Bounce Forward Better: Geriatric and Gerontological Research in the Post-pandemic Future.

In recent years, we have faced challenges in managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in older adults. The pandemic has precipitated a global health crisis that impeded older adults from maintaining their health. Disruption of the routine management of chronic diseases, physical inactivity deteriorating physical function and quality of life, malnutrition, and mental disorders have been suggested as major threats to the health of older adults. To address these problems and facilitate reactivation of normal care activities, this article summarizes the contents of a webinar held by the Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research (AGMR) regarding the future directions of geriatric medicine and research in the post-COVID-19 era.

Challenges and Opportunities for Academic Journals to Serve the Older Population in Western Pacific Region.

Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research held its inaugural international editorial board virtual meeting on September 16, 2021, to brainstorm ideas for sustainable growth. This special article summarizes the key concepts obtained from the webinar proceedings, with further development of ideas from ensuing discussions occurring after the meeting. From the initial discussion points provided by eight editorial board members, including six presenters, email discussions further enriched these ideas to construct the current special article. The key points discussed were: impactful research and impact factors, international and Asian perspectives, and challenges to sustainable growth. The editors noted the existing gap between the impact factor and research impact as a challenge for the growth paths of regional journals. However, they agreed that persevering with impactful research would ultimately translate into parallel and gradual gains in impact, which is, therefore, consistent with the organic growth of the journal. Acknowledging challenges in navigating between unique Asian perspectives and international outlooks, the editors encouraged academic journals to serve as bridges linking international evidence with the richness of local perspectives. For sustainable growth, the editors suggested that journals may be forged into the academic ecosystems of the region, diversify value streams, and establish themselves as reputable brands in disciplines. By combining these discussions, we proposed the "IMPACT" strategy for journals on the growth path in the region, which stands for IMmersive user experience encompassing authors, reviewers, and readers; Pasteur's quadrant use-inspired research; Asia-Pacific context; Collaborative; and Translation to practice and policy.

Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment.

Clinical and research interest in sarcopenia has burgeoned internationally, Asia included. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2014 consensus defined sarcopenia as "age-related loss of muscle mass, plus low muscle strength, and/or low physical performance" and specified cutoffs for each diagnostic component; research in Asia consequently flourished, prompting this update. AWGS 2019 retains the previous definition of sarcopenia but revises the diagnostic algorithm, protocols, and some criteria: low muscle strength is defined as handgrip strength <28 kg for men and <18 kg for women; criteria for low physical performance are 6-m walk <1.0 m/s, Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9, or 5-time chair stand test ≥12 seconds. AWGS 2019 retains the original cutoffs for height-adjusted muscle mass: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, <7.0 kg/m2 in men and <5.4 kg/m2 in women; and bioimpedance, <7.0 kg/m2 in men and <5.7 kg/m2 in women. In addition, the AWGS 2019 update proposes separate algorithms for community vs hospital settings, which both begin by screening either calf circumference (<34 cm in men, <33 cm in women), SARC-F (≥4), or SARC-CalF (≥11), to facilitate earlier identification of people at risk for sarcopenia. Although skeletal muscle strength and mass are both still considered fundamental to a definitive clinical diagnosis, AWGS 2019 also introduces "possible sarcopenia," defined by either low muscle strength or low physical performance only, specifically for use in primary health care or community-based health promotion, to enable earlier lifestyle interventions. Although defining sarcopenia by body mass index-adjusted muscle mass instead of height-adjusted muscle mass may predict adverse outcomes better, more evidence is needed before changing current recommendations. Lifestyle interventions, especially exercise and nutritional supplementation, prevail as mainstays of treatment. Further research is needed to investigate potential long-term benefits of lifestyle interventions, nutritional supplements, or pharmacotherapy for sarcopenia in Asians.

Does Low Dose Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Prevent Pneumonia in Older People With Neurologic Dysphagia--A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor reduces the risk of pneumonia in older patients on tube-feeding because of dysphagia from cerebrovascular diseases. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Acute and subacute geriatrics units, speech therapists' clinic, and nursing home. PARTICIPANTS: Older patients on tube-feeding for >2 weeks because of dysphagia secondary to cerebrovascular diseases. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to lisinopril 2.5 mg or placebo once daily for 26 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were followed up at weeks 12 and 26. The primary outcome was the incidence rate of pneumonia as determined by pneumonic changes on x-ray and clinical criteria. The secondary outcomes were mortality rate and swallowing ability as defined by the Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure for Swallowing at week 12. RESULTS: A total of 93 older patients were randomized. In interim analysis, 71 completed the trial, whereas 15 had dropped out. Among those who had completed the trial, odds ratio (OR) for death was significantly higher in the intervention group (unadjusted OR 2.94, P = .030; fully adjusted OR 7.79, P = .018). There was no difference in the incidence of pneumonia or fatal pneumonia in the 2 groups. The intervention group had a marginally better swallowing function at week 12 (Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure for Swallowing score: 4.2 ± 1.5 in intervention group, 3.5 ± 1.5 in placebo group, P = .053). As a result of the interim finding on mortality, the trial was prematurely terminated with 7 participants still in the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose lisinopril given to older tube-fed patients with neurologic dysphagia resulted in increased mortality, although swallowing function showed marginal improvement. ACE inhibitors did not prevent pneumonia in older patients with neurologic dysphagia and might increase mortality.

Sleep Duration and Disturbances Were Associated With Testosterone Level, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Strength--A Cross-Sectional Study in 1274 Older Men.

BACKGROUND: Testosterone level follows a circadian rhythm. However, whether sleep duration and disturbances can affect testosterone level, muscle mass, and strength remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of sleep duration and disturbances to testosterone level, muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We recruited 1274 community-dwelling men older than 65 years of age. Their early morning testosterone level was assayed by mass spectrometry. A sleep questionnaire was administered to enquire about their reported sleep duration, prolonged sleep latency (>0.5 hour), and subjective insomnia complaint. Muscle mass was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Testosterone level, muscle mass, handgrip strength, and walking speed were tested against sleep duration and disturbances. RESULTS: Testosterone increased with increasing sleep duration up to 9.9 hours, after which it decreased, giving rise to an inverted U-shaped relationship (P for quadratic trend <.05). A similar inverted U-shaped relationship occurred between sleep duration and muscle mass and function. Earlier go-to-bed time, despite being associated with a higher testosterone level (P < .05), was associated with weaker grip strength (P < .05). Earlier wake-up time was associated with higher muscle mass (P < .05) but neither grip strength nor walking speed. Neither prolonged sleep latency nor insomnia was associated with testosterone levels. However, prolonged sleep latency was associated with lower muscle mass (P < .05), weaker grip strength (P < .05), and slower walking speed (P < .001). Insomnia, on the other hand was associated with weaker grip strength (P < .05) and slower walking speed (P < .001) but not muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep duration and disturbances can affect testosterone level, muscle mass, and its function. Whether optimization of sleep can ameliorate age-associated decline in sex hormone and muscle performance warrants further studies.

Transitions in frailty states among community-living older adults and their associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Frailty renders older individuals more prone to adverse health outcomes. Little has been reported about the transitions between the different frailty states. We attempted to examine the rate of these transitions and their associated factors. METHODS: We recruited 3018 Chinese community-living adults 65 years or older. Frailty status was classified according to the Fried criteria in 2 visits 2 years apart. Demographic data, medical conditions, hospitalizations, and cognition were recorded. Rates of transitions and associated factors were studied. RESULTS: At baseline, 850 (48.7%) men and 884 (52.6%) women were prefrail. Among these, 23.4% men and 26.6% women improved after 2 years; 11.1% of men and 6.6% of women worsened. More men than women (P < .001) deteriorated into frailty. Hospitalizations, older age, previous stroke, lower cognition, and osteoarthritis were risk factors for decline among prefrail participants. Having diabetes was associated with 50% lower chance of improvement in women. Among the robust, older age and previous cancer, hospitalizations, chronic lung diseases, and stroke were risk factors for worsening. Higher socioeconomic status was protective. Previous stroke reduced the chance of improvement by 78% in frail men. Only younger age was associated with improvement in frail women. CONCLUSION: Women were less likely to decline in frailty status than men. Hospitalizations, older age, previous stroke, lower cognitive function, diabetes, and osteoarthritis were associated with worsening or less improvement. Older age, previous cancer, hospitalizations, lung diseases, and stroke were risk factors for worsening in the robust and higher socioeconomic status was protective.

Obesity can benefit survival-a 9-year prospective study in 1614 Chinese nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE: Weight loss has been considered predictive of early mortality in nursing home residents. Lower body mass index, irrespective of weight loss, has also been considered detrimental for survival in community-dwelling older persons. We examined which of the 2 is more important for survival in nursing home residents and at what body mass index (BMI) cut-offs survival benefits are gained or lost. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand six-hundred fourteen nursing home residents. MEASUREMENT: Minimum Data Set at baseline and mortality status assessed at 6 months, 1, 2, 4, and 9 years later. Relationship between mortality and significant weight loss (≥5% over 30 days or ≥10% over 180 days), and BMI, was studied by Cox regression with both variables in the same model, adjusted for age, sex, medical conditions (cancer, renal failure, heart disease, dementia, hip fracture, diabetes mellitus), tube-feeding, 25% food left uneaten, swallowing problem, and the activities of daily living hierarchy scale. RESULTS: One thousand six-hundred fourteen residents (69.5% female) with mean age 83.7 ± 8.4 years and mean BMI 21.7 ± 4.8 were studied. Mortality rates were 6.3% (6-month), 14.3% (1-year), 27.1% (2-year), 47.3% (4-year), and 78.1% (9-year). Significant weight loss was not associated with higher mortality at all follow-up durations, whereas higher BMI was significantly protective: mortality reduction per 1 unit increase in BMI were 9% at 6 months, 10% at 1 year, 9% at 2 years, 7% at 4 years, and 5% at 9 years, all at P < .001. Having ≥25% of food left uneaten (51.2% of participants) had no relationship to survival at all follow-up durations. At 9 years, compared with those with BMI < 18.5kg/m(2), the normal weight (BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m(2), Asia Pacific cut-off), overweight (BMI 23-25 kg/m(2), Asia Pacific cut-off) and obese (BMI > 25 kg/m(2), Asia Pacific cut-off) had significantly lower mortality (hazard ratio 0.65, 0.62, and 0.47, respectively, all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant weight loss as defined by the Minimum Data Set was not associated with short- or long-term survival in Chinese nursing home residents. BMI, however, is predictive of short- and long-term survival irrespective of weight loss in this population. Low BMI, detectable at a single point of time, may be another readily available alternative trigger point for possible interventions in reducing mortality risk. Obese residents had the lowest mortality compared with those with normal weight.

Incidence, reversibility, risk factors and the protective effect of high body mass index against sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Chinese adults.

AIM: We examined the incidence and the reversibility of sarcopenia and their associated factors over a 4-year period using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) criteria. METHODS: A total of 4000 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years were evaluated for which detailed information regarding demographics, socioeconomic, medical history, lifestyle, and clinical factors were documented at baseline, 2 years, and 4 years later. Sarcopenia was defined according to the EWGSOP algorithm. Incident sarcopenia and its reversibility were documented at each follow-up year, and related to possible factors. RESULTS: At baseline, of the 4000 participants, 361(9.0%) had sarcopenia. Between baseline and 2-year follow-up, 6.0% of the participants without sarcopenia at baseline had developed sarcopenia, and 18.8% of the initially sarcopenic participants had reverted to normal.Between baseline and 4-year follow-up, the corresponding figures were 6.3% and 14.1%, respectively. The average annual incidence over 4 years was 3.1%. After multivariate adjustments, older age, female sex, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presence of stroke, lower physical activity levels, presence of instrumental activities of daily living impairments, and lower body mass index were associated with incident sarcopenia, whereas younger age, female sex, higher body mass index and absence of instrumental activities of daily living impairments, but not physical activity,were associated with its reversibility. Protein and vitamin D intake were not significantly associated with sarcopenia incidence or its reversibility [corrected]. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia incidence increases with age, but is potentially reversible in a Chinese elderly population. High body mass index is protective against sarcopenia incidence and its reversibility. Increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight could be beneficial in the prevention of sarcopenia.

Age-associated decline of muscle mass, grip strength and gait speed: a 4-year longitudinal study of 3018 community-dwelling older Chinese.

AIMS: Studies about sarcopenia in Asia are fewer, and started later than in Europe and America. We attempted to examine the decline in muscle mass, grip strength and gait speed in a cohort of older Chinese prospectively over 4 years. METHODS: We recruited 4000 community-living Chinese older than 64 years, and measured their appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, grip strength, and gait speed at baseline and after 2 years. Muscle mass and gait speed were additionally measured after 4 years. RESULTS: After 4 years, 3018 participants completed all the measurements. The annualized decline in grip strength (-0.798 kg/year vs -1.239 kg/year) and gait speed (-0.019 m/s/year vs - 0.025 m/s/year) was faster in women than in men. Muscle mass was relatively preserved in comparison with grip strength and gait speed. The percentage loss of ASM in 4 years was -1.59% and -2.02% in men and women, respectively. The percentage decline in gait speed after 4 years was -8.2% in men and -9.0% in women. However, the decline in grip strength was more rapid, particularly in women, which was -10.0% in 2 years and less so in men, -3.85% in 2 years. CONCLUSION: Compared with black people and white people, the older Chinese have less muscle mass, weaker grip strength and slower gait speed. Although the rate of loss of ASM was modest, the decline in gait speed was rapid and the decline in grip strength was particularly fast in older Chinese women.

Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia, a newly recognized geriatric syndrome, is characterized by age-related decline of skeletal muscle plus low muscle strength and/or physical performance. Previous studies have confirmed the association of sarcopenia and adverse health outcomes, such as falls, disability, hospital admission, long term care placement, poorer quality of life, and mortality, which denotes the importance of sarcopenia in the health care for older people. Despite the clinical significance of sarcopenia, the operational definition of sarcopenia and standardized intervention programs are still lacking. It is generally agreed by the different working groups for sarcopenia in the world that sarcopenia should be defined through a combined approach of muscle mass and muscle quality, however, selecting appropriate diagnostic cutoff values for all the measurements in Asian populations is challenging. Asia is a rapidly aging region with a huge population, so the impact of sarcopenia to this region is estimated to be huge as well. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) aimed to promote sarcopenia research in Asia, and we collected the best available evidences of sarcopenia researches from Asian countries to establish the consensus for sarcopenia diagnosis. AWGS has agreed with the previous reports that sarcopenia should be described as low muscle mass plus low muscle strength and/or low physical performance, and we also recommend outcome indicators for further researches, as well as the conditions that sarcopenia should be assessed. In addition to sarcopenia screening for community-dwelling older people, AWGS recommends sarcopenia assessment in certain clinical conditions and healthcare settings to facilitate implementing sarcopenia in clinical practice. Moreover, we also recommend cutoff values for muscle mass measurements (7.0 kg/m(2) for men and 5.4 kg/m(2) for women by using dual X-ray absorptiometry, and 7.0 kg/m(2) for men and 5.7 kg/m(2) for women by using bioimpedance analysis), handgrip strength (<26 kg for men and <18 kg for women), and usual gait speed (<0.8 m/s). However, a number of challenges remained to be solved in the future. Asia is made up of a great number of ethnicities. The majority of currently available studies have been published from eastern Asia, therefore, more studies of sarcopenia in south, southeastern, and western Asia should be promoted. On the other hand, most Asian studies have been conducted in a cross-sectional design and few longitudinal studies have not necessarily collected the commonly used outcome indicators as other reports from Western countries. Nevertheless, the AWGS consensus report is believed to promote more Asian sarcopenia research, and most important of all, to focus on sarcopenia intervention studies and the implementation of sarcopenia in clinical practice to improve health care outcomes of older people in the communities and the healthcare settings in Asia.

Attitudes of long-term care staff toward dementia and their related factors.

BACKGROUND: Attitudes of residential care staff toward residents with dementia affect the quality of care. We examined the attitude of frontline residential care staff toward residents with dementia, and how the presence of specialized care units or programs may affect staff attitude. METHODS: Staff working in nursing homes participated in a survey which covered demographic data, current state of dementia care in workplace, opinion regarding dementia care, and perceived importance of dementia behaviors. RESULTS: 1,047 nurses and personal care workers participated. 78.8% respondents reported difficulties in managing dementia residents. Those who ranked positive symptoms as more important were 4.5 times more likely to report difficulties, independent of experience. Independent factors associated with positive attitudes toward further training were working in a non-profit home (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1, 5.0; p = 0.024) and having a dementia program or unit in the current workplace (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.985, 3.302; p = 0.056). Only having a dementia program or unit in the current workplace was associated with a positive attitude toward commitment to stay in dementia care (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1, 3.2; p = 0.021), adjusted for gender, type of home, post, dementia prevalence in workplace, and work experience. CONCLUSION: The majority of long-term care staff felt dementia care difficult yet hold positive attitude toward further training and were committed to stay in dementia care. Having a specialized dementia care unit or program in the current workplace was associated with commitment to stay in dementia care and was marginally associated with positive attitude toward further training.

Cognitive deficit is associated with phase advance of sleep-wake rhythm, daily napping, and prolonged sleep duration--a cross-sectional study in 2,947 community-dwelling older adults.

This study aims to examine the phase advance of sleep-wake rhythm, napping habit, nocturnal sleep duration, prolonged sleep latency and insomnia and their relationship with cognitive function. This is a cross-sectional study. Participants in this study are 2,947 community-dwelling adults older than 65 years old. Measurements of mini-mental examination (MMSE) score, go-to-bed time, wake-up time, nocturnal sleep duration, prolonged sleep latency, napping, and insomnia were done. The mean (standard deviation) nocturnal sleep hours was 7.96 (1.39) h. Twenty-one percent and 16.2% of the participants complained of prolonged sleep latency longer than 1 h and insomnia, respectively. Fifty-six percent of the participants napped once or more than once weekly. With advancing age, the participants reported longer sleep duration (p<0.001), went to bed earlier, and woke up earlier, which were significant both before and after adjustment. The participants who had lower MMSE score went to bed earlier and woke up earlier, which were statistically significant both before and after adjustment. An inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between MMSE score and napping frequency, p for tend 0.026.The MMSE score decreased when the sleep duration prolonged from 7 h to ≧10 h (p for trend 0.006). No trend was observed from the sleep duration <4 up to 7.9 h (p for trend 0.500). Modest age-independent phase advance of the sleep-wake rhythm is associated with lower cognitive function. Whether this is a manifestation of early pre-clinical dementia and whether its recognition with early stabilization can slow cognitive decline remain elusive.

Adiposity to muscle ratio predicts incident physical limitation in a cohort of 3,153 older adults--an alternative measurement of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.

Conventionally, sarcopenia is defined by muscle mass and physical performance. We hypothesized that the disability caused by sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was related to the amount of adiposity or body weight bearing on a unit of muscle mass, or the adiposity to muscle ratio. We therefore examined whether this ratio could predict physical limitation by secondary analysis of the data in our previous study. We recruited 3,153 community-dwelling adults aged >65 years and their body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Assessment of physical limitation was undertaken 4 years later. The relationship between baseline adiposity to muscle ratio and incident physical limitation was examined by logistic regression. In men, the adiposity to muscle ratios, namely total body fat to lower-limb muscle mass, total body fat to fat-free mass (FFM), and body weight to FFM, were predictive of physical limitation before and after adjustment for the covariates: age, Mini-mental Status Examination score, Geriatric Depression Scale score >8, and the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke (all p values < 0.001), when the total body fat to lower-limb muscle mass ratio was greater than or equal to 0.75. In women, throughout the entire range of that ratio, all three adiposity to muscle ratios were associated with physical limitation 4 years later both before and after adjustment for the same set of covariates (all p values < 0.05). Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity as measured by the body weight or adiposity bearing on a unit of muscle mass (the adiposity to muscle ratio) could predict incident or worsening physical limitation in older women across the entire range of the total body fat to lower-limb muscle mass ratio; and in older men when this ratio was equal to or greater than 0.75.

Survival benefit of abdominal adiposity: a 6-year follow-up study with Dual X-ray absorptiometry in 3,978 older adults.

In contrast to that in the middle-aged, higher body mass index (BMI) in older people is associated with higher survival rates. Yet, BMI makes no distinction between fat elsewhere and abdominal fat, the latter being metabolically more harmful. We hypothesized that overall adiposity might be protective in old age, but that central fat might offset that benefit and remained harmful as in the middle-aged. Three thousand nine hundred seventy-eight Chinese elderly ≥65 years had demographics, medical conditions, physical activity, and body composition by DXA recorded at baseline. Overall adiposity was measured as whole body fat%, and abdominal adiposity as waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and relative abdominal fat (RAF) (relative abdominal fat = abdominal fat according to anatomical landmarks/whole body fat). Deaths within 1 year from baseline were excluded from analysis. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were analyzed using Cox regression, adjusted for covariates. The lowest quintile of adiposity measurements was used for comparison. After a mean follow-up of 72.3 months, 13.7% men and 4.5% women had died. In men, the highest two quintiles of whole body fat % and the upper four quintiles of RAF were associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality, and adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) in ascending quintiles of RAF compared with the lowest quintile was 0.62 (0.43-0.89), 0.58 (0.4-0.85), 0.52 (0.36-0.77), and 0.67 (0.47-0.96). No relationship was found between abdominal adiposity and cardiovascular mortality in both genders. Higher whole body fat % as well as higher proportion of abdominal fat was associated with lower all-cause mortality in men. No such relation was found in women.

Testosterone but not estradiol level is positively related to muscle strength and physical performance independent of muscle mass: a cross-sectional study in 1489 older men.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between different measures of testosterone and estradiol (E(2)), muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance; and to test whether the association of sex hormone level with muscle strength and physical performance was independent of muscle mass. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on 1489 community-dwelling men older than 64 years of age. Serum levels of testosterone and E(2) were measured by mass spectrometry, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were measured by immunoradioassay. Muscle mass was examined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and physical performance was assessed by hand-grip strength, gait speed, step length and chair-stand test. RESULTS: Appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) was positively associated with total testosterone (TT; P<0.001), free testosterone (FT; P<0.001), and total E(2) (P<0.001) but not with free E(2) (P=0.102). After adjustment for age, serum SHBG and relative ASM, both TT and FT were significantly associated with grip strength, narrow-walk speed and the composite neuromuscular score. Higher total E(2), but not free E(2) was associated with lower grip strength (P<0.05) after adjustment for age, FT, SHBG and relative ASM. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone level was related to both muscle mass, strength and physical performance. Total E(2) level, though related to muscle mass positively, affected muscle strength adversely in older men.

Effects of height loss on morbidity and mortality in 3145 community-dwelling Chinese older women and men: a 5-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND: height loss beginning in mid-life and post-menopausal period was associated with adverse health outcomes. However, height loss occurring after old age has been little studied. We examined how height loss was related to bone mineral density (BMD) change, fracture incidence and cause-specific mortality in older adults. METHODS: the stature and BMD of 3145 community-dwelling men and women aged ≥65 were measured at baseline and after 4 years. All fracture and cause-specific mortality events were searched in a territory-wide clinical information database and death registry. RESULTS: twenty-five (1.6%) men and 64 (4.0%) women lost >2 cm after 4 years. In women, the BMD decline was faster in the rapid height losers (adjusted difference = 4.18%, P < 0.001). There was no corresponding difference observed in men. Rapid height loss was associated with excess all fractures and hip fractures (adjusted HR for all fractures = 2.86, P < 0.001; adjusted HR for hip fractures = 4.74, P < 0.01) in women but only hip fractures (adjusted HR = 4.93, P < 0.05) in men. The all-cause (adjusted HR = 3.43, P < 0.01) and respiratory disease mortality (adjusted HR = 5.64, P < 0.05) were higher in men with rapid height loss, whereas those in women were insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: modest height loss occurring after old age, >2 cm in 4 years, was associated with excess hip fracture, total and respiratory disease mortality in older men. In women, it was associated with excess BMD decline, all fractures and hip fractures but not mortality. Further research is needed to determine the usefulness of regular stature measurement as an indicator of bone health in the primary-care setting in older adults.

Survival in older men may benefit from being slightly overweight and centrally obese--a 5-year follow-up study in 4,000 older adults using DXA.

BACKGROUND: Whether overweight in old age is hazardous remains controversial. Body mass index (BMI) overestimates adiposity and fails to measure central adiposity. We used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure adiposity and hypothesized that overall adiposity, distribution of adiposity, and muscle mass might individually affect survival. METHODS: We recruited 2000 men and 2000 women aged 65 years or older. Baseline BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat index (BFI = total body fat/height square), relative truncal fat (RTF = trunk fat/total body fat), and body muscle mass index (BMMI = total body muscle mass/height square) were measured. Mortality was ascertained by death registry after 63.3 (median) months. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-two men and 78 women died. In men, mortality hazard ratio (HR) decreased consistently by 0.85 (p < .005), 0.86 (p < .005), and 0.86 (p < .005) per every quintile increase in BMI, BFI, and BMMI, respectively. A J-shaped relationship was observed in central adiposity (RTF and WHR) quintiles; the minimum values were at the 3rd WHR quintile (0.92-0.94) and 4th RTF quintile (mean WHR, 0.94). When RTF was tested with BFI, both high and low central adiposity were unfavorable while general adiposity became marginally insignificant (p = 0.062). When BFI and BMMI were tested together, increasing adiposity rather than muscle mass favored survival (BFI quintile, HR 0.97, p .015; BMMI quintile, HR 1.00, p .997). CONCLUSIONS: Older men were resistive to hazards of overweight and adiposity; and mild-grade overweight, obesity, and even central obesity might be protective. This may bear significant implication on the recommended cutoff values for BMI and WHR in the older population.

Functional decline in cognitive impairment--the relationship between physical and cognitive function.

BACKGROUND: Physical function decline is associated with dementia, which might either be mediated by the coexisting sarcopenia or directly related to the impaired cognition. Our objectives are to examine the relationship between cognitive function and performance-based physical function and to test the hypothesis that cognitive function is related to poor physical function independent of muscle mass. METHODS: We measured muscle strength, performance-based physical function and muscle mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and cognitive function using the cognitive part of the Community Screening Instrument of Dementia (CSI-D) in 4,000 community-dwelling Chinese elderly aged >65 years. A CSI-D cognitive score of >28.40 was considered as cognitively impaired. The effect of cognitive impairment on muscle strength and physical function was analyzed by multivariate analysis with adjustment for age, appendicular skeletal mass (ASM), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and other comorbidities. RESULTS: In both genders, the cognitively impaired (CSI-D cognitive score >28.40) group had a weaker grip strength (-5.10 kg, p < 0.001 in men; -1.08 kg in women, p < 0.001) and performed worse in the two physical function tests (in men, 6-meter walk speed, -0.13 m/s, p < 0.001, chair stand test, 1.42 s, p < 0.001; in women, 6-meter walk speed, -0.08 m/s, p < 0.001, chair stand test, 1.48 s, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, ASM, PASE and other comorbidities, significant differences in grip strength (-2.60 kg, p < 0.001 in men; -0.49 kg, p = 0.011 in women) and the two physical function tests persisted between the cognitively impaired and nonimpaired group (in men, 6-meter walk speed, -0.072 m/s, p < 0.001, chair stand test, 0.80 s, p = 0.045; in women, 6-meter walk speed, -0.049 m/s, p < 0.001, chair stand test, 0.98 s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Poor physical function and muscle strength coexisted with cognitive impairment. This relationship was independent of muscle mass. It is likely therefore that the functional decline in dementia might be related directly to factors resulting in cognitive impairment independently of the coexisting sarcopenia.

Associated factors and health impact of sarcopenia in older chinese men and women: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is increasingly being recognized as a feature of frailty in old age and is associated with unfavorable health outcomes in Western populations. Little is known about sarcopenia among Asian elderly populations. OBJECTIVES: The study was undertaken to study the association between sarcopenia and common chronic illnesses, lifestyle factors, psychosocial well-being and physical performance. METHODS: 4,000 community-dwelling Chinese elderly >/=65 years were recruited. Medical illnesses, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity level and psychosocial well-being scores were recorded. Physical performance measured included grip strength, timed chair-stands, stride length and a timed 6-meter walk. Muscle mass was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Relationships between appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM/ht(2)) and multiple variables were analyzed using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Mean ASM/ht(2) was 7.19 and 6.05 kg/m(2) in men and women respectively. Older age, cigarette smoking, chronic lung disease, atherosclerosis, underweight, and physical inactivity were associated with low adjusted ASM, which was in turn associated with poorer physical well-being in men. After adjustment to age, lower appendicular muscle mass was associated with weaker grip strength in both sexes. In men, lower limb tests (chair-stands, walking speed and step length) were not related to ASM, while in women, lower muscle mass was not associated with poorer lower limb muscle performance. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Chinese men and women was associated with cigarette smoking, chronic illnesses, underweight, physical inactivity, poorer well-being and upper limb physical performance.