Body composition of elderly women with type 2 diabetes: anthropometry vs dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

Objetivo Comparar a antropometria ao exame de Raios-x de dupla varredura para estimativa da composição corporal de idosas diabéticas tipo 2. Métodos A composição corporal de 51 voluntárias de 60 a 70 anos de idade e índice de massa corporal de 19 a 43kg/m² foi avaliada pelas medidas antropométricas das dobras cutâneas do tríceps, suprailíaca e coxa e associadas ao exame de Raios-x de dupla varredura, considerado o padrão ouro. Os intervalos de concordância de Bland e Altman foram os valores do desvio-padrão do coeficiente de variação do exame de Raios-x de dupla varredura e os valores da antropometria deviam estar nessa faixa. Foram comparadas as médias (teste t de Student) e feita a correlação de Pearson. Resultados Os intervalos de concordância foram os seguintes: peso (kg) Média (M)=0,3, Desvio-Padrão (DP)=0,1, massa corporal magra (kg) M=3,0, DP=1,9, massa corporal gorda (kg) M=5,0, DP=3,1, percentual de gordura corporal (%GC) M=5,0, DP=3,1. As médias entre os métodos eram iguais e estavam dentro do intervalo de concordância; em média, a antropometria superestimava a massa corporal magra em 2,31kg, e subestimava a massa corporal gorda e o percentual de gordura corporal em -0,93 kg e -2,7% respectivamente; a correlação entre as estimativas eram significativas (P, r=0,99; MCM, r=0,79; MCG, r=0,93; %GC, r=0,72; p<0,0001). Conclusão Os resultados da antropometria e do exame de Raios-x de dupla varredura foram consistentes. Embora tivesse parte dos resultados da massa corporal gorda e do percentual de gordura corporal fora do intervalo de concordância, os outros resultados foram correspondentes, sugerindo o uso da antropometria para avaliação da composição corporal nessa população.Objective This study aimed to compare anthropometry with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for estimating the body composition of elderly women with type 2 diabetes. Methods The body composition of 51 volunteers aged 60 to 70 years, with body mass indices ranging from 19 and 43kg/m², was determined by anthropometry (triceps, suprailiac and thigh skinfold thicknesses) and dual-energy X-ray, which is considered the gold standard. The Bland-Altman limits of agreement were the standard deviations of the dual-energy X-ray coefficient of variation and the anthropometric values should be in this range. The means were compared by the Student's t-test followed by the Pearson's correlation. Results Limits of agreement: weight (W, kg) M=0.3, SD=0.1, lean body mass (lear body mass, kg) M=3.0, SD=1.9; fat body mass (fat body mass, kg) M=5.0, SD=3.1, percentage of body fat (% body fat) M=5.0, SD=3.1. The means of the two methods were the same and within the limits of agreement. Anthropometry tended to overestimate lear body mass by 2.31 kg and underestimate fat body mass and % BF by -0.93 kg and -2.7%, respectively. The estimates correlated significantly (W, r=0.99; lear body mass, r=0.79; fat body mass, r=0.93; % body fat, r=0.72; p<0.0001). Conclusion The anthropometric and dual-energy x-ray results were consistent. Although some lear body mass and % body fat results were beyond the limits of agreement, the others were within. Therefore, anthropometry can be used to assess the body composition of this population

Association among measures of mobility-related disability and self-perceived fatigue among older people: a population-based study

Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-perceived fatigue with different physical functioning tests and functional performance scales used for evaluating mobility-related disability among community-dwelling older persons. Method: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study. The sample was composed of older persons with 65 years of age or more living in Cuiabá, MT, and Barueri, SP, Brazil. The data for this study is from the FIBRA Network Study. The presence of self-perceived fatigue was assessed using self-reports based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. The Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale (IADL) and the advanced activities of daily living scale (AADL) were used to assess performance and participation restriction. The following physical functioning tests were used: five-step test (FST), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and usual gait speed (UGS). Three models of logistic regression analysis were conducted, and a significance level of α<0.05 was adopted. Results: The sample was composed of 776 older adults with a mean age (SD) of 71.9 (5.9) years, of whom the majority were women (74%). The prevalence of self-perceived fatigue within the participants was 20%. After adjusting for covariates, SPPB, UGS, IADL, and AADL remained associated with self-perceived fatigue in the final multivariate regression model. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is an association between self-perceived fatigue and lower extremity function, usual gait speed and activity limitation and participation restriction in older adults. Further cohort studies are needed to investigate which physical performance measure may be able to predict the negative impact of fatigue in older adults

Prevalence of Alcohol-Related Problems in an Elderly Population and Their Association With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Background: Studies investigating the association between alcohol use and cognitive disorders in the elderly population have produced divergent results. Moreover, the role of alcohol in cognitive dysfunction is not clear. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of alcohol-related problems in an elderly population from Brazil and to investigate their association with cognitive and functional impairment (CFI) and dementia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was performed. A sample of 1,145 elderly people was examined in 2 phases. Several instruments were utilized in the first phase: the CAGE questionnaire was used to identify potential cases of alcohol-related problems, and a screening test for dementia was used to estimate CFI. The CAMDEX interview (Cambridge Examination) and DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) criteria were used for the clinical diagnosis of dementia in the second phase. Results: ""Heavy alcohol use"" (CAGE >= 2) was found in 92 subjects (prevalence: 8.2%). It was associated with gender (males, p < 0.001), low education (only in females, p = 0.002), and low socioeconomic level (p = 0.001, in females; p = 0.002, in males). The Mini Mental State Examination exhibited a nonlinear relationship with alcohol-related problems in females; ""mild-moderate alcohol use"" (CAGE < 2) presented the highest score. A significant association between alcohol-related problems and cognitive dysfunction was found only in females. ""Heavy alcohol use"" was associated with higher CFI and dementia rates compared to ""mild-moderate alcohol use"" (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). ""Mild-moderate alcohol use"" had a tendency of association with lower CFI and dementia rates when compared to ""no alcohol use"" (p = 0.063 and 0.050, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that alcohol use does not have a linear relationship with cognitive decline.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)[01/05959-7

Characteristics of falls in elderly persons residing in the community: a population-based study

<div><p>Abstract Object: to examine the characteristics to the last fall of Brazilian elderly persons who experienced falls in 2008 and 2009, and to identify if there is a relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, comorbidities, clinical conditions and the circumstances of the falls. Methods: a cross-sectional, population based study was carried out with participants aged 65 and older from Barueri in the state of São Paulo and Cuiabá in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Households were enrolled within each census region according to population density and the number of elderly persons living in each region. A multidimensional questionnaire composed of sociodemographic factors and data regarding falls was used. Associations were analyzed using contingency tables, and Fisher's Exact or Pearson's Chi-square test was used. Results: 774 elderly people were included in the study, 299 of whom reported falling in the previous year. Of these, 176 (58.9%) had fallen once and 123 (41.1%) reported having fallen twice or more. Among fallers the mean age was 72.53 (±6.12) years and 214 (71.6%) were female. About 107 (35.8%) of the elderly reported having fallen forwards, 79 (26.4%) fell to the side and 42(14%) fell backwards. Regarding the circumstances of the falls, 107 (35.8%) reported having lost their balance, 79 (26.4%) said they had stumbled and 42 (14%) said they had slipped. There was an association between the mechanism and circumstances of the falls and having fallen once or twice or more. There was an association between the circumstances of falls and the number of medications taken. Conclusion: The characteristics of falls were different among elderly persons who had fallen once or twice or more, which may guide health professionals, the elderly and their families in relation to specific fall prevention strategies.</p></div

Identification of the needs and priorities of older people and stakeholders in rural and urban areas of Santo Andre, Brazil

Background: There are few data reporting the needs and priorities of older adults in Brazil. This hampers the development and/or implementation of policies aimed at older adults to help them age well. The aim of this study was to understand areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing as identified by older adults and key stakeholders in both urban and rural environments.Methods: Two locations were selected, one urban and one rural in the municipality of Santo André, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (SP). Workshops for older adults (&gt;60 y) and stakeholders were conducted separately in each location. The workshops incorporated an iterative process of discussion, prioritisation and ranking of responses, in roundtable groups and in plenary. Areas of commonality and differences between older adult and stakeholder responses were identified by comparing responses between groups as well as mapping obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing identified by older adults, to the priorities identified by stakeholder groups. The socio-ecologic model was used to categorise responses.Results: There were few shared responses between stakeholders and older adults and little overlap between the top ranked responses of urban and rural groups. With respect to areas of importance, both stakeholder groups ranked policies for older people within their top five reponses. Both older adult groups ranked keeping physically and mentally active, and nurturing spirituality. There was a marked lack of congruence between older adults’ obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing and stakeholder priorities, in both urban and rural settings. Most responses were located within the Society domain of the socio-ecologic model, although older adults also responded within the Individual/ Relationships domains, particularly in ranking areas of most importance for healthy ageing.Conclusions: Our results highlight substantial differences between older adults and stakeholders with respect to areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing, and point to the need for more engagement between those in advocacy and policymaking roles and the older people whose needs they serve. <br/

Identification of the needs and priorities of older people and stakeholders in rural and urban areas of Santo Andre, Brazil

Background: There are few data reporting the needs and priorities of older adults in Brazil. This hampers the development and/or implementation of policies aimed at older adults to help them age well. The aim of this study was to understand areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing as identified by older adults and key stakeholders in both urban and rural environments.Methods: Two locations were selected, one urban and one rural in the municipality of Santo André, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (SP). Workshops for older adults (&gt;60 y) and stakeholders were conducted separately in each location. The workshops incorporated an iterative process of discussion, prioritisation and ranking of responses, in roundtable groups and in plenary. Areas of commonality and differences between older adult and stakeholder responses were identified by comparing responses between groups as well as mapping obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing identified by older adults, to the priorities identified by stakeholder groups. The socio-ecologic model was used to categorise responses.Results: There were few shared responses between stakeholders and older adults and little overlap between the top ranked responses of urban and rural groups. With respect to areas of importance, both stakeholder groups ranked policies for older people within their top five reponses. Both older adult groups ranked keeping physically and mentally active, and nurturing spirituality. There was a marked lack of congruence between older adults’ obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing and stakeholder priorities, in both urban and rural settings. Most responses were located within the Society domain of the socio-ecologic model, although older adults also responded within the Individual/ Relationships domains, particularly in ranking areas of most importance for healthy ageing.Conclusions: Our results highlight substantial differences between older adults and stakeholders with respect to areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing, and point to the need for more engagement between those in advocacy and policymaking roles and the older people whose needs they serve. <br/