Longitudinal analysis of the relationship between physical function and mortality in ambulatory older men

Background. Low physical performance is an important characteristic of frailty and sarcopenia. In this study, we wanted to assess and compare the predictive value of physical function measurements for all-cause mortality in older men. Methods. Data are from a longitudinal study of a population-based sample of 352 ambulatory older men aged 71 to 86 at study baseline. The Rapid disability rating scale-2, 36-Item short form health survey, Hand grip strength, Five times sit-to-stand test, Standing balance, and Timed Up and Go test were determined at baseline. Associations with all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazard analyses. Age, BMI, smoking status, education, physical activity, and cognitive status were included as confounders. Follow-up exceeded 15 years. Results. The mean age of participants was 76 ± 4.2 years. Average follow-up duration was 184 ± 2 months. Seventy-eight percent (273) of the 352 men died during follow-up, with a median survival time of 110 months. All examined physical function measurements were associated with all-cause mortality. The Timed Up and Go test was the best predictor (adjusted HR per SD increase = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.40-1.79, P < 0.001) for global mortality. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that physical function measurements are important in the evaluation of older persons. We encourage the use of the Timed Up and Go test as a reliable, quick and feasible screening tool in clinical settings

Zilveren munten uit de 18de eeuw gevonden op het dorpsplein in Moorsel (Aalst, prov. Oost-Vl.)

In juni 2011 werd bij wegwerkzaamheden in het dorpscentrum van Moorsel (Aalst) een muntdepot uit de late 18de eeuw ontdekt. De 29 zilveren munten vertegenwoordigen vermoedelijk het spaarkapitaal van een eerder financieel bescheiden persoon of familie. Deze vondst is in verband te brengen met een bredere schatvondsthorizon uit de late 18de eeuw. Deze horizon ontwikkelde zich enerzijds door de toenmalige onstabiele politieke situatie en anderzijds door de invoering van de assignaten. Dit dubieuze papieren geld zorgde immers voor een oppotting van het voorradige zilver

Frans zilver in Kempische grond. Een achttiende-eeuws muntdepot uit Retie (prov. Antwerpen)

In 1991, during the renovation of his farmhouse in Retie, Karel Nietvelt made an unexpected discovery. Underneath the brick floor of a pig pen he found a pottery beaker containing a hoard of silver coins. A numismatic study of the coins has shown that the hoard consists of twenty-three French écus dating to the late 18th century

Functional changes during hospital stay in older patients admitted to an acute care ward : a multicenter observational study

Objectives: Changes in physical performance during hospital stay have rarely been evaluated. In this study, we examined functional changes during hospital stay by assessing both physical performance and activities of daily living. Additionally, we investigated characteristics of older patients associated with meaningful in-hospital improvement in physical performance. Methods: The CRiteria to assess appropriate Medication use among Elderly complex patients project recruited 1123 patients aged >= 65 years, consecutively admitted to geriatric or internal medicine acute care wards of seven Italian hospitals. We analyzed data from 639 participating participants with a Mini Mental State Examination score >= 18/30. Physical performance was assessed by walking speed and grip strength, and functional status by activities of daily living at hospital admission and at discharge. Meaningful improvement was defined as a measured change of at least 1 standard deviation. Multivariable logistic regression models predicting meaningful improvement, included age, gender, type of admission (through emergency room or elective), and physical performance at admission. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 79 years (range 65-98), 52% were female. Overall, mean walking speed and grip strength performance improved during hospital stay (walking speed improvement: 0.04 +/- 0.20 m/s, p<0.001; grip strength improvement: 0.43 +/- 5.66 kg, p = 0.001), no significant change was observed in activities of daily living. Patients with poor physical performance at admission had higher odds for in-hospital improvement. Conclusion: Overall, physical performance measurements show an improvement during hospital stay. The margin for meaningful functional improvement is larger in patients with poor physical function at admission. Nevertheless, most of these patients continue to have poor performance at discharge