Ariel - Volume 1 Number 3

Copyright 1969 Arie

Associations of Weight Change With Changes in Calf Muscle Characteristics and Functional Decline in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background Among people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease, obesity is associated with faster functional decline than normal weight. The association of weight loss with functional decline in peripheral artery disease is unknown. Methods and Results Adults with an ankle-brachial index <0.90 were identified from Chicago-area hospitals in 2002-2004. Weight and 6-minute walk distance were measured annually. Weight change categories were weight loss or gain (≥5 pounds/year at ≥1 visit) or stable (weight change <5 pounds at each visit). Participants reported whether weight loss was "intentional" or "unintentional." Calf muscle area was measured with computed tomography every 2 years. Associations of weight change with changes in calf muscle area and 6-minute walk distance were analyzed using mixed-effects models and adjusted for age, body mass index, ankle-brachial index, physical activity, and other confounders. Among 389 participants, mean ankle-brachial index was 0.63±0.16, mean age was 74.5±7.8, and mean body mass index was 28.1±5.1 kg/m2. Over 3.23±1.37 years, muscle area declined more in adults with intentional weight loss versus stable or gain (pair-wise comparisons, P<0.001). Intentional weight loss was associated with less annual decline in 6-minute walk distance than weight gain (intentional loss, 3.7 m; stable, -14.0 m; gain, -28.5 m; unintentional loss, -20.8 m; pair-wise comparison intentional loss versus gain, P=0.003). Conclusions Despite a greater loss of calf muscle area, adults with peripheral artery disease who intentionally lost ≥5 pounds experienced less functional decline than those who gained weight. A randomized trial is needed to establish whether benefits of weight loss in peripheral artery disease outweigh potential adverse effects

Durability of Benefits From Supervised Treadmill Exercise in People With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background It is currently unknown whether 6 months of supervised treadmill exercise has a durable benefit on 6-minute walk performance, even after exercise is completed, in people with peripheral artery disease. Methods and Results A total of 156 participants with peripheral artery disease were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: supervised treadmill exercise, supervised resistance training, or attention control. Participants received supervised sessions during months 1 to 6 and telephone contact during months 6 to 12. Primary outcomes were change in 6-minute walk distance and short physical performance battery at 6-month follow-up and have been reported previously. Secondary outcomes were change in 6-minute walk and short physical performance battery at 12-month follow-up and are reported here. A group of 134 participants (86%) completed the 12-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, compared with control, 6-minute walk distance improved in the treadmill exercise group (+36.1 m, 95% CI =13.9-58.3, P=0.001). Between 6- and 12-month follow-up, 6-minute walk distance significantly declined (-28.6 m, 95% CI=-52.6 to -4.5, P=0.020) and physical activity declined -272 activity units (95% CI =-546 to +2, P=0.052) in the treadmill exercise group compared with controls. At 12-month follow-up, 6 months after completing supervised treadmill exercise, change in 6-minute walk distance was not different between the treadmill exercise and control groups (+7.5, 95% CI =-17.5 to +32.6, P=0.56). There were no differences in short physical performance battery change between either exercise group and control at 6-month or 12-month follow-up. Conclusions A 6-month supervised treadmill exercise intervention that improved 6-minute walk distance at 6-month follow-up did not have persistent benefit at 12-month follow-up. These results do not support a durable benefit of supervised treadmill exercise in peripheral artery disease. Clinical Trial Registration URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Identifier: NCT 00106327

Corridor-based functional performance measures correlate better with physical activity during daily life than treadmill measures in persons with peripheral arterial disease

ObjectiveTo compare associations of physical activity during daily life with treadmill walking performance and corridor-based functional performance measures in persons with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD).Study DesignCross-sectional.SubjectsOne hundred fifty-six men and women with PAD who completed baseline measurements and were randomized into the study to improve leg circulation (SILC) exercise clinical trial.Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants completed a Gardner-Skinner treadmill protocol. Corridor-based functional performance measures were the 6-minute walk, walking velocity over four meters at usual and fastest pace, and the short physical performance battery (SPPB) (0-12 scale, 12 = best). Physical activity during daily life was measured continuously over 7 days with a Caltrac (Muscle Dynamics Fitness Network, Inc, Torrence, Calif) accelerometer.ResultsAdjusting for age, gender, and race, higher levels of physical activity during daily life were associated with greater distance achieved in the 6-minute walk (P trend = .001), faster fast-paced four-meter walking velocity (P trend < .001), faster usual-paced four-meter walking speed (P trend = .027) and a higher SPPB (P trend = .005). The association of physical activity level with maximum treadmill walking distance did not reach statistical significance (P trend = .083). There were no associations of physical activity with treadmill distance to onset of leg symptoms (P trend = .795).ConclusionFunctional performance measures are more strongly associated with physical activity levels during daily life than treadmill walking measures

Racial Differences in the Effect of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor on Improved Walking Distance in Peripheral Artery Disease: The PROPEL Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background The effects of race on response to medical therapy in people with peripheral artery disease ( PAD ) are unknown. Methods and Results In the PROPEL (Progenitor Cell Release Plus Exercise to Improve Functional Performance in PAD) Trial, PAD participants were randomized to 1 of 4 groups for 6 months: supervised treadmill exercise+granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( GM - CSF ) (Group 1), exercise+placebo (Group 2), attention control+ GM - CSF (Group 3), or attention control+placebo (Group 4). Change in 6-minute walk distance was measured at 12- and 26-week follow-up. In these exploratory analyses, groups receiving GM - CSF (Groups 1 and 3), placebo (Groups 2 and 4), exercise (Groups 1 and 2), and attention control (Groups 2 and 4) were combined, maximizing statistical power for studying the effects of race on response to interventions. Of 210 PAD participants, 141 (67%) were black and 64 (30%) were white. Among whites, GM - CSF improved 6-minute walk distance by +22.0 m (95% CI : -4.5, +48.5, P=0.103) at 12 weeks and +44.4 m (95% CI : +6.9, +82.0, P=0.020) at 26 weeks, compared with placebo. Among black participants, there was no effect of GM - CSF on 6-minute walk distance at 12-week ( P=0.26) or 26-week (-5.0 m [-27.5, +17.5, P=0.66]) follow-up, compared with placebo. There was an interaction of race on the effect of GM - CSF on 6-minute walk change at 26-week follow-up ( P=0.018). Exercise improved 6-minute walk distance in black ( P=0.006) and white ( P=0.034) participants without interaction. Conclusions GM - CSF improved 6-minute walk distance in whites with PAD but had no effect in black participants. Further study is needed to confirm racial differences in GM - CSF efficacy in PAD . Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 01408901

Aging and the burden of multimorbidity: Associations with inflammatory and anabolic hormonal biomarkers

open9siThe InCHIANTI study baseline (1998–2000) was supported as a “targeted project” (ICS110.1/RF97.71) by the Italian Ministry of Health and in part by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (contracts: 263 MD 9164 and 263 MD 821336); the InCHIANTI Follow-up 1 (2001–2003) was funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (contracts: N.1-AG-1-1 and N.1-AG-1-2111); the InCHIANTI Follow-ups 2 and 3 studies (2004–2010) were financed by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (contract: N01-AG-5-0002); supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MarylandBackground. Multimorbidity increases with aging, but risk factors beyond age are unknown. Objective. To investigate the association of inflammatory and anabolic hormonal biomarkers with presence and prospective development of multimorbidity. Methods. Nine-year longitudinal study of 1018 participants aged 60 years or older (InCHIANTI Study). Multimorbidity was evaluated at baseline and follow-up visits as number of diagnosed diseases from a predefined list of 15 candidate chronic conditions, defined according to standard clinical criteria. Linear mixed models were used to test cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between candidate biomarkers and multimorbidity. Results. At baseline, multimorbidity was significantly higher in older participants (p &lt;. 001) and higher IL-6, IL-1ra, TNF-α receptor II (TNFAR2), and lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were associated with higher number of diseases, independent of age, sex, body mass index, and education. The rate of longitudinal increase in number of chronic diseases was significantly steeper in participants who were older at baseline (p &lt;. 001). In addition, higher baseline IL-6 and steeper increase of IL-6 levels were significantly and independently associated with a steeper increase in multimorbidity over time (p &lt;. 001 and p =. 003, respectively). Sensitivity analyses, performed using 15 different models obtained by removing each of 15 conditions included in the original list of candidate diseases, confirmed that results were not driven by any specific condition. Conclusions. Accumulation of chronic diseases accelerates at older ages and in persons with higher baseline levels and steeper increase over time of IL-6. High IL-6 and increase in IL-6 may serve as early warning sign to better target interventions aimed at reducing the burden of multimorbidity.openFabbri, Elisa; An, Yang; Zoli, Marco; Simonsick, Eleanor M.; Guralnik, Jack M.; Bandinelli, Stefania; Boyd, Cynthia M.; Ferrucci, LuigiFabbri, Elisa; An, Yang; Zoli, Marco; Simonsick, Eleanor M.; Guralnik, Jack M.; Bandinelli, Stefania; Boyd, Cynthia M.; Ferrucci, Luig

Declining Walking Impairment Questionnaire Scores Are Associated With Subsequent Increased Mortality in Peripheral Artery Disease

ObjectivesThis study determined whether greater 2-year declines in Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) stair climbing, distance, or speed scores were associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among men and women with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD).BackgroundAssociations of decline in the WIQ with mortality among people with PAD are unknown.MethodsParticipants were 442 men and women with PAD identified from Chicago area medical centers. The WIQ was completed at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations across categories of 2-year changes in WIQ stair climbing, WIQ distance, and WIQ speed scores with subsequent all-cause and CVD mortality, adjusting for age, sex, race, ankle-brachial index, body mass index, smoking, comorbidities, and other covariates.ResultsOne hundred twenty-three participants (27.8%) died during a median follow-up of 4.7 years after the 2-year change in WIQ score measurements. Forty-five participants died from CVD. Adjusting for covariates, participants with WIQ score declines ≥20.0 points had higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 3.68 for WIQ stair climbing; HR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.15 to 4.75 for WIQ distance; and HR: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.57 to 8.04 for WIQ speed, respectively) compared with participants with ≥20.0 point improvement in each of the corresponding WIQ categories. Participants with ≥20.0 point declines in the WIQ distance score had higher CVD mortality (HR: 4.56, 95% CI: 1.30 to 16.01) compared with those with ≥20.0 point improvement in the WIQ distance score.ConclusionsPatients with PAD who experienced ≥20.0 point declines in the WIQ stair climbing, distance, and speed scores had a higher rate of all-cause mortality compared with those with less declines in each WIQ score

Trends in Disability in Activities of Daily Living Among Chinese Older Adults, 1997–2006: The China Health and Nutrition Survey

A decline in prevalence of late-life disability in activities of daily living (ADLs) has been reported in Western countries. We investigate the time trend of disability in basic ADLs among Chinese older people in 1997–2006, and explore the potential contribution of cardiometabolic diseases to the trend