Grandchildren of grandparents with Alzheimer's disease: Exploratory study of the impact of the disease on their relationships.

The aim of this study was to describe the perception of changes that Alzheimer's disease in grandparents has made to the relationship with their grandchildren of between 6 and 13. Qualitative methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 25 grandchildren living in Catalonia, Spain. Participants reported a change in roles from being the care receiver to being the caregiver, changes in the activities that they did together and a positive impact on the grandparent's emotional wellbeing. In the physical sphere, sleeping problems were reported in grandchildren that cohabited with their grandparents. The feelings they described include fear of not being recognized by their grandparents and sadness, as well as satisfaction resulting from their affection and participating in caring. These findings suggest the need to provide information and resources for grandchildren and their families to enable them to deal with the disease.

Functional and Cognitive Decline Is Associated With Increased Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Platelet Activation: Liquid Biopsy of Microvesicles in Community- Dwelling Octogenarians.

Increased life expectancy is usually associated with comorbidities, such as cardio and cerebrovascular disease causing impaired functionality. A common underlying cause of these comorbidities is vascular inflammation and injury. Elevated levels of circulating microvesicles (cMV), as a product of a hemostatic and inflammatory cell activation, could be direct mapping of an imbalanced hemostasis. In this manuscript, we aimed to investigate by liquid biopsy whether successful aging can be discriminated by cMV levels and phenotype. To this purpose, we included 135 community-dwelling octogenarians in a cross-sectional study. Successful aging was defined as good functional (Barthel Index > 90 points, and Lawton index score > 7/4 points for women and men, respectively) and cognitive status (Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination -MEC- > 24 points) and no need for institutionalization. Total, annexin V positive (AV+), and AV- cMV from different cell origins from the vascular compartment were phenotypically characterized and quantified from fasting plasma samples by flow cytometry. Successful aging was associated with lower plasma concentrations of total and AV+ CD141+/CD41+-CD61+, and PAC1+/AV+, CD141+/AV+, and CD36+/AV- cMV. From these phenotypes, ROC curve analyses revealed that CD141+/AV+ and CD141+/CD41+-CD61+/AV+ endothelial- and platelet-derived cMV discriminate successful and non-successful aging with an AUC (95%CI) of 0.655 (0.551, 0.758), P = 0.005, and 0.638 (0.535, 0.741), P = 0.013, respectively. In conclusion, successful aging is associated with low levels of cMV released by endothelial cells and platelets, indicating lower endothelial cell inflammation and platelet activation. Our results contribute to the understanding of the link between unsuccessful aging, cognitive decline and vascular cell inflammatory disturbances.

Prevalence and clinical significance of interatrial block in very older persons.

PURPOSE: The presence in older patients of an interatrial block (IAB) may be a predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of the study was to assess in a group of very older participants: the prevalence of IAB, its association with the presence of functional and cognitive status, of new AF diagnosis and mortality after 2-year of follow-up. METHODS: A prospective subcohort of the OCTABAIX population-based study with 75 inhabitants, all 85-year-olds, at baseline in sinus rhythm were assessed. Functional and cognitive status, nutritional risk, and previous falls were recorded. Participants were classified according to the presence or absence of IAB. RESULTS: 23 patients had IAB (30.7%). We did not observe significant differences regarding gender, comorbidity, functional status, nutritional risk and global geriatric assessment according to interatrial conduction. The patients with IAB had statistically significant better cognitive performance (p = 0.029) and a lower number of previous falls (p = 0.008). During the 2 years follow-up 3 participants (4%) died; without statistical differences between both groups. A non-significant trend to a higher incidence of new-onset AF was observed in patients with IAB (8.7 vs. 6.1%; p = 0.652). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of very older patients with sinus rhythm have IAB. They had a tendency to higher incidence of AF and no association with mortality after 2 years of follow-up.

Inflammation and hemostasis in older octogenarians: implication in 5-year survival.

Social changes and medical advances have increased longevity, but the conditions governing healthy vs unhealthy cardiovascular (CV) aging are not fully known. Factors beyond classical CV risk factors may have an important unrecognized value. We sought to identify proteins differentially expressed in healthy octogenarians (HOs) without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and preserved functional and cognitive state compared with octogenarians with a history of CVD and cognitive decline (UHOs) using a systems biology approach, and investigated how these proteins relate to CV mortality at 5-year follow-up. Plasmas obtained from older octogenarians (87 ± 0 years) were analyzed by 2-DE + MS and bioinformatic pathway analysis in HOs (N = 38) and UHOs with cognitive (MEC<25) and functional (Barthel<90) decline and a previous ischemic event (acute myocardial infarction and/or stroke; N = 27). Results were validated by ELISA in HOs and UHOs and in an additional group of older octogenarians without cognitive impairment but with a previous CVD manifestation (HO-CVD; N = 35). UHOs showed a coordinated change in several inflammation-related proteins (AMBP, RBP4, and ITIH4; P < 0.05), together with a significant increase in the major inducer of the acute-phase reaction, interleukin-6 (P = 0.03). UHOs also showed a coordinated increase in hemostatic proteins that was associated with an impairment of fibrinolysis and an increased 5-year CV mortality (P = 0.003). The combination of inflammation (ITIH4 and interleukin-6) and hemostatic markers (D-dimer, A2AP, and coagulation factor XIII) was able to discriminate the presence of an unhealthy phenotype in the elderly (AUC = 0.750; P = 0.001). Unhealthy older octogenarians show increased levels of several plasma proteins of inflammation and coagulation. In older octogenarians, the increase in hemostatic markers indicated an increase in 5-year CV mortality at follow-up.

Multimorbidity as specific disease combinations, an important predictor factor for mortality in octogenarians: the Octabaix study.

BACKGROUND: The population is aging and multimorbidity is becoming a common problem in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of multimorbidity patterns on mortality for all causes at 3- and 5-year follow-up periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective community-based cohort (2009-2014) embedded within a randomized clinical trial was conducted in seven primary health care centers, including 328 subjects aged 85 years at baseline. Sociodemographic variables, sensory status, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidity, and geriatric tests were analyzed. Multimorbidity patterns were defined as combinations of two or three of 16 specific chronic conditions in the same individual. RESULTS: Of the total sample, the median and interquartile range value of conditions was 4 (3-5). The individual morbidities significantly associated with death were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; hazard ratio [HR]: 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3; 4.7), atrial fibrillation (AF; HR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.3; 4.3), and malignancy (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.0; 3.6) at 3-year follow-up; whereas dementia (HR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.3; 3.2), malignancy (HR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.2; 2.8), and COPD (HR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.1; 2.8) were the most associated with mortality at 5-year follow-up, after adjusting using Barthel functional index (BI). The two multimorbidity patterns most associated with death were AF, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and visual impairment (HR: 4.19; 95% CI: 2.2; 8.2) at 3-year follow-up as well as hypertension, CKD, and malignancy (HR: 3.24; 95% CI: 1.8; 5.8) at 5 years, after adjusting using BI. CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity as specific combinations of chronic conditions showed an effect on mortality, which would be higher than the risk attributable to individual morbidities. The most important predicting pattern for mortality was the combination of AF, CKD, and visual impairment after 3 years. These findings suggest that a new approach is required to target multimorbidity in octogenarians.

Estudio Octabaix. Sumario de la valoración inicial y 5 años de seguimiento / The Octabaix study. Baseline assessment and 5 years of follow-up

Se presenta una revisión de los diversos estudios que forman parte de la valoración inicial y del seguimiento durante 5años de una cohorte de personas que cumplieron 85años en el momento de la inclusión: el estudio Octabaix. Se trata de un estudio poblacional con 328 participantes; de ellos el 61,6% eran mujeres, el 53% viudos y un tercio vivían solos. En cuanto a antecedentes, el 75,9% de pacientes presentaban hipertensión arterial, el 51,2% dislipemia y el 17,7% diabetes mellitus. Al inicio del estudio la mediana del índice de Barthel era de 95, la del Mini-Examen Cognitivo de 28, la del índice Charlson de 1, la del Mini-Nutritional Assessment de 25, la de la Escala de riesgo social de Gijón de 10, la de la escala visual analógica del test Euroqol-5D de salud percibida de 60; la media de fármacos era de 6,1. Tener una menor calidad de vida se asoció a género femenino, presentar un fenotipo de fragilidad, insuficiencia cardiaca y un elevado índice de riesgo social. A los 5años de seguimiento la tasa de mortalidad fue elevada (42,1%), lo que representaba una tasa de mortalidad del 8,4% al año. Un denominador común de los estudios incluidos en esta revisión ha sido el de la mayor importancia de la funcionalidad y comorbilidad global, como factores asociados a mortalidad en este grupo de edad muy avanzada frente a otros factores más clásicos presentes en poblaciones más jóvenes. También en este grupo de estudios se han analizado la fragilidad, las caídas, el riesgo nutricional, la diabetes y el envejecimiento satisfactorio, entre otros aspectos importantes para mejor conocer este grupo poblacional (AU)

This is a review of a prospective, community-based study with a follow-up period of 5years. It is a study of 328 participants aged 85 at baseline, of which 62% were female, 53% widows, and a third of them living alone. High blood pressure was observed in 75.9%, dyslipidaemia in 51.2%, and diabetes in 17.7%. At baseline the median Barthel Index was 95, the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination was 28, the Charlson index 1, the Mini Nutritional Assessment 25, the Gijón test 10, the visual analogue scale of the Quality of Life Test was 60, and with a mean of 6.1 prescription drugs. A lower quality of life was also associated with female gender, a phenotype of frailty, heart failure, and a high level of social risk. At 5years of follow-up, the mortality rate was high, with 138 (42.1%) of the population sample dying at the end of the period. It represents an annual mortality rate of 8.4%. Thus, a common denominator of this review has been the high importance of functionality and overall comorbidity factors associated with mortality in this very old age group, compared to other more traditional factors in younger populations. Several studies of frailty have also been assessed in this group, as well as falls, nutritional risk, diabetes and successful aging, including important aspects to better understand this population group (AU)

[The Octabaix study. Baseline assessment and 5 years of follow-up]. / Estudio Octabaix. Sumario de la valoración inicial y 5 años de seguimiento.

This is a review of a prospective, community-based study with a follow-up period of 5years. It is a study of 328 participants aged 85 at baseline, of which 62% were female, 53% widows, and a third of them living alone. High blood pressure was observed in 75.9%, dyslipidaemia in 51.2%, and diabetes in 17.7%. At baseline the median Barthel Index was 95, the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination was 28, the Charlson index 1, the Mini Nutritional Assessment 25, the Gijón test 10, the visual analogue scale of the Quality of Life Test was 60, and with a mean of 6.1 prescription drugs. A lower quality of life was also associated with female gender, a phenotype of frailty, heart failure, and a high level of social risk. At 5years of follow-up, the mortality rate was high, with 138 (42.1%) of the population sample dying at the end of the period. It represents an annual mortality rate of 8.4%. Thus, a common denominator of this review has been the high importance of functionality and overall comorbidity factors associated with mortality in this very old age group, compared to other more traditional factors in younger populations. Several studies of frailty have also been assessed in this group, as well as falls, nutritional risk, diabetes and successful aging, including important aspects to better understand this population group.

Evidence of functional declining and global comorbidity measured at baseline proved to be the strongest predictors for long-term death in elderly community residents aged 85 years: a 5-year follow-up evaluation, the OCTABAIX study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of functional impairment, chronic conditions, and laboratory biomarkers of aging for predicting 5-year mortality in the elderly aged 85 years. METHODS: Predictive value for mortality of different geriatric assessments carried out during the OCTABAIX study was evaluated after 5 years of follow-up in 328 subjects aged 85 years. Measurements included assessment of functional status comorbidity, along with laboratory tests on vitamin D, cholesterol, CD4/CD8 ratio, hemoglobin, and serum thyrotropin. RESULTS: Overall, the mortality rate after 5 years of follow-up was 42.07%. Bivariate analysis showed that patients who survived were predominantly female (P=0.02), and they showed a significantly better baseline functional status for both basic (P<0.001) and instrumental (P<0.001) activities of daily living (Barthel and Lawton index), better cognitive performance (Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) (P<0.001), lower comorbidity conditions (Charlson) (P<0.001), lower nutritional risk (Mini Nutritional Assessment) (P<0.001), lower risk of falls (Tinetti gait scale) (P<0.001), less percentage of heart failure (P=0.03) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P=0.03), and took less chronic prescription drugs (P=0.002) than nonsurvivors. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified a decreased score in the Lawton index (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.91) and higher comorbidity conditions (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.33) as independent predictors of mortality at 5 years in the studied population. CONCLUSION: The ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living and the global comorbidity assessed at baseline were the predictors of death, identified in our 85-year-old community-dwelling subjects after 5 years of follow-up.

High rate of mortality in Spanish community-dwelling population aged 85 with atrial fibrillation after three years of follow-up: The Octabaix study.

AIM: To assess the possible association between three-year global mortality and atrial fibrillation (AF) in 328 community-dwelling participants aged 85 at baseline. METHODS: Sociodemographic data, comorbidity and geriatric assessment tools, thromboembolic risk, and AF therapy were assessed. We compared the patients who survived with those who died. RESULTS: At baseline, 41 (12.5%) of participants had permanent AF, and 13 of them died (31.7%) after the three-year follow-up period compared with 44 (15.3%) of the rest of cohort (P = 0.01). Cox regression analysis identified two significant clinical variables as independent predictors of three-year risk of global mortality: Lawton Index (hazard ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.75-0.91) and AF (hazard ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.01-3.56). None of the other of variables evaluated showed predictive value of global mortality in the AF patients. CONCLUSION: In oldest old community-dwelling participants, AF is an independent risk factor for global mortality after a three-year follow-up period.

Perfil y pronóstico del paciente con anemia mayor de 85 años que vive en la comunidad. Estudio Octabaix / Profile and prognosis of patients over 85 years old with anemia living in the community. Octabaix Study

Objetivos. Analizar la prevalencia de anemia en un estudio poblacional de personas de 85 años. Explorar posibles rasgos diferenciadores en los grupos de personas con y sin anemia y evaluar la relación de la anemia con la mortalidad después de 3 años de seguimiento. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional multicéntrico de una cohorte de personas nacidas en 1924 que viven en la comunidad. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, de comorbilidad, funcionalidad, estado cognitivo, riesgo social, percepción de calidad de vida, estado nutricional, consumo de fármacos y parámetros analíticos. Se realizó análisis multivariable con regresión logística. Resultados. Se incluyeron 328 habitantes, 61,6% mujeres. La prevalencia de anemia fue del 24%. Se apreciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto al índice de Charlson, con valores más altos en pacientes anémicos (p = 0,0001) y al índice de Barthel (IB) y al índice de Lawton (IL), con valores menores en anémicos (p = 0,002 para ambos). Los pacientes con anemia tenían peor percepción de su calidad de vida (p = 0,015). En el análisis multivariable la presencia de anemia se relacionaba con más dependencia según el IB (OR 0,985; IC 95%: 0,973-0,997) y más comorbilidad según el índice de Charlson (OR 1,314; IC 95%: 1,124-1,536). La mortalidad fue mayor en el grupo de pacientes con anemia a los 3 años (p = 0,005). Conclusiones. En nuestra cohorte la anemia es prevalente en población de 85 años y se asocia con mayor mortalidad a los 3 años. Los pacientes anémicos presentaban peor funcionalidad física y mayor comorbilidad (AU)

Objectives. To analyze the prevalence of anemia in a sample of patients over 85 years old. To explore possible differentiating features in the groups of people with and without anemia, and to evaluate the relationship of anemia with mortality after a follow-up of 3 years. Material and methods. An observational multicenter study was conducted on a cohort of people born in 1924 and who lived in the community. Socio-demographic variables, comorbidity, functionality, cognitive status, social risk, perceived quality of life, nutritional status, drug consumption and laboratory parameters were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results. A total of 328 inhabitants were included, of whom 61.6% were women. The prevalence of anemia was 24%. Statistically significant differences in the Charlson index were found, showing higher values in anemic patients (P = 0001) and in the Barthel index (BI) and in the Lawton index (LI), with lower levels in anemic patients (P = 002 for both). Patients with anemia had a poorer perception of their quality of life (P = 015). The presence of anemia was associated with more dependence according the BI values (OR 0.985; 95% CI: 0973-0997) and with higher comorbidity according the Charlson index (OR 1.314; 95% CI: 1124-1536). Mortality was higher in the group of patients with anemia, reaching statistically significant differences in the third year P = 005). Conclusions. In our cohort anemia is a fairly prevalent feature in the population over 85 years old, and is associated with higher mortality at three years of follow up. Patients with anemia had worse physical functioning and greater comorbidity (AU)

Estudio NonaSantfeliu. Valoración inicial y 10 años de seguimiento / The NonaSantfeliu study. Baseline assessment and ten years of follow-up

Se presenta una revisión de los diversos estudios que forman parte de la valoración global inicial y de los estudios realizados durante 10 años de seguimiento de una cohorte de personas nonagenarias: el estudio NonaSantfeliu. Se trata de un estudio poblacional de 186 personas, 76,5% mujeres, con una edad media al inicio del estudio de 93,06 años, una cuarta parte de ellas (26%) institucionalizadas. La media del índice de Barthel basal fue de 60,8 y del miniexamen cognitivo de Lobo de 21. Los nonagenarios varones y con baja comorbilidad tenían un envejecimiento más satisfactorio que las mujeres con alta comorbilidad cuantificada con el índice de Charlson. Como era previsible la tasa de supervivencia a los 10 años de seguimiento era muy baja, así el 95,6% de los habitantes habían fallecido. Esto representaba una tasa anual de mortalidad del 9,5%. Un denominador común en la evaluación en todos los diferentes cortes anuales es el de la mayor importancia de factores asociados a mortalidad relacionados con la valoración geriátrica, como función, cognición-demencia, y de la comorbilidad acumulada y la polifarmacia frente a factores de riesgo más clásicos descritos en grupos poblacionales más jóvenes (AU)

NonaSantfeliu study: A review is presented of the studies that are part of the initial overall assessment and the studies performed during the 10 years of follow-up of a cohort of nonagenarians. It is a population-based study of 186 subjects, 76.5% women, mean age at baseline of 93.06 years, a quarter (26%) being institutionalized. The mean of baseline Barthel index was 60.8, and the mean for the Lobo's cognitive minimental was 21. Nonagenarian males with low comorbidity had more successful aging criteria than women with high comorbidity quantified with the Charlson Index. The survival rate at 10 years follow-up was very low, and 95.6% of the population had died. This represented an annual mortality rate of 9.5%. A common denominator on assessing all different annual cuts, is that the most important factors associated with mortality are those related to geriatric assessment, such as a function, cognition, dementia, and cumulative comorbidity and multiple medications, compared to more traditional risk factors described in younger populations (AU)

Predicting factors of health-related quality of life in octogenarians: a 3-year follow-up longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: The proportion of very old people is rising, and so, describing their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important point of interest. The aim of this study was to analyse the predictive factors on HRQoL throughout a 3-year follow-up period, in a community-based cohort of octogenarian people. METHODS: From 290 subjects aged 85 and over, sociodemographic and geriatric data, including levels of frailty phenotype assessment, and HRQoL using the EuroQol 5D3L (EQ-5D) instrument were collected. A longitudinal analysis was performed by generalized estimating equations (jointly testing the bivariate effect of variables and its time dependence) and regression mixed models to evaluate the adjusted effect of variables on HRQoL after a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: In the EQ-5D baseline assessment, the average visual analogue self-rating scale value was 63.82 (SD ± 19.45), the EQ-5D index was 0.67 (0.34) and the most significant issues were pain/discomfort (61.2 %), depression (45.3 %) and mobility (44.6 %). The third year index was 0.55 (0.38). Independent predictive factors of a lower HRQoL identified by the regression mixed models were female gender (marginal effect ME = -0.101; p = 0.003), being pre-frail (ME = -0.142; p = 0.011) or frail (ME = -0.071; p = 0.030), having heart failure (ME = -0.081; p = 0.037) and having a high social risk score (ME = -0.020; p = 0.015). In contrast, higher functional status (ME = 0.050; p < 0.001) and nutritional score (ME = 0.013; p = 0.011) appeared to be predictive factors of an enhanced HRQoL. The adjusted effect of "time of follow-up" had no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Frail individuals at baseline have a significant lower HRQoL, whereas a higher functional status and nutritional status are independent predicting factors of an enhanced HRQoL after 3 years of follow-up. These findings may encourage clinicians in order to asses HRQoL.

Diabetes mellitus a los 85 años en la comunidad. Estudio Octabaix / Diabetes mellitus at 85 years in the community. Octabaix study

No disponible

Multifactorial assessment and targeted intervention in nutritional status among the older adults: a randomized controlled trial: the Octabaix study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is frequent among older people and is associated with morbi-mortality. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a multifactorial and multidisciplinary intervention in the nutritional status among the elderly. METHODS: Randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, clinical trial conducted from January 2009 to December 2010 in seven primary health care centers in Baix Llobregat (Barcelona). Of 696 referred people, born in 1924, 328 subjects were randomized to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention model used an algorithm and was multifaceted for both the patients and their primary care providers. The main outcome was improvement in nutritional status assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Data analyses were done by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Two-year assessment was completed for 127 patients (77.4%) in the intervention group and 98 patients (59.7%) in the control group. In the adjusted linear mixed models for MNA, intervention showed no significant effect during all follow-up period with -0.21 (CI: - 0.96; 0.26). In subjects with nutritional risk (MNA ≤ 23.5/30) existed a tendency towards improvement in MNA score 1.13 (95% CI -0.48; 2.74) after 2 years. CONCLUSION: A universal multifactorial assessment and target intervention over a two year period in subjects at nutritional risk showed a tendency to improve nutrition but not in the rest of community-dwelling studied subjects. Cognitive impairment was an independent factor strongly associated with a decline in nutritional status. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial is registered as part of a US National Institutes of Health Clinical Trial: NCT01141166.

[Profile and prognosis of patients over 85 years old with anemia living in the community. Octabaix Study]. / Perfil y pronóstico del paciente con anemia mayor de 85 años que vive en la comunidad. Estudio Octabaix.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence of anemia in a sample of patients over 85 years old. To explore possible differentiating features in the groups of people with and without anemia, and to evaluate the relationship of anemia with mortality after a follow-up of 3 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational multicenter study was conducted on a cohort of people born in 1924 and who lived in the community. Socio-demographic variables, comorbidity, functionality, cognitive status, social risk, perceived quality of life, nutritional status, drug consumption and laboratory parameters were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 328 inhabitants were included, of whom 61.6% were women. The prevalence of anemia was 24%. Statistically significant differences in the Charlson index were found, showing higher values in anemic patients (P=0001) and in the Barthel index (BI) and in the Lawton index (LI), with lower levels in anemic patients (P=002 for both). Patients with anemia had a poorer perception of their quality of life (P=015). The presence of anemia was associated with more dependence according the BI values (OR 0.985; 95% CI: 0973-0997) and with higher comorbidity according the Charlson index (OR 1.314; 95% CI: 1124-1536). Mortality was higher in the group of patients with anemia, reaching statistically significant differences in the third year P=005). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort anemia is a fairly prevalent feature in the population over 85 years old, and is associated with higher mortality at three years of follow up. Patients with anemia had worse physical functioning and greater comorbidity.

[The NonaSantfeliu study. Baseline assessment and ten years of follow-up]. / Estudio NonaSantfeliu. Valoración inicial y 10 años de seguimiento.

NonaSantfeliu study: A review is presented of the studies that are part of the initial overall assessment and the studies performed during the 10 years of follow-up of a cohort of nonagenarians. It is a population-based study of 186 subjects, 76.5% women, mean age at baseline of 93.06 years, a quarter (26%) being institutionalized. The mean of baseline Barthel index was 60.8, and the mean for the Lobo's cognitive minimental was 21. Nonagenarian males with low comorbidity had more successful aging criteria than women with high comorbidity quantified with the Charlson Index. The survival rate at 10 years follow-up was very low, and 95.6% of the population had died. This represented an annual mortality rate of 9.5%. A common denominator on assessing all different annual cuts, is that the most important factors associated with mortality are those related to geriatric assessment, such as a function, cognition, dementia, and cumulative comorbidity and multiple medications, compared to more traditional risk factors described in younger populations.

Envejecimiento satisfactorio e indicadores de fragilidad en los mayores de la comunidad. Estudio Octabaix / Successful aging and indicators of frailty in the elderly. Octabaix Study

El envejecimiento satisfactorio como estado óptimo de un proceso de adaptación es poco conocido en las personas más mayores. OBJETIVO: Describir envejecimiento satisfactorio y analizar su asociación con indicadores de fragilidad en personas de 86 años. DISEÑO: Estudio descriptivo transversal al segundo año de seguimiento de un ensayo clínico (estudio Octabaix). Emplazamiento: Siete centros de atención primaria. Participantes: Personas nacidas en 1924, no institucionalizadas. Medidas principales: Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, comorbilidad y escalas de valoración geriátrica. La fragilidad se definió por presencia de 3 o más de los siguientes criterios: debilidad muscular, lentitud en la marcha, pérdida de peso, agotamiento y escasa actividad física. El envejecimiento satisfactorio se definió según: índice de Barthel > 90/100 y test de Lobo ≥ 24/35. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo bivariante y multivariante mediante regresión logística. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 273 pacientes, 39,2% hombres. La prevalencia de envejecimiento satisfactorio fue del 47,2% (129). En el grupo sin envejecimineto satisfactorio existía una proporción de fragilidad del 34,7% (50). Se hallaron como criterios de fragilidad asociados a envejecimiento no satisfactorio la escasa actividad (OR: 7,56; IC 95%: 3,8-14,9), la debilidad (OR: 6,08; IC 95%: 2,5-14, 7), la lentitud (OR: 5,1; IC 95%: 2,8-9,5) y el agotamiento (OR: 3,6; IC 95%: 1,6-8,3). La prevalencia de envejecimiento satisfactorio es elevada en personas de 86 años en la comunidad. La escasa actividad física multiplica por 7 la asociación a envejecimiento no satisfactorio, y la debilidad muscular por 6. Por ello, incorporar el cribado dirigido a detectar estos 2 factores podría mejorar intervenciones posteriores hacia un envejecimiento más óptimo, si estos resultados se confirman en futuros estudios

Successful aging as a process of adaptation to the optimal state is little known in older people. OBJECTIVE: To describe successful aging and to analyze the factors associated with frailty in people aged 86 years. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of a clinical trial at the second year of follow-up (Octabaix Study). Setting: Seven Primary Care Centers. Participants: Non-institutionalized subjects born in 1924. Main measurements Data on sociodemographic, comorbidity and geriatric assessment scales were collected. Frailty was defined by the presence of 3 or more of the following criteria: muscle weakness, slow walking, weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity. Successful aging was defined as: Barthel index > 90/100 and Lobo test ≥ 24/35. Multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients were evaluated, 39.2% men. The prevalence of successful aging was 47.2% (129). In the unsuccessful aging, the frailty prevalence was 34.7% (50). The frailty factors associated with unsuccessful aging were low activity (OR: 7.56; 95% CI: 3.8 -14.9), weakness (OR: 6.08; 95% CI: 2.5-14.7), slowness (OR: 5.1; 95% CI: 2.8-9.5), and exhaustion (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.6-8.3). The prevalence of successful aging is high in 86-year-old community-dwelling subjects. The low physical activity multiplied by seven, and muscle weakness by 6, were the factors most associated with unsuccessful aging. Therefore, incorporating screening designed to detect these two factors could improve future interventions towards more optimal aging in the community, if these results are confirmed in future studies