 IU/L, P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS Arrhythmias may be an important predisposing factor for falls in COVID-19 disease patients and fall prevention programs should prioritize interventions directed at this vulnerable patient population.

Effects of a modified Otago exercise program delivered through outpatient physical therapy to community-dwelling older adult fallers in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic: a controlled, randomized, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic has led to the isolation and social exclusion of older adults and cut them off from any exercise activity. Thus, it is more than ever necessary to implement organized interventions to prevent falls in older people as they remain a global health problem associated with serious injuries, chronic disability, and high costs for the healthcare system. Otago exercise program (OEP) can effectively reduce the number of falls. AIM: To study the effect of a 6 months modified video supported OEP in balance, functional ability, fear of falls and number of falls in Greek older people who have fallen. METHOD: 150 fallers aged 65-80 years [Median age 70 (67-74), 88.7% women] were divided into two groups (intervention and control). Primary outcomes included changes in Short FES-I, CONFbal scale, 4-Stage Balance test, BBS, TUG test and number of falls, while the secondary outcome consists of the monthly adherence to exercise after the intervention. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied. RESULTS: There were statistically significant between groups differences after 6 months with the OEP group to shows improved values in TUG time score (17.8 vs 3.9%, p < 0.001, 95% CI), 4-Stage Balance Test (6.85 vs 1.09%, p < 0.05 95% CI), 30-Second Chair Stand Test 7.35 vs 2.93%, p < 0.001), BBS score (13.27 vs 3.89%, p < 0.001, 95% CI), Short FES-I (35.78 vs 13.01%, p < 0.001, 95% CI) and number of falls (69.12 vs 18.70%, p < 0.001, 95% CI). All the above differences remained statistically significant in the 12 months follow-up (p < 0.05), when differences in the CONFbal score were also observed (p < 0.001, 95% CI). No differences were found in adherence to OEP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A modified OEP decreases the number of falls, improves the balance and functional ability of older adults and reduces the fear of falling. However, it did not contribute to satisfactory adherence to exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER/DATE OF REGISTRATION: NCT04330053/April 1, 2020.

Physical Activity and Physical Activity Participation Barriers Among Adults 50 Years and Older During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We examined changes in physical activity from pre-COVID-19 to during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with reduced physical activity levels among adults 50 yrs and older. DESIGN: Participants of a validation study were stratified into being "less active than before" or "equally or more active than before" COVID-19. Multivariable manual backward analyses were used to identify self-reported barriers associated with the reduction in physical activity. RESULTS: Reduced physical activity levels during COVID-19 were reported among 244 of 503 participants (43%). After adjusting for demographics and health conditions, factors that increased the odds of reduced physical activity levels during COVID-19 were lacking access to workout places, feeling too anxious, and difficulty committing to physical activity. Factors that decreased the odds of reduced physical activity levels during COVID-19 were self-identifying a heart- or lung-associated diagnosis that impacts physical activity and having a 12-mo retrospective history of falling. CONCLUSIONS: The physical activity participation barriers identified to be associated with a reduction in physical activity can be used as a starting point for a conversation regarding physical activity participation during COVID-19. TO CLAIM CME CREDITS: Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME. CME OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Describe the changes in physical activity levels among adults 50 yrs and older from pre-COVID-19 to during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Differentiate between the COVID-19 related factors associated with reduced physical activity levels among adults 50 yrs and older and younger adults; and (3) Identify the physical activity-related factor that decreased the odds of reduced physical activity levels during COVID-19 among adults 50 yrs and older. LEVEL: Advanced. ACCREDITATION: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Long-Term Trends in Unintentional Fall Mortality in China: A Population-Based Age-Period-Cohort Study.

Background: Unintentional falls seriously threaten the life and health of people in China. This study aimed to assess the long-term trends of mortality from unintentional falls in China and to examine the age-, period-, and cohort-specific effects behind them. Methods: This population-based multiyear cross-sectional study of Chinese people aged 0-84 years was a secondary analysis of the mortality data of fall injuries from 1990 to 2019, derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Age-standardized mortality rates of unintentional falls by year, sex, and age group were used as the main outcomes and were analyzed within the age-period-cohort framework. Results: Although the crude mortality rates of unintentional falls for men and women showed a significant upward trend, the age-standardized mortality rates for both sexes only increased slightly. The net drift of unintentional fall mortality was 0.13% (95% CI, -0.04 to 0.3%) per year for men and -0.71% (95% CI, -0.96 to -0.46%) per year for women. The local drift values for both sexes increased with age group. Significant age, cohort, and period effects were found behind the mortality trends of the unintentional falls for both sexes in China. Conclusions: Unintentional falls are still a major public health problem that disproportionately threatens the lives of men and women in China. Efforts should be put in place urgently to prevent the growing number of fall-related mortality for men over 40 years old and women over 70 years old. Gains observed in the recent period, relative risks (RRs), and cohort RRs may be related to improved healthcare and better education.

Reliability of HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-Reported Version for Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objective: Verify the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-reported version and correlate household environmental risks with the history of falls by community-dwelling older adults. Method: Cross sectional study with 50 community-dwelling older adults who were screened by the cut-off point of the Mini Mental State Exam and replied to the HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-reported version using two evaluators, on three occasions. The reliability analysis was determined by the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), considering ICC > 0.70 as adequate. To test the correlations, the Spearman test was used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 73.2 ± 5.8 years. The inter- rater reliability of HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-reported version was ICC 0.83 (IC95%, 0.70-0.90) and the Intra- reliability ICC 0.85 (IC95%, 0.74-0.91). A risk of falls was verified in 88% of the sample and four environmental risks presented significant correlations with the history of falls. Conclusions: The HOME FAST BRAZIL-Self-reported version presented adequate reliability for the evaluation of household environmental risks for community-dwelling older adults. Risks such as inadequate armchairs/ sofas, the absence of anti-slip mats in the shower recess, the presence of pets and inadequate beds require attention in the evaluation of household risks, due to their correlation with the occurrence of falls.