Exploring the Role of Housing Type on Physical Activity and Health Status in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

This study compared physical activity (PA) and perceived health status in older adults living in seniors' housing (SEN) versus those living in nonseniors' housing (NON). After adjusting for potential confounders, PA levels were significantly higher in the NON group. No significant differences in health status were evident between housing groups. Regression analyses showed that both physical and mental health status were associated with PA level in the NON group. In the SEN group, only physical health status was significantly associated with PA level. This supports a positive relationship between health status and physical activity levels in older adults regardless of housing arrangement.     

Relationship Between Physical Functioning and Physical Activity in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether participation in usual moderate‐intensity or more‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with physical function performance and to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, and disease‐related covariates that may also compromise physical function performance. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis of baseline variables of a randomized controlled intervention trial. SETTING: Four academic research centers. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twenty‐four older adults aged 70 to 89 at risk for mobility disability (scoring <10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) and able to complete the 400‐m walk test within 15 minutes. MEASUREMENTS: Minutes of MVPA (dichotomized according to above or below 150 min/wk of MVPA) assessed according to the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire, SPPB score, 400‐m walk test, sex, body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, age, and number of medications. RESULTS: The SPPB summary score was associated with minutes of MVPA (ρ=0.16, P=.001). In multiple regression analyses, age, minutes of MVPA, number of medications, and depressive symptoms were associated with performance on the composite SPPB (P<.05). There was an association between 400‐m walk time and minutes of MVPA (ρ=?0.18; P<.001). In multiple regression analyses, age, sex, minutes of MVPA, BMI, and number of medications were associated with performance on the 400‐m walk test (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Minutes of MVPA, sex, BMI, depressive symptoms, age, and number of medications are associated with physical function performance and should all be taken into consideration in the prevention of mobility disability.     

Physical function in older adults with and without a cancer history: Findings from the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Background

Previous studies identified physical function limitations in older cancer survivors, but few have included objective measures and most focused on breast and prostate cancer survivors. The current study compared patient-reported and objective physical function measures between older adults with and without a cancer history.

Methods

Our cross-sectional study used a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling, Medicare beneficiaries from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 7495). Data collected included patient-reported physical function, including a composite physical capacity score and limitations in strength, mobility, and balance, and objectively measured physical performance metrics, including gait speed, five time sit-to-stand, tandem stand, and grip strength. All analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design.

Results

Thirteen percent of participants (n = 829) reported a history of cancer, of which more than half (51%) reported a diagnosis other than breast or prostate cancer. In models adjusted for demographics and health history, older cancer survivors had lower Short Physical Performance Battery scores (unstandardized beta [B] = −0.36; 95% CI: −0.64, −0.08), slower gait speed (B = −0.03; 95% CI: −0.05, −0.01), reduced grip strength (B = −0.86; 95% CI: −1.44, −0.27), worse patient-reported composite physical capacity (B = −0.43; 95% CI: −0.67, −0.18) and patient-reported upper extremity strength (B = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.50) compared to older adults without cancer. Additionally, the burden of physical function limitations was greater in women than in men, which may be explained by cancer type.

Conclusions

Our results extend studies in breast and prostate cancer to show worse objective and patient-reported physical function outcomes in older adults with a range of cancer types compared to those without a cancer history. Moreover, these burdens seem to disproportionately affect older adult women, underscoring the need for interventions to address functional limitations and prevent further health consequences of cancer and its treatment.     

Function and back symptoms in older adults

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between back symptoms and limitations in nine specific functional activities. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: This study was conducted as part of the Framingham Heart Study, a population-based study performed on a representative sample of community-living residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects consisted of 1,007 surviving members of the original cohort who participated in the 22nd Biennial Examination in 1992-93. Ages ranged from 70 to 100. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were asked whether they experienced pain, aching, or stiffness in their back on most days and whether they had difficulty performing nine specific functional skills. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals are reported for the entire sample and within categories of sex. The proportion of functional limitations attributable to back symptoms and the proportion of limitations ascribed by subjects to back symptoms among subjects with these limitations are also reported. RESULTS: The results provide evidence of a relationship between back symptoms and functional limitations. ORs were highest for difficulty standing in one place for about 15 minutes, pushing or pulling a large object, and walking half a mile. Of those with back symptoms, 43% to 63% of limitations in activities were due to back symptoms. Among all subjects, back symptoms were so prevalent that 18% to 34% of all functional limitations were attributable to back symptoms. The association between back symptoms and functional limitations was especially strong in women. CONCLUSION: Back symptoms account for a large percentage of functional limitations in older adults, especially in women.     

Physical health,subjective health,and psychological distress in older adults: Reciprocal relationships concurrently and over time

This study addresses the reciprocal associations between physical health (objectively assessed and self-rated) and psychological distress among older adults. Psychological distress (both depressive symptoms and anxiety level) made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of concurrent and future negative perception of one’s health, over and above objective health. As anxious and depressive components of psychological distress intensify, a negative outlook on life includes an increased negative view of one’s health among older adults. Conversely, negative subjective health independently predicted both depressive symptoms and anxiety level, concurrently and over time, over and above objective health. It thus appears that negative health appraisal heralds psychological distress, manifested as depressive symptoms and also anxiety among older adults. Taken together these findings draw the picture of a vicious circle of negative health appraisal leading to depression and anxiety, these in turn leading to further negative perception of health. His research and teaching activities are in the domain of psychogerontology, especially clinical geropsychology. His research interests include the treatment of depression, and reminiscence and autobiographical memory. Sabine Sèvre-Rousseau, Psy.D., defended her thesis in developmental psychology at the University of Paris V, Sorbonne. She was the coordinator of the mental health division of the Quebec Research Network on Aging during this study. She is also teaching psychology and statistical sciences at the Universities of Montreal and Sherbrooke. His research and teaching activities are in the domain of clinical geropsychology. In terms of research, he has a special interest for the etiology, assessment, and treatment of agitation and depression. Michel Préville, Ph.D., is associate professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, and Researcher at the Research Center on Aging, Scherbrooke Geriatric University Institute. He is director of the Mental Health Division of the Quebec Research Network on Aging.     

Recent changes in the health status of the older U.S. population: findings from the 1984 and 1994 supplement on aging

OBJECTIVES: To examine the changes in the use of health care services, physical functioning, disability, and other aspects of health status in the older U.S. population between 1984 and 1994. DESIGN AND SETTING: The 1984 and 1994 National Health Interview Survey Supplements on Aging, which were national probability samples of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population age 70 and older. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7,541 and 9,447 persons, representing the 17.3 million and 21.8 million U.S. population age 70 and older in 1984 and 1994, respectively. MEASUREMENTS: Annual bed-limitation days, doctor visits, episodes and days of hospital stays, limitation in 10 measures of physical performance, disability in seven activities of daily living (ADLs) and six instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and participation in social activities and exercise. RESULTS: The annual bed-limitation days and hospital stays declined significantly in both men and women between 1984 and 1994. There was a large decrease in the prevalence of limitation in physical performance and a smaller decrease in disability of IADLs. The changes were greater in women than in men. The prevalence of disability in ADLs was not changed in women in general and increased somewhat in men. Significant increases in the proportion of persons participating in certain social activities and regular exercise were found in both men and women. Jointly considering the indicators, including annual bed days and hospital stays, physical performance, ADLs, and IADLs, 4.2% more men and 3.1% more women were physically robust in 1994 than in 1984. Approximately 420,000 more older people would have lived in a severely restricted and disabled state in 1994 if the rate of limitation had not declined. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of an overall improvement in the health status of older Americans but inconsistency in the trends existed for different disability measures and for population subgroups.