Low physical activity and depression are the prominent predictive factors for falling in older adults: the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

BACKGROUND: Falling in the older adults has many irreparable consequences, including hospitalization to long-term care centers and loss of independence, depression and social isolation, financial burden, and death. The present study was conducted to estimate the incidence of falls and their associated factors among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This program is a population-based prospective cohort study (≥ 60 years) in Birjand City from 2019 to 2020. A total of 1418 participants were included in the study, and 1344 participants were analyzed according to the inclusion criteria. Thirty-nine risk factors were evaluated. Basic information included demographic information, lifestyle factors, general health and medical history, and mental and functional health. RESULT: The incidence of falls among community-dwelling older adults in the previous approximately 24 months in the present study was 9.26% in women and 2.65% in men. In the multiple Cox proportional regression model based on fall risk factors, there was a strong significant relationship between male sex (HR = 0.37, CI = 0.21 to 0.64), being physically active (HR = 0.59, CI = 0.36 to 0.96), moderate-to-severe depression (HR = 2.97, CI = 1.47 to 6.01), severe depression (HR = 3.26, CI = 1.24 to 8.54), and high risk of falls according to the TUG test (HR = 1.73, CI = 1.10 to 2.72). CONCLUSIONS: Inactivity and depression were recognized as important factors in falls in older adults. It is recommended for older adults to have an active lifestyle to prevent falls and to prioritize the diagnosis and treatment of depression in older adults. Women as a group at higher risk should be considered in prevention programs. In addition, the use of the TUG test to identify high-risk older adults should be considered.

Low physical activity is the strongest factor associated with frailty phenotype and frailty index: data from baseline phase of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

BACKGROUND: Frailty is the most complicated expression of aging that is related to disability or multi-morbidity. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors among community-dwelling aged population. METHODS: A total of 1529 eligible community- dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) were enrolled in the baseline phase of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS) from 2019 to 2020. Their frailty status was assessed using the Fried's frailty phenotype and frailty index. Sociodemographic factors, including sex, age, marital status, and education level, were collected. Health status assessment included the history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's diseases and dementia, and other health conditions. Furthermore, functional assessment (ADL, IADL) and anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist, calf, and mid-arm circumference were made and the body mass index was calculated. The nutrition status and polypharmacy (use 3 or more medication) were also evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty was 21.69% according to the frailty phenotype and 23.97% according to the frailty index. A multiple logistic regression model showed a strong association between low physical activity and frailty phenotype (OR = 36.31, CI = 16.99-77.56, P < 0.01), and frailty index (OR = 15.46, CI = 5.65-42.34, P < 0.01). Other factors like old age (≥80), female sex, malnutrition, polypharmacy, obesity, and arthritis were also associated with frailty. The Kappa coefficient of the agreement between these two instruments was 0.18. CONCLUSION: It seems that low physical activity is the most important determinant of frailty. Low physical activity and some other factors may be preventable or modifiable and thus serve as clinically relevant targets for intervention.

The conceptual and practical definitions of frailty in older adults: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to review and extract all publications containing concepts related to definitions of frailty and categorize them. METHODS: A total of six electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid web, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest) were searched to identify studies that introduced a definition of frailty up to October 2018. No language restrictions were imposed. RESULTS: Totally, 104,370 papers were found in the initial search and finally 68 papers were included. Of these, 21 studies provided a conceptual definition and 50 original articles also 9 review articles provided a practical definition. Moreover, 12 papers had both definitions of frailty. Of them, 62 were published in English, 2 in Portuguese, 1 in Japanese, 2 in Korean, and 1 in German languages. CONCLUSION: Many screening tools have been developed but neither of them can cover a wide range of parameters at the same time, nor do they have simplicity in the execution. It is important to note that although a more or less general consensus on one single definition might be expected, we believe that the elderly population is too heterogeneous to allow a tool to address it as a whole, and such a definition may even be impossible. Therefore, in the absence of a "Gold Standard" definition, it is suggested to seek accurate knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each definition and choose the most appropriate definition and the most effective evaluation tool according to the purpose of the research and the characteristics of the older population.