BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 15;18(1):142. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Clinical Pharmacy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Studies on persistence of benzodiazepine agonist (BZDA) withdrawal in older outpatients are few, and few studies on long-term persistence over years have yet been published. To describe the persistence of temazepam, zolpidem, and zopiclone (BZDA) withdrawal among older outpatients at 3 years from the beginning of withdrawal, as well as any changes in use of other medications.

Methods: 92 outpatients (≥55 years) with primary insomnia, long-term BZDA use as hypnotics (mean duration of BZDA use 9. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 4;18(1):133. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Iwate, Japan.

Background: Many survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in 2011 were at risk of deteriorating health, especially elderly people living in disaster-stricken areas. The objectives of this prospective study were: a) to clarify the different lifestyle and psychosocial factors associated with frailty by sex among the non-disabled elderly survivors, and b) to describe the differences in characteristics stratified by the degree of disaster-related housing damage.

Methods: We followed 2261 Japanese survivors aged ≥65 years (45. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 14;18(1):141. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Health Outcomes, Health Technology Assessment, & Real World Evidence, Medical Development Unit, Eli Lilly Japan K.K, 5-1-28, Isogami-dori, chuou-ku, Kobe, 651-0086, Japan.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, exerts significant burden upon patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems globally. The current study investigated the associations between AD dementia patient disease severity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of both patients (proxy report) and their caregivers living in Japan, as well as caregiving-related comorbidities such as depression.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from caregivers of people diagnosed with AD dementia by a healthcare provider in Japan. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 4;18(1):132. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Nara Prefectural Health Research Center, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho 840, Kashihara City, Nara, 634-8521, Japan.

Background: There is insufficient evidence regarding the relationship of home environment with functional capacity among community-dwelling older people without disabilities. We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort study and examined whether stairs in the home were associated with capability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in community-dwelling high-functioning older adults.

Methods: The target population was individuals aged 65 years or older living in two municipalities in Nara Prefecture in Japan. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 7;18(1):136. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Neuherberg, Germany.

Background: Adherence to recommendations and medication is deemed to be important for effectiveness of case management interventions. Thus, reasons for non-adherence and effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) should be fully understood. The objective of this research was to identify determinants of non-adherence to medication and recommendations, and to test whether increased adherence improved HRQoL in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) in a case management intervention. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 7;18(1):137. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are increasingly used in daily clinical practice in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) despite limited evidence. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of PCI on short and long term survivals in a large cohort of elderly patients with ACS from a "real world".

Methods: We enrolled 491 patients aged ≥70 years admitted to our institution with ACS from 2006 to 2012. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 4;18(1):134. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden.

Background: Nursing home residents in Sweden are old, frail and usually have multiple morbidities which often make dying a prolonged suffering. It has been found that older persons at nursing homes receive far less palliative care than younger persons, partly because it is difficult to identify when the final stage of life begins. The identification may help the staff to enable the older person and their families to participate in planning the care in accordance with their own preferences and values. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 11;18(1):139. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Geriatric Medicine, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, 5955 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E1, Canada.

Background: The ability of acute care providers to cope with the influx of frail older patients is increasingly stressed, and changes need to be made to improve care provided to older adults. Our purpose was to conduct a scoping review to map and synthesize the literature addressing frailty in the acute care setting in order to understand how to tackle this challenge. We also aimed to highlight the current gaps in frailty research. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 11;18(1):140. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: A first step to offer community-dwelling older persons proactive care is to identify those at risk of functional decline within a year. This study investigates the predictive value of registered information, questionnaire and GP-opinion on functional decline.

Methods: In this cohort study, embedded within the ISCOPE-trial, participants (≥75 years) completed the ISCOPE-screening questionnaire on four health domains. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 7;18(1):138. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Stockholms Sjukhem R&D unit, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Poor nutrition and age per see add to the development of sarcopenia, i.e. loss of muscle mass and strength, which contributes to increased risk of impaired activities of daily living (ADL) and reduced independence. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 4;18(1):135. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Steinbergweg 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany.

Background: Elderly patients are vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Drug-related readmissions (DRRs) can be a major consequence of ADR. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a ward-based, comprehensive pharmaceutical care service on the occurrence of DRRs as the endpoint in dependent-living elderly patients. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 4;18(1):131. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Institute for Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany.

Background: People with dementia and informal carers often access formal care late in the process of dementia. The barriers and facilitators to service use from the perspectives of different stakeholders involved are not well understood. Thus, we aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of access to and utilisation of formal care from the perspectives of people with dementia, their informal carers and health and social care professionals. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Jun 1;18(1):130. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) generally includes handgrip strength (HGS) as a measure of overall muscle strength that is associated with various health characteristics in geriatric outpatients. Whether this is also true for knee extension strength (KES) is yet unknown. This study aims to compare the associations between health characteristics from the CGA with both HGS and KES in geriatric outpatients. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 31;18(1):129. Epub 2018 May 31.

Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBa), the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.

Background: The protective, custodial, task-oriented care provided in residential aged care facilitates decreases health and wellbeing of residents. The aim of the study was to conduct a feasibility study of LifeFul - a 12 month reablement program in residential aged care.

Methods: LifeFul was developed based on systematic reviews of reablement and staff behaviour change in residential aged care, and in consultation with aged care providers, consumers and clinicians. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 31;18(1):128. Epub 2018 May 31.

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Home Care Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Following the publication of this article [1], the authors noticed that the results presented in the results section of the article were erroneously reported in the results section of the abstract. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 30;18(1):127. Epub 2018 May 30.

Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital and Lady Davis Institute for medical research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Background: With the rapid growth of elderly patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED), it is expected that there will be even more hospitalisations following ED visits in the future. The aim of this study was to examine the age effect on the performance criteria of the 10-item brief geriatric assessment (BGA) for the prolonged length of hospital stay (LHS) using artificial neural networks (ANNs) analysis.

Methods: Based on an observational prospective cohort study, 1117 older patients (i. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 29;18(1):124. Epub 2018 May 29.

Faculty of Public Health Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Background: Depression and hypertension are common, costly, and destructive conditions among the rapidly aging population of China. The two disorders commonly coexist and are poorly recognized and inadequately treated, especially in rural areas.

Methods: The Chinese Older Adult Collaborations in Health (COACH) Study is a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to test the hypotheses that the COACH intervention, designed to manage comorbid depression and hypertension in older adult, rural Chinese primary care patients, will result in better treatment adherence and greater improvement in depressive symptoms and blood pressure control, and better quality of life, than enhanced Care-as-Usual (eCAU). Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 29;18(1):125. Epub 2018 May 29.

Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Sydney Medical School, Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Background: Polypharmacy has not been investigated in patients living with HIV in developing countries. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy, the factors associated with polypharmacy and whether polypharmacy was associated with adverse effects among older adults on anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

Methods: Cross-sectional study in older adults aged 50 and over on ART attending an outpatient HIV/AIDS care centre in Uganda. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 30;18(1):126. Epub 2018 May 30.

The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.

Background: Older people who present to the Emergency Department (ED) experience high rates of prevalent and incident delirium. This study aimed to determine whether an assistant workforce in the ED could effectively conduct screening to inform assessment and care planning for older people as well as enhance supportive care activities for prevention of delirium.

Methods: Using a pre-post design, data was collected before and after the introduction of Older Person Technical Assistants (OPTAs) in the ED. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 10;18(1):112. Epub 2018 May 10.

Changning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Background: Balance performance is considered as an indicator of functional status in the elderly, a large scale population screening and evaluation in the community context followed by proper interventions would be of great significance at public health level. However, there has been no suitable balance testing scale available for large scale studies in the unique community context of urban China.

Methods: A balance scale named X16 balance testing scale was developed, which was composed of 3 domains and 16 items. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 25;18(1):123. Epub 2018 May 25.

Haus der Barmherzigkeit, Long term care hospital, Seeböckgasse 30a, 1060, Vienna, Austria.

Background: Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anemia in geriatric patients. Although the oral iron intake is often inadequate, the potential of iron dense foods in the daily meals of geriatric institutions is rarely considered. To test during a 1- year span whether an improved frequency of iron dense foods in the daily meals has an impact on the oral iron intake, the hemoglobin concentration and anemia prevalence of institutionalized geriatric patients. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 25;18(1):122. Epub 2018 May 25.

Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Background: Community health professionals play a significant role in dementia care. However, little is known about community health professionals' capacity in dementia care, especially in low and middle-income countries. The aim of the present study was to assess community health professionals' dementia knowledge, attitudes and care approach in China, a country with the largest population of people with dementia in the world and where community based dementia care services are much needed. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 23;18(1):121. Epub 2018 May 23.

Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.

Background: Orofacial pain in people with dementia is difficult to detect, and often under-treated. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of orofacial pain in people with dementia in acute hospitals in the UK. Secondary aims were to examine oral health status and explore associations between orofacial pain and oral health factors. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 22;18(1):120. Epub 2018 May 22.

Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway.

Background: Vascular risk factors increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but there is limited evidence on whether comorbid vascular conditions and risk factors have an impact on disease progression. The aim of this study was to examine the association between vascular disease and vascular risk factors and progression of AD.

Methods: In a longitudinal observational study in three Norwegian memory clinics, 282 AD patients (mean age 73. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 16;18(1):119. Epub 2018 May 16.

Stat Solutions Co, Block A, 1/F., Wing Hin Factory Building, 31-33 Ng Fong Street, Sanpokong, Hong Kong.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that life story work has positive effects when used on older adults. This study aimed to examine the effect of life story work on the general mental well-being, self-esteem, and life satisfaction of older adults by comparing two groups - one with and one without depressive symptoms.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was adopted in this study. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 16;18(1):116. Epub 2018 May 16.

Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Low muscle mass and strength are highly prevalent in inpatients. It is acknowledged that low muscle mass and strength are associated with falls in community-dwelling older adults, but it is unknown if these muscle measures are also associated with falls in a population of older inpatients. This study aimed to investigate the association between muscle measures and pre- and post-hospitalization falls in older inpatients. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 16;18(1):117. Epub 2018 May 16.

MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.

Background: Falls are a major cause of disability and death in older people, particularly women. Cross-sectional surveys suggest that some risk factors associated with a history of falls may be sex-specific, but whether risk factors for incident falls differ between the sexes is unclear. We investigated whether risk factors for incident falls differ between men and women. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 16;18(1):118. Epub 2018 May 16.

Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London, 33 Bedford Place, London, WC1B 5JU, England.

Background: To describe the development of polypharmacy and its components in a British birth cohort in its seventh decade and to investigate socioeconomic and gender differences independent of disease burden.

Methods: Data from the MRC National Survey for Health and Development were analysed to determine the prevalence and composition of polypharmacy at age 69 and changes since ages 60 to 64. Multinomial regression was used to test associations between gender, education and occupational social class and total, cardiological and non-cardiological polypharmacy controlling for disease burden. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 15;18(1):115. Epub 2018 May 15.

Central Laboratory, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loëstrasse, 170, Chur, Switzerland.

Background: Osteoporosis is an important morbidity factor for ageing populations in developed countries. However, compared to the amount of information available on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, little is known about the direct impact of osteoporosis on general mortality in older age.

Methods: We obtained data from a prospective population-based cohort of pensioners from the SENIORLAB study who were subjectively healthy. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 11;18(1):114. Epub 2018 May 11.

Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Background: Pre-death grief (PDG) is a key challenge faced by caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD). Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory (MM-CGI) and its abbreviated MM-CGI-Short-Form (MM-CGI-SF) are among the few empirically-developed scales that detect PDG. However, they have not had a Mandarin-Chinese version even though Chinese-speaking populations have among the largest number of PWD. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 10;18(1):113. Epub 2018 May 10.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bayview and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are universal and associated with multiple negative outcomes. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effect of using the WeCareAdvisor, an innovative web-based tool developed to enable family caregivers to assess, manage, and track BPSD.

Methods: This RCT enrolled 57 dementia family caregivers from community and clinical settings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 9;18(1):110. Epub 2018 May 9.

Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Friendship Road 1#, Yuan Jia Gang, Chongqing, 400016, China.

Background: Peripheral neuromuscular dysfunctions were found in elderly individuals, and spinal microglia/monocyte plays an important role on this process. This study aims to test whether the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) could attenuate age-related neuromuscular dysfunction by inhibiting the activation of spinal microglia/monocyte.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an adult group and an aged group. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 9;18(1):111. Epub 2018 May 9.

Division of Linguistics, Department of Health Sciences, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2944-9 Megusuno, Oita, 870-1201, Japan.

Background: Falls may cause serious health conditions among older population. Fall-related physical factors are thought to be associated with occlusal conditions. However, few studies examined the relationship between occlusal force and falls. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 9;18(1):109. Epub 2018 May 9.

Servei de Cardiologia i Unitat d'Insuficiència Cardíaca, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with a high rate of readmissions within 30 days post-discharge and in the following year, especially in frail elderly patients. Biomarker data are scarce in this high-risk population. This study assessed the value of early post-discharge circulating levels of ST2, NT-proBNP, CA125, and hs-TnI for predicting 30-day and 1-year outcomes in comorbid frail elderly patients with HF with mainly preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 9;18(1):108. Epub 2018 May 9.

Dexel University, Philadelphia, USA.

Background: There are effective non-pharmacological treatment programs that reduce functional disability and changed behaviours in people with dementia. However, these programs (such as the Care of People with dementia in their Environments (COPE) program) are not widely available. The primary aim of this study is to determine the strategies and processes that enable the COPE program to be implemented into existing dementia care services in Australia. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 8;18(1):107. Epub 2018 May 8.

Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.

Background: Aging sarcopenia characterized by low muscle mass with low muscle strength affects men and women differently. The contribution of interleukin-6 (IL-6) to sarcopenia has been suggested based on a negative correlation between plasma IL-6 and muscle function described by some studies. However, no consensus regarding clinically relevant cut-off criteria has been reached. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 4;18(1):105. Epub 2018 May 4.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsstr. 27, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.

Background: The question of an age dependence of individual radiosensitivity has only marginally been studied so far. Therefore, we analyzed blood samples of healthy individuals and cancer patients of different ages to determine individual radiosensitivity.

Methods: Ex vivo irradiated blood samples of 595 individuals were tested. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 4;18(1):106. Epub 2018 May 4.

Veterans' Successful Aging for Frail Elders (VSAFE) Program, Miami VA Healthcare System Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Bruce W. Carter Miami VAMC, 11 GRC, 1201 NW 16th Street, Miami, Florida, 33125, USA.

Background: Frailty is a state of vulnerability to stressors that is prevalent in older adults and is associated with higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization. Multiple instruments are used to measure frailty; most are time-consuming. The Care Assessment Need (CAN) score is automatically generated from electronic health record data using a statistical model. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 3;18(1):103. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA.

Background: Two-thirds of older Australians are sedentary. Fitness trackers have been popular with younger people and may encourage older adults to become more active. Older adults may have different gait patterns and as such it is important to establish whether fitness trackers are valid and reliable for this population. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 May 3;18(1):104. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Background: Approximately 20% of community-dwelling older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) return to an ED within 30 days, an occurrence partially resulting from poor care transitions. Prior published interventions to improve the ED-to-home transition have either lacked feasibility or effectiveness. The Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) has been validated to decrease rehospitalization among patients transitioning from the hospital to the home but has never been tested for patients transitioning from the ED to the home. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 27;18(1):102. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.

Background: The association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and dementia is reportedly mediated by lifestyle-related diseases (i.e., diabetes) in European countries and the United States; however, in Japan, the link between low SES and dementia has not been investigated. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 27;18(1):101. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama, Japan.

Background: The Two-Step test is one of three official tests authorized by the Japanese Orthopedic Association to evaluate the risk of locomotive syndrome (a condition of reduced mobility caused by an impairment of the locomotive organs). It has been reported that the Two-Step test score has a good correlation with one's walking ability; however, its association with the gait pattern of older people during normal walking is still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the associations between the gait patterns of older people observed during normal walking and their Two-Step test scores. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 23;18(1):100. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

St. Marien-Hospital, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cologne, Germany.

Background: Mobility is a key outcome in older patients with cognitive impairment. The de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) is an established measure of older people's mobility that is promising for use in older patients with cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to examine the DEMMI's psychometric properties in older patients with dementia, delirium or other cognitive impairment. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 20;18(1):98. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, 120-1 Neungdong-ro (Hwayang-dong), Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05030, South Korea.

Background: Elderly people often have more complicated healthcare needs than younger adults due to additional functional decline, physical illness, and psychosocial needs. Unmet healthcare needs increase illness severity, complications, and mortality. Despite this, research on the unmet healthcare needs of elderly people is limited in Korea. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 20;18(1):99. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Background: Geriatric Patients Living with HIV/AIDS (GEPPO) is a new prospective observational multicentre cohort consisting of all the HIV-positive geriatric patients being treated at 10 clinics in Italy, and HIV-negative controls attending a single geriatric clinic. The aim of this analysis of the GEPPO cohort was to compare prevalence and risk factors of individual non-communicable diseases (NCD), multi-morbidity (MM) and polypharmacy (PP) amongst HIV positive and HIV negative controls at enrolment into the GEPPO cohort.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2015 and May 2016. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 18;18(1):97. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Department of Surgery/Speech Pathology and Audiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Background: The principal aim of this study was to investigate whether a caregiver-inclusive assistive technology intervention improved older care recipients' functional autonomy and decreased the perceived burden of their family caregivers compared to customary care.

Methods: The study was a single-blind, mixed-methods, randomized controlled trial with baseline data collection and follow-ups at 6-, 22-, and 58-weeks after baseline evaluation, which was prospectively registered ( ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01640470. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 17;18(1):96. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, National Hospital Organization Tochigi Medical Center, 1-10-37, Nakatomatsuri, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 3208580, Japan.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the characteristics of elderly patients with polypharmacy refusing deprescribing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in elderly patients accepting and refusing a deprescribing intervention and to investigate factors associated with deprescribing refusal.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study by analyzing the electronic medical records from a single hospital. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 16;18(1):93. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Department of Psychology and PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Background: Physical exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D are low cost interventions that have the potential to enhance cognitive function and mobility in older adults, especially in pre-dementia states such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Aerobic and progressive resistance exercises have benefits to cognitive performance, though evidence is somewhat inconsistent. We postulate that combined aerobic exercise (AE) and progressive resistance training (RT) (combined exercise) will have a better effect on cognition than a balance and toning control (BAT) intervention in older adults with MCI. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 16;18(1):94. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Institute for Public Health and Nursing Sciences (IPP), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.

Background: The promotion of physical activity (PA) plays a major role for healthy ageing even in older age. There is a lack of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies explicitly dealing with barriers and drivers to PA in older adults. Therefore the aims of this study are a) to determine the prevalence of insufficient physical activity (IPA) in 65 to 75-year-olds in Europe and to identify factors associated with IPA in cross-section and b) to identify longitudinal risk factors for IPA in prior active persons. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2018 Apr 16;18(1):95. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Department of Health, Aging and Society, McMaster University, 1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S, 4L8, Canada.

Background: Supporting older adults' health and wellbeing in the community is an important policy goal that can be supported by health promotion. Despite widespread acceptance of the biopsychosocial model of health and its relation to health, many health promotion programs fail to realize this model in program design. Further, there is limited evidence to support program design targeting social determinants of health such as social isolation or connectedness. Read More