Case-Finding for Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Comparison of Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment with SARC-F and SARC-CalF.

BACKGROUND: We compared the diagnostic performance of the short five-item and full seven-item Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment Questionnaire (MSRA-5 and MSRA-7) against the Strength, Assistance walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) and SARC-F with calf circumference (SARC-CalF) scales for sarcopenia in healthy community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We conducted a post-hoc cross-sectional secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study, using data from 230 older adults (mean age 67.2±7.4 years, 92% Chinese, and 73% female) from the "Longitudinal Assessment of Biomarkers for characterization of early Sarcopenia and Osteosarcopenic Obesity in predicting frailty and functional decline in community-dwelling Asian older adults Study" (GeriLABS-2) conducted between December 2017 and March 2019 in Singapore. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to ascertain the area under the curve (AUC) for sarcopenia diagnosis using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus criteria. We applied the Delong method to compare the AUCs of the four instruments. RESULTS: The MSRA-5 and MSRA-7 demonstrated poor diagnostic performance (AUC of 0.511, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.433-0.589 and AUC of 0.526, 95% CI 0.445-0.606, respectively), compared to that in SARC-CalF (AUC of 0.739, 95% CI 0.671-0.808) and SARC-F (AUC of 0.564, 95% CI 0.591-0.636). The SARC-CalF demonstrated significantly superior discriminatory ability compared to that in the SARC-F, MSRA-5, and MSRA-7 (all p<0.01). The MSRA-5 demonstrated lower sensitivity (0.464) and specificity (0.597) than in the SARC-CalF (0.661 and 0.738, respectively), whereas the MSRA-7 had higher specificity (0.887) and lower sensitivity (0.145). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The poor diagnostic performances of the MSRA-5 and MSRA-7 in our study suggest limitations of self-reported questionnaires for assessing general and dietary risk factors for sarcopenia in healthy and culturally diverse community-dwelling older adults. Studies in different populations are needed to ascertain the utility of the MSRA for the community detection of sarcopenia.

SARC-F and modified versions using arm and calf circumference: Diagnostic performance for sarcopenia screening and the impact of obesity.

AIM: SARC-F is limited by low sensitivity for sarcopenia identification. As surrogates of muscle mass, mid-arm circumference (MAC) and/or calf circumference have been proposed as additions to SARC-F to enhance sarcopenia identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F + MAC, and SARC-CalF + MAC in sarcopenia detection, and to assess the impact of obesity on their diagnostic performance. METHODS: We studied 230 healthy non-frail community-dwelling older adults age >50 years. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F + MAC and SARC-CalF + MAC against sarcopenia diagnosed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 as the reference standard. Obesity was defined by high waist circumference (men ≥90 cm, women ≥80 cm). We performed subgroup analysis to compare between obese and non-obese groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 27.0% by AWGS 2019. SARC-CalF + MAC had the best diagnostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.81; sensitivity 66.1%; specificity 69.1%), followed by SARC-CalF (AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.62-0.78; sensitivity 21.0%; specificity 95.8%). SARC-F (AUC 0.57, 95% CI 0.49-0.66; sensitivity 0%; specificity 100%) performed significantly worsethan its modified versions (P < 0.05). There was higher accuracy of sarcopenia identification in obese compared with non-obese groups for SARC-F + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.85 vs. 0.58, 95% CI 0.46-0.70) and SARC-CalF + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.85 vs. 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of arm circumference to SARC-CalF confers better diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia identification, especially in the obese group. Thus, MAC may complement SARC-CalF for community screening of sarcopenia amongst healthy community-dwelling older adults by increasing sensitivity for the detection of sarcopenic obesity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 182-188.

Clinical practice for sarcopenia in Asia: Online survey by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) investigate the clinical practice for the management of sarcopenia among healthcare professionals in Asia, (2) determine the characteristics of clinical care provided by geriatricians versus by other healthcare professionals, and (3) clarify the awareness of sarcopenia. METHODS: From December 1 to 31, 2022, an online survey was completed by 1990 healthcare professionals in Asia. The survey comprises demographics and institutional characteristics, basic sarcopenia-related details, and sarcopenia-related assessment and treatment details. RESULTS: The mean respondent age was 44.2 ± 10.7 years, 36.4% of the respondents were women, and the mean years of experience in clinical practice were 19.0 ± 10.6 years. The percentages of respondents who were aware of the term "sarcopenia", its definition and the importance of its management were high, at 99.3%, 91.9%, and 97.2%, respectively. The percentages of respondents who had screened patients for, diagnosed patients with, and treated patients for sarcopenia were 42.4%, 42.9%, and 58.8%, respectively. Medical doctors had higher performance rates compared to allied health professionals (45.5% vs. 40.5% for screening, 56.8% vs. 34.5% for diagnosis, and 65.0% vs. 55.0% for treatment) (P < 0.001). Especially, among medical doctors, geriatricians had significantly higher rates compared to non-geriatricians (64.3% vs. 34.1% for screening; 76.7% vs. 44.8% for diagnosis; 82.7% vs. 54.4% for treatment, respectively) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the importance of the concept and management of sarcopenia is well recognized, there is a gap in its detection and management in clinical practice between medical doctors and allied health professionals, and also between geriatricians and non-geriatricians. Many geriatricians collaborate with other healthcare professionals to appropriately manage sarcopenia. In the future, educating all medical staff on the proper management of sarcopenia is necessary.

Calf Circumference Measurement Protocols for Sarcopenia Screening: Differences in Agreement, Convergent Validity and Diagnostic Performance.

BACKGROUND: Although recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus (AWGS'19) as a screening tool for sarcopenia, there remains no consensus regarding the position (sitting, standing) or laterality (right, left) for the measurement of calf circumference (CC). This study aimed to determine the agreement between CC measurements, correlations with muscle mass and function, and diagnostic performance for sarcopenia screening. METHODS: We studied 176 healthy community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 66.8±7.1 years) from the GERILABS-2 study. CC was measured using non-elastic tape in four ways: left and right sides in the sitting and standing positions. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the AWGS'19 criteria. We produced Bland-Altman plots to assess the agreement, partial correlations for muscle mass and function to compare convergent validity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to compare diagnostic performance. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was 17.4%. Sitting CC was larger than standing regardless of laterality (right 35.31±2.95 cm vs. 34.61±2.74 cm; left 35.37±2.96 cm vs. 34.70±2.83 cm; both p<0.001), consistent with the systematic bias on Bland-Altman plots showing the overestimation of sitting over standing measurements (right bias=0.70 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.48-1.88; left bias=0.67 cm, 95% CI, -0.35-1.68). After adjusting for age and sex, CC was significantly correlated with appendicular skeletal mass, hand grip strength, knee extension, gait speed, chair stand, and short physical performance battery. Although right-sided CC measurements had better diagnostic performance (AUC=0.817), the difference was not statistically significant compared to the other positions (p>0.05). The optimal cutoff was <34 cm for all measurements, except for the left standing position (cutoff <35 cm). CONCLUSION: Standing CC measurements are recommended for sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling older adults because of their good agreement without systematic bias, convergent validity, and diagnostic performance.

Functional improvement after inpatient rehabilitation in community hospitals following acute hospital care.

INTRODUCTION: There are limited studies exploring functional improvement in relation to characteristics of patients who, following acute hospital care, receive inpatient rehabilitation in community hospitals. We evaluated the association of acute hospital admission-related factors with functional improvement on community hospital discharge. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients who were transferred to community hospitals within 14-day post-discharge from acute hospital between 2016 and 2018. Modified Barthel Index (MBI) on a 100-point ordinal scale was used to assess functional status on admission to and discharge from the community hospital. We categorised MBI into 6 bands: 0-24, 25-49, 50-74, 75-90, 91-99 and 100. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine factors associated with categorical improvement in functional status, defined as an increase in at least one MBI band between admission and discharge. RESULTS: A total of 5,641 patients (median age 77 years, interquartile range 69-84; 44.2% men) were included for analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, factors associated with functional improvement were younger age, a higher MBI on admission, and musculoskeletal diagnosis for the acute hospital admission episode. In contrast, a history of dementia or stroke; lower estimated glomerular filtration rate; abnormal serum albumin or anaemia measured during the acute hospital episode; and diagnoses of stroke, cardiac disease, malignancy, falls or pneumonia; and other chronic respiratory diseases were associated with lower odds of functional improvement. CONCLUSION: Clinicians may want to take into account the presence of these high-risk factors in their patients when planning rehabilitation programmes, in order to maximise the likelihood of functional improvement.

Self-Reported Frailty Screening Tools: Comparing Construct Validity of the Frailty Phenotype Questionnaire and FRAIL.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the construct validity of 2 self-reported frailty questionnaires, the Frailty Phenotype Questionnaire (FPQ) and FRAIL, against the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty phenotype (CHS-FP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional data analysis of longitudinal prospective cohort study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: We included data from 230 older adults (mean age: 67.2 ± 7.4 years) from the "Longitudinal Assessment of Biomarkers for characterization of early Sarcopenia and Osteosarcopenic Obesity in predicting frailty and functional decline in community-dwelling Asian older adults Study" (GeriLABS 2) recruited between December 2017 and March 2019. METHODS: We compared area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), agreement, correlation, and predictive validity against outcome measures [Short Physical Performance Battery, 5 times repeat chair stand (RCS-5), Frenchay activities index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, life-space assessment, Social Functioning Scale 8 (SFS-8), EuroQol-5 dimensions (utility value)] using logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, and vascular risk factors. We examined concurrent validity across robust versus prefrail/frail for inflammatory blood biomarkers [tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry body composition [bone mineral density (BMD); appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), and fat mass index (FMI)]. RESULTS: Prevalence of prefrail/frail was 25.7%, 14.8%, and 48.3% for FPQ, FRAIL, and CHS-FP, respectively. Compared with FRAIL, FPQ had better diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.617 vs 0.531, P = .002; sensitivity = 37.8% vs 18.0%; specificity = 85.6% vs 88.2%) and agreement (AC1-Stat = 0.303 vs 0.197). FPQ showed good predictive validity [RCS-5: odds ratio (OR) 2.38; 95% CI: 1.17-4.86; International Physical Activity Questionnaire: OR 3.62; 95% CI:1.78-7.34; SFS-8: OR 2.11; 95% CI: 1.64-5.89 vs FRAIL: all P > .05]. Only FRAIL showed concurrent validity for CRP, compared with both FPQ and FRAIL for TNF-R1. FRAIL showed better concurrent validity for BMD, FMI, and possibly ALMI, unlike FPQ (all P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results support complementary validity of FPQ and FRAIL in independent community-dwelling older adults. FPQ has increased case detection sensitivity with good predictive validity, whereas FRAIL demonstrates concurrent validity for inflammation and body composition. With better diagnostic performance and validity for blood biomarkers and clinical outcomes, FPQ has utility for early frailty detection in the community setting.

Cognitive Assessment by Telemedicine: Reliability and Agreement between Face-to-Face and Remote Videoconference-Based Cognitive Tests in Older Adults Attending a Memory Clinic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spurred the rapid adoption of telemedicine. However, the reproducibility of face-to-face (F2F) versus remote videoconference-based cognitive testing remains to be established. We assessed the reliability and agreement between F2F and remote administrations of the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), modified version of the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination (mCMMSE), and Chinese Frontal Assessment Battery (CFAB) in older adults attending a memory clinic. METHODS: The participants underwent F2F followed by remote videoconference-based assessment by the same assessor within 3 weeks. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC; two-way mixed, absolute agreement), the mean difference between remote and F2F-based assessments using paired-sample t-tests, and agreement using Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: Fifty-six subjects (mean age, 76±5.4 years; 74% mild; 19% moderate dementia) completed the AMT and mCMMSE, of which 30 completed the CFAB. Good reliability was noted based on the ICC values-AMT: ICC=0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.88; mCMMSE: ICC=0.80, 95% CI 0.63-0.88; CFAB: ICC=0.82, 95% CI 0.66-0.91. However, remote AMT and mCMMSE scores were higher compared to F2F-mean difference (i.e., remote minus F2F): AMT 0.3±1.1, p=0.03; mCMMSE 1.3±2.9, p=0.001. Significant differences were observed in the orientation and recall items of the mCMMSE and the similarities and conflicting instructions of CFAB. Bland-Altman plots indicated wide 95% limits of agreement (AMT -1.9 to 2.6; mCMMSE -4.3 to 6.9; CFAB -3.0 to 3.8), exceeding the a priori-defined levels of error. CONCLUSION: While the remote and F2F cognitive assessments demonstrated good overall reliability, the test scores were higher when performed remotely compared to F2F. The discrepancies in agreement warrant attention to patient selection and environment optimization for the successful adaptation of telemedicine for cognitive assessment.

Obesity in Older Adults and Associations with Cardiovascular Structure and Function.

INTRODUCTION: Body mass index (BMI), despite being widely used as a marker of obesity, fails to fully capture cardiovascular risks as it is an insufficient biomarker of abdominal adiposity, unlike waist circumference (WC). We aimed to characterize associations between BMI and WC with cardiovascular structure and function in older adults. METHODS: Among an observational cohort study of a community of older adults, transthoracic echocardiography determined cardiovascular structure and function, while aerobic capacity was determined by peak oxygen uptake (VO2) metrics. The cut-offs for obesity were 27.5 kg/m2 for BMI, and >90 cm for males and >80 cm for females for WC. RESULTS: Of 970 older adults without cardiovascular disease (mean age 73 ± 4 years, 432 [44%] males), 124 (12.8%) were obese by BMI definition while 347 (35.7%) were obese by WC definition. Inter-definitional agreement was fair (Cohen's κ = 0.345). Unlike the BMI definition, participants defined as obese by WC were more likely to be women (65% vs. 50%, p < 0.001), older (65 ± 11 vs. 63 ± 14 years, p = 0.007), and had lower handgrip strength (24 ± 0.6 vs. 26 ± 0.4 kg, p = 0.022). Across BMI categories, high WC was associated with more impaired myocardial relaxation (E/A), and VO2 measurements (all p < 0.05). Among those with low BMI, high WC was associated with larger left atrial (LA) volumes (p = 0.003). WC, but not BMI, was independently associated with E/A (ß = -0.114, SE -0.114 ± 0.024, p < 0.001) in regression analysis. CONCLUSION: WC identified a higher prevalence of obesity, possibly related to central adiposity. Across BMI categories, WC identified more adverse measurements in E/A, aerobic capacity, and LA structure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02791139.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Frailty Admitted to ICU With Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Frailty is often used in clinical decision-making for patients with coronavirus disease 2019, yet studies have found a variable influence of frailty on outcomes in those admitted to the ICU. In this individual patient data meta-analysis, we evaluated the characteristics and outcomes across the range of frailty in patients admitted to ICU with coronavirus disease 2019. DATA SOURCES: We contacted the corresponding authors of 16 eligible studies published between December 1, 2019, and February 28, 2021, reporting on patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 admitted to ICU with a documented Clinical Frailty Scale. STUDY SELECTION: Individual patient data were obtained from seven studies with documented Clinical Frailty Scale were included. We classified patients as nonfrail (Clinical Frailty Scale = 1-4) or frail (Clinical Frailty Scale = 5-8). DATA EXTRACTION: We collected patient demographics, Clinical Frailty Scale score, ICU organ supports, and clinically relevant outcomes (ICU and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stays, and discharge destination). The primary outcome was hospital mortality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 2,001 patients admitted to ICU, 388 (19.4%) were frail. Increasing age and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, Clinical Frailty Scale score greater than or equal to 4, use of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, renal replacement therapy, and hyperlactatemia were risk factors for death in a multivariable analysis. Hospital mortality was higher in patients with frailty (65.2% vs 41.8%; p < 0.001), with adjusted mortality increasing with a rising Clinical Frailty Scale score beyond 3. Younger and nonfrail patients were more likely to receive mechanical ventilation. Patients with frailty spent less time on mechanical ventilation (median days [interquartile range], 9 [5-16] vs 11 d [6-18 d]; p = 0.012) and accounted for only 12.3% of total ICU bed days. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with frailty with coronavirus disease 2019 were commonly admitted to ICU and had greater hospital mortality but spent relatively fewer days in ICU when compared with nonfrail patients. Patients with frailty receiving mechanical ventilation were at greater risk of death than patients without frailty.

Predictors for development of critical illness amongst older adults with COVID-19: Beyond age to age-associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults with COVID-19 have disproportionately higher rates of severe disease and mortality. It is unclear whether this is attributable to age or attendant age-associated risk factors. This retrospective cohort study aims to characterize hospitalized older adults and examine if comorbidities, frailty and acuity of clinical presentation exert an age-independent effect on COVID-19 severity. METHODS: We studied 275 patients admitted to the National Centre of Infectious Disease, Singapore. We measured: 1)Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI) as burden of comorbidities; 2)Clinical Frailty Scale(CFS) and Frailty Index(FI); and 3)initial acuity. We studied characteristics and outcomes of critical illness, stratified by age groups (50-59,60-69 and ≥70). We conducted hierarchical logistic regression in primary model(N = 262, excluding direct admissions to intensive care unit) and sensitivity analysis(N = 275): age and gender in base model, entering CCI, frailty (CFS or FI) and initial acuity sequentially. RESULTS: The ≥70 age group had highest CCI(p<.001), FI(p<.001) and CFS(p<.001), and prevalence of geriatric syndromes (polypharmacy,53.5%; urinary symptoms,37.5%; chronic pain,23.3% and malnutrition,23.3%). Thirty-two (11.6%) developed critical illness. In the primary regression model, age was not predictive for critical illness when a frailty predictor was added. Significant predictors in the final model (AUC 0.809) included male gender (p=.012), CFS (p=.038), and high initial acuity (p=.021) but not CCI or FI. In sensitivity analysis, FI (p=.028) but not CFS was significant. CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized older adults with COVID-19, geriatric syndromes are not uncommon. Acuity of clinical presentation and frailty are important age-independent predictors of disease severity. CFS and FI provide complimentary information in predicting interval disease progression and rapid disease progression respectively.

Nutrition Mediates the Relationship between Osteosarcopenia and Frailty: A Pathway Analysis.

Osteosarcopenia is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls and fractures. Its association with frailty is less well-described, particularly in independent community-dwelling older adults. Although nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining bone and muscle health, the complex relationship between osteosarcopenia and nutrition in the pathogenesis of frailty remains to be elucidated. In this cross-sectional analysis of 230 independent, community-dwelling individuals (mean age 67.2 ± 7.4 years), we examined the associations between osteosarcopenia with nutritional status and frailty, and the mediating role of nutrition in the association between osteosarcopenia and frailty. Osteosarcopenia was defined as fulfilling both the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus definition (low relative appendicular skeletal muscle mass adjusted for height, in the presence of either of either low handgrip strength or slow gait speed) and T-score ≤ -2.5 SD on bone mineral densitometry. We assessed frailty using the modified Fried criteria and nutrition using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment. We performed multiple linear regression, followed by pathway analysis to ascertain whether nutrition mediates the relationship between osteosarcopenia and frailty. Our study population comprised: 27 (11.7%) osteosarcopenic, 35 (15.2%) sarcopenic, 36 (15.7%) osteoporotic and 132 (57.4%) normal (neither osteosarcopenic, sarcopenic nor osteoporotic). Osteosarcopenia (ß = 1.1, 95% CI 0.86-1.4) and sarcopenia (ß = 1.1, 95% CI 0.90-1.4) were significantly associated with frailty, but not osteoporosis. Nutrition mediated the association between osteosarcopenia and frailty (indirect effect estimate 0.09, bootstrap 95% CI 0.01-0.22). In conclusion, osteosarcopenia is associated with frailty and poorer nutritional status, with nutrition mediating the association between osteosarcopenia and frailty. Our findings support early nutritional assessment and intervention in osteosarcopenia to mitigate the risk of frailty.

The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) as a Screening Tool for Risk of Malnutrition: Optimal Cutoff, Factor Structure, and Validation in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Malnutrition is an independent marker of adverse outcomes in older adults. While the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) for anorexia has been validated as a nutritional screening tool, its optimal cutoff and validity in healthy older adults is unclear. This study aims to determine the optimal cutoff for SNAQ in healthy community-dwelling older adults, and to examine its factor structure and validity. We studied 230 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 67.2 years) who were nonfrail (defined by Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses & Loss (FRAIL) criteria). When compared against the risk of malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the optimal cutoff for SNAQ was ≤15 (area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: 0.706, sensitivity: 69.2%, specificity: 61.3%). Using exploratory factor analysis, we found a two-factor structure (Factor 1: Appetite Perception; Factor 2: Satiety and Intake) which accounted for 61.5% variance. SNAQ showed good convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity. In logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, education and MNA, SNAQ ≤15 was significantly associated with social frailty, unlike SNAQ ≤4 (odds ratio (OR) 1.99, p = 0.025 vs. OR 1.05, p = 0.890). Our study validates a higher cutoff of ≤15 to increase sensitivity of SNAQ for anorexia detection as a marker of malnutrition risk in healthy community-dwelling older adults, and explicates a novel two-factor structure which warrants further research.

Social Frailty Is Independently Associated with Mood, Nutrition, Physical Performance, and Physical Activity: Insights from a Theory-Guided Approach.

Notwithstanding the increasing body of evidence that links social determinants to health outcomes, social frailty is arguably the least explored among the various dimensions of frailty. Using available items from previous studies to derive a social frailty scale as guided by the Bunt social frailty theoretical framework, we aimed to examine the association of social frailty, independently of physical frailty, with salient outcomes of mood, nutrition, physical performance, physical activity, and life-space mobility. We studied 229 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 67.22 years; 72.6% females) who were non-frail (defined by the FRAIL criteria). Using exploratory factor analysis, the resultant 8-item Social Frailty Scale (SFS-8) yielded a three-factor structure comprising social resources, social activities and financial resource, and social need fulfilment (score range: 0-8 points). Social non-frailty (SNF), social pre-frailty (SPF), and social frailty (SF) were defined based on optimal cutoffs, with corresponding prevalence of 63.8%, 28.8%, and 7.4%, respectively. In logistic regression adjusted for significant covariates and physical frailty (Modified Fried criteria), there is an association of SPF with poor physical performance and low physical activity (odds ratio, OR range: 3.10 to 6.22), and SF with depressive symptoms, malnutrition risk, poor physical performance, and low physical activity (OR range: 3.58 to 13.97) compared to SNF. There was no significant association of SPF or SF with life-space mobility. In summary, through a theory-guided approach, our study demonstrates the independent association of social frailty with a comprehensive range of intermediary health outcomes in more robust older adults. A holistic preventative approach to frailty should include upstream interventions that target social frailty to address social gradient and inequalities.

Higher rates of carbapenem-related seizures in older hospitalised adults.

Clinical experience suggests higher occurrence of carbapenem-associated seizures in the elderly than what is reported in the available literature (range between 0.2% and 0.7%). An audit of 1345 patients with age 60 years or older, who received imipenem, ertapenem or meropenem during their acute hospitalisation found 32 (2.4%) subjects developed seizures. Subjects with more than one central nervous system disorders were 11.6 times more likely to develop seizures (odds ratio 11.61, P < 0.001) and subjects with prior history of seizures is associated with four times greater risks (odds ratio 4.02, P = 0.005). Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing carbapenems in elderly, especially those with known epilepsy and a high number of intracranial pathologies.

Inter-muscular adipose tissue is associated with adipose tissue inflammation and poorer functional performance in central adiposity.

BACKGROUND: The presence of concomitant sarcopenia and obesity in sarcopenic obesity (SO) confers worse functional, morbidity and mortality outcomes compared to either alone. Excess adiposity and central redistribution of fats are associated with systemic inflammation and ectopic tissue fat infiltration in forms of Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT). Our study examines the profile of IMAT across a spectrum of body compositions and associations with physical performance and inflammatory biomarkers including Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), a novel biomarker of adipose tissue inflammation. METHODS: 187 community dwelling elderly participants were recruited and classified into 4 subgroups: normal, obese, sarcopenia and SO, using validated criteria for sarcopenia and waist circumference to define central obesity. We performed magnetic resonance imaging of mid-thigh sections to segment IMAT and muscle. Participants were assessed for muscle strength, physical performance and blood inflammatory biomarkers of interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein and MCP-1. We examined correlation of IMAT(ratio) with muscle function measures and blood biomarkers. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association of body composition types and IMAT(ratio) with muscle function. RESULTS: IMAT(ratio) was highest in SO and obese groups. Overall, higher IMAT(ratio) is significantly associated with raised MCP-1, lower gait speed and muscle strength. SO had lowest scores in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed, hand-grip and knee extension strength. IMAT(ratio) is independently associated with SPPB and handgrip strength, whilst SO is independently associated with muscle strength. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the possible role of IMAT as a candidate imaging biomarker for adipose tissue inflammation and associated poorer functional outcomes in SO.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1: a proinflammatory cytokine elevated in sarcopenic obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is associated with poorer physical outcomes and functional status in the older adult. A proinflammatory milieu associated with central obesity is postulated to enhance muscle catabolism. We set out to examine associations of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in groups of older adults, with sarcopenia, obesity, and the SO phenotypes. METHODS: A total of 143 community dwelling, well, older adults were recruited. Cross-sectional clinical data, physical performance, and muscle mass measurements were collected. Obesity and sarcopenia were defined using revised National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) obesity guidelines and those of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Serum levels of MCP-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: In all, 25.2% of subjects were normal, 15.4% sarcopenic, 48.3% obese, and 11.2% were SO. The SO groups had the lowest appendicular lean mass, highest percentage body fat, and lowest performance scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery and grip strength. The MCP-1 levels were significantly different, with the highest levels found in SO participants (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Significantly raised MCP-1 levels in obese and SO subjects support the theory of chronic inflammation due to excess adiposity. Longitudinal studies will reveal whether SO represents a continuum of obesity causing accelerated sarcopenia and cardiovascular events, or the coexistence of two separate conditions with synergistic effects affecting functional performance.