Measures of frailty in population-based studies: An overview

Although research productivity in the field of frailty has risen exponentially in recent years, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the measurement of this syndrome. This overview offers three services: first, we provide a comprehensive catalogue of current frailty measures; second, we evaluate their reliability and validity; third, we report on their popularity of use

Combining natural treatments to reach lipid target in metabolic syndrome patients: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: To invostigato whothor combinod thorapy with omoga-3 FA + policosanol offors bonofits compared with omoga-3 FA + placobo with rospoct to tho lipid profilo of pationts with mild Motabolic Syndromo(MS) in primary provontion. Methods: This randomisod, double-blind study was conductod in 40 patients with MS, as dofinod by tho ATP III. After 4 wooks on a standardized AHA step 2 diet, pationts were randomisod to omoga-3 FA 2g/dio + placobo or omoga-3 FA + policosanol 10 mg/day for 8 wooks. Omoga-3 FA was suppliod as lg capsulos (2 pot day); placobo and policosanol were providod in tablot form. Results: After 8 weeks, omega-3 FA + policosanol, but not omega-3 FA + placebo, significantly reduced LDL-C by 22.94-3.8% (p<0.0001). Omega-3 FA + policosanol significantly decreased LDL-C (26.34-3.4%; p<0.001) and TG (23.15.4-5.1%; p<0.005), and significantly increased HDLC (+10.24-2.8%; p<0.0001). Omega-3 FA + placebo significantly reduced TG (21.24-6.8%; p<0.05) but had no significant effect on other lipid profile variables. The proportion of randomised patients in the omega-3 FA + policosanol group that achieved LDL-C targets was significantly greater than in the omega-3 FA + placebo group (42% vs. 19%; p<0.001). Conclusions: Treatment with omega-3 FA + policosanol could be useful for regulating lipid profile in patients with type Metabolic Syndrome in primary prevention. Fundings: Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, National Institute for Cardiovascular Research (INRC)

Estimation of Familial Combined Hyperlipoproteinemia prevalence in a large rural population: the Brisighella Heart Study.

Objective: Familial Combined Hyperlipoproteinemic (FCH) is a disorder of lipid metabolism characterized by an increased risk of premature coronary heart disease. Our aim is to estimate the prevalence of FCH subjects in a large North-Italian rural population monitored for 32 years (1972-2004). Methods: In the 2004 Brisighella Heart Study (BHS) survey, 1303 subjects were tested in five or more four-yearly surveys (mean age: 63.7\ub114.9 years). The individual plasma lipid phenotype by Fredrickson classification was attributed for each survey on the basis of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides. A primary dyslipoproteinemia was suspected on the basis of personal and family history, body mass index and dietary habits. Results: At the end of the longitudinal study, the subjects with variable phenotype in the studied population were 17.2% and among primary hyperlipoproteinemics 36.3%. Mean IIb phenotype prevalence was 12.3 \ub1 6.3% in all hyperlipoproteinemics, while it was 33.4 \ub1 11.9% in potential FCH subjects. Only 7 subjects were constantly IIb during the observation time and four of them are certainly secondary hyperlipoproteinemics. The Ilb phenotype prevalence was significantly more variable than the Ila phenotypes. The 3.1% of the studied subjects have been selected as candidates for a FCH diagnosis without significant differences between sexes. Conclusion: Our data suggest the existence of a long-term primary variability of the individual plasma lipid phenotype. The prevalence of FCH in the general population appears to be near 2%