[The impact of psychological resilience, as a component of intrinsic capacity, on the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.]

The authors conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study of a random sample of community-based older adults aged 65 years and older (n=611) to assess the impact of psychological resilience on the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). To assess the degree of psychological resilience, the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) with 47 and more points was used. The prevalence of AF was 30,1% (n=184). Participants who scored 47 or more on the SOC, after adjusting for all confounders, had a 42,9% lower risk of AF. Thus, psychological resilience is one of the protective factors that reduce the risk of AF in older adults. The use of SOC with a cut-off point of less than 47 allow to identify older adults at risk of AF.

[Silent atrial fibrillation as a risk factor for falls in the elderly.]

Falls increase the risk of injury, disability, and death in the elderly. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the risk factors for falls in old age, however, the relationship between «silent¼ AF and falls has not been investigated. The study included patients (n=131) from 60 years and older who admitted in the City geriatric medical and social center. Previously diagnosed AF was detected in 13,7% (n=18) of the study participants, and «silent¼ AF was detected in 11,5% (n=15). Both forms of AF were associated with a 4-fold increase in the incidence of falls in old age: (95% CI) 4,26 (1,18-15,40) for previously detected AF and 4,56 (1,25-16,66) for «silent¼ AF. AF screening revealed 16,9% (95% CI 6,7-26,8%; p<0,001) more patients at risk of falls. Thus, «silent¼ AF, as well as previously diagnosed, are independent risk factors for falls. Conducting AF screening allows to identify more elderly patients who are at risk of falls.

Age-related normative values for handgrip strength and grip strength's usefulness as a predictor of mortality and both cognitive and physical decline in older adults in northwest Russia.

OBJECTIVES: This paper sought to provide normative values for grip strength among older adults across different age groups in northwest Russia and to investigate their predictive value for adverse events. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study of 611 community-dwelling individuals 65+. Grip strength was measured using the standard protocol applied in the Groningen Elderly Tests. The cut-off thresholds for grip strength were defined separately for men and women of different ages using a weighted polynomial regression. A Cox regression analysis, the c-statistic, a risk reclassification analysis, and bootstrapping techniques were used to analyze the data. The outcomes were the 5-year mortality rate, the loss of autonomy and mental decline. RESULTS: We determined the age-related reference intervals of grip strength for older adults. The 5th and 10th percentiles of grip strength were associated with a higher risk for malnutrition, low autonomy, physical and mental functioning and 5-year mortality. The 5th percentile of grip strength was associated with a decline in autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents age- and sex-specific reference values for grip strength in the 65+ Russian population derived from a prospective cohort study. The norms can be used in clinical practice to identify patients at increased risk for adverse outcomes.