Disentangling the relationship between falls, fear of falling, physical function and walking by applying a socioecological framework to the International Mobility in Aging Study

Introduction:The relationships between falls, fear of falling, poor mobility, and PA avoidance occur in a cyclic, multi-directional fashion. Aim: This study investigates the concomitant associations of fall history, fear of falling, and physical performance (SPPB) on physical activity using a cross-national sample of community-dwelling older adults from middle and high-income countries.Methods:Linear mixed-effects models looking at the influence of individual and environmental factors were used and participants were nested within each study site.Results:Estimated walking minutes was 52% lower for those with low SPPB compared to high SPPB, 20% lower for those with medium level fear of falling compared to low levels, and 50% lower for those with high level fear of falling compared to low levels.Conclusion:An individual’s fear of falling and physical performance may be important to consider when making PA recommendations to older adults regardless of sex, age, and environment

Childhood adversity and leisure time physical and sports activity in older adults: A cross-sectional analysis from the International Mobility in Aging Study

Aim: The purpose is to examine the relationship between childhood adversity and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among community-dwelling older adults from high and middle-income sites. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 2012 data from older adult ages 64-75 years old from King-ston, Canada; St. Hyacinthe, Canada; Tirana, Albania; Manizales, Colombia; and Natal, Brazil. Principal exposure variables were childhood social and economic adversity. Covariates included participant age, sex, income, and educational attainment. Outcome variables were LTPA and lei-sure time sports activity (LTSA). Results: High-income sites had higher LTPA prevalence than middle-income sites. Females were less likely to engage in LTPA compared to males in Tirana (OR:0.53, 95%CI:0.30-0.94), but were more likely to engage in LTPA in Manizales (OR:2.54, 95%CI:1.54-4.18). Low education was less likely than high education to engage in LTPA in Kingston (OR:0.38, 95%CI:0.19-0.73) and Natal (OR: 0.52, 95%CI:0.28-0.97). Low income was less likely than high income to engage in LTPA in St. Hyacinthe (OR: 0.42, 95%CI:0.20-0.89) and Manizales (OR:0.33, 95%CI:0.16-0.55). In Tirana, low income was more likely than high income to engage in LTPA (OR:5.27, 95%CI:2.06-13.51). Conclusions: Childhood economic and social adversity were not significantly associated with LTPA. Sex, income, and education were associated with older adult PA engagement, however the direction of the association varied by site location. This suggests that the paradigms surrounding PA behavior may vary from city to city. Understanding the site-specific risk factors to PA engage-ment may better inform clinical recommendations and public health approaches to increase PA engagement among older adults across the globe

Trajectories of frailty with aging:Coordinated analysis of five longitudinal studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is an urgent need to better understand frailty and its predisposing factors. Although numerous cross-sectional studies have identified various risk and protective factors of frailty, there is a limited understanding of longitudinal frailty progression. Furthermore, discrepancies in the methodologies of these studies hamper comparability of results. Here, we use a coordinated analytical approach in 5 independent cohorts to evaluate longitudinal trajectories of frailty and the effect of 3 previously identified critical risk factors: sex, age, and education. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We derived a frailty index (FI) for 5 cohorts based on the accumulation of deficits approach. Four linear and quadratic growth curve models were fit in each cohort independently. Models were adjusted for sex/gender, age, years of education, and a sex/gender-by-age interaction term. RESULTS: Models describing linear progression of frailty best fit the data. Annual increases in FI ranged from 0.002 in the Invecchiare in Chianti cohort to 0.009 in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Women had consistently higher levels of frailty than men in all cohorts, ranging from an increase in the mean FI in women from 0.014 in the Health and Retirement Study cohort to 0.046 in the LASA cohort. However, the associations between sex/gender and rate of frailty progression were mixed. There was significant heterogeneity in within-person trajectories of frailty about the mean curves. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings of linear longitudinal increases in frailty highlight important avenues for future research. Specifically, we encourage further research to identify potential effect modifiers or groups that would benefit from targeted or personalized interventions

Foundations and strategic vision of the Canadian Translational Geroscience Network

Geroscience is an emerging interdisciplinary field that explores the biological connections between aging and the development of chronic diseases, with the ultimate goal of identifying interventions to extend healthspan and delay age-related conditions. Recognizing the growing importance of this field, the Canadian Translational Geroscience Network (geroscience.ca) was officially launched during a conference held in Montreal on September 5-6, 2024. Building on the momentum of successful Geroscience meetings in Toronto and Montreal in 2023, this milestone event marked a transformative step forward for geroscience in Canada. This event brought together key stakeholders, including the Canadian Frailty Network (CFN), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA), the Réseau Québécois de Recherche sur le Vieillissement (RQRV), the Simone & Edouard Schouela RUISSS McGill Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health of Seniors (Schouela CEDurable), the Division of Geriatric Medicine at McGill University, and the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Additionally, a broad coalition of geriatricians, healthcare professionals, and researchers convened to discuss and advance the field of geroscience in Canada. The 2-day conference focused on creating a multidisciplinary community to address the challenges of an aging population, emphasizing the importance of funding, national and international collaboration, and training the next generation of researchers and clinicians. Workshops and presentations showcased a range of innovative research, from cellular studies to clinical trials, aimed at understanding and treating age-related diseases. Key discussions highlighted the critical role of partnerships among research institutions, healthcare systems, and biotech companies in translating research findings into practical interventions. The Canadian Translational Geroscience Network\u27s strategic objectives focus on expanding funding opportunities for geroscience, developing specialized training programs, and increasing membership to cultivate a diverse, multidisciplinary, and collaborative network. This network aims to include students, basic and clinical researchers, citizens, government entities, and organizations or professionals interested in advancing the geroscience field. With a clear roadmap for future growth, the Canadian Translational Geroscience Network aims to position Canada at the forefront of geroscience, fostering evidence-based innovation that improves the health and quality of life for aging populations

Hip fracture rehabilitation: where are we now and where are we going?

Hip fracture is a major public health problem in many developed nations. An estimated 30,000 hip fractures occur each year in Canada. To initiate adequate preventive measures, a thorough understanding of hip fracture patients' characteristics and the healthcare services they receive over the continuum of care is warranted. The global objective of this thesis is to contribute to our knowledge base concerning current and future needs, gaps, and solutions to provide optimal care for people with hip fractures.The first part describes the recovery process of patients with hip fractures and its definition. A post acute cohort was followed up to a one year after fracture and the patients' course of recovery was characterized using two methods to define recovery. This study demonstrated that the degree and time course of functional recovery after hip fracture varied on the basis of definition and the pre-fracture functional status. Despite the initial improvement, the functional status of the patients declined following cessation of rehabilitation services.Studying hip fracture patients' care and recovery at a single site over a limited time led to investigating the characteristics of the broader hip fracture population in the province of Quebec. What do we know about hip fracture trends, changes in health profile, and what might this information mean for the future? This guided the author to use an administrative database (Med-Echo) to answer these questions. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the hip fracture population is becoming frailer, which will increase the resources needed, and that the population's health profile differed on the basis of age and sex.The inside-hospital mortality rate and the proportion of patients who are discharged to rehabilitation after fracture are declining over time; consequently, increases the demand on community services. Finding the gaps and describing the needs is the first step to improve the quality of care, but this is not adequate. Therefore, the last part proposes potential solutions. A systematic review aimed at finding solutions to the previously identified gaps, specifically, the fact that hip fracture patients' functional status deteriorates following cessation of rehabilitation and that the need for community rehabilitation services will increase. Therefore, the reported effect in the literature of an extended exercise rehabilitation program was reviewed and quantified. This meta-analysis is the first to show that a clinically significant functional improvement can be gained later than is usually believed with elderly hip fracture patients. Such an improvement suggests that there is no 'plateau' for recovery. Finally, the methodology to evaluate and create a comprehensive program to serve hip fracture patients over the continuum of care is discussed and a simulated multidisciplinary program is proposed as a model.La fracture de la hanche est un problème de santé publique majeur dans de nombreux pays développés. Environ 30 000 fractures de la hanche surviennent chaque année au Canada. Afin d'initier des mesures préventives adéquates, il est nécessaire d'avoir une compréhension approfondie des caractéristiques des cas de fracture de la hanche et des services que les patients reçoivent dans le continuum des soins. L'objectif global de cette thèse est de contribuer à la base de connaissances des besoins actuels et futurs, des lacunes, et des solutions permettant d'offrir des soins optimaux aux personnes ayant souffert de fracture de la hanche. La première partie définit et décrit le processus de rétablissement des patients ayant subit une fracture de la hanche. Une cohorte post soins aiguës a été suivie pendant un an suivant la fracture et le processus de guérison du patient a été étudié en utilisant deux différentes façons de définir le rétablissement. Cette étude a démontré que le degré et le temps de récupération fonctionnelle après fracture de la hanche varient sur la base de la définition du rétablissement choisie et de l'état fonctionnel avant la fracture. Malgré l'amélioration initiale, l'état fonctionnel des patients a diminué suivant l'arrêt des soins de réadaptation. L'étude des soins et du rétablissement des patients ayant une fracture de la hanche dans un seul site pendant un temps limité a mené à examen des caractéristiques de la population souffrant d'une fracture de la hanche dans la province de Québec. Que savons-nous sur les tendances des fractures de la hanche, sur les changements dans le profil de la santé, et qu'est-ce que cette information pourrait signifier pour l'avenir? Ceci a conduit l'auteur à utiliser une base de données administrative (Med-Echo) pour répondre à ces questions. Les résultats ont confirmé l'hypothèse selon laquelle la population de patients ayant une fracture de la hanche devient de plus en plus fragile, ce qui nécessitera une augmentation des ressources. De plus, le profil de santé de cette population comparée à celle la population générale diffère sur les critères de l'âge et du sexe.Le taux de mortalité pendant l'hospitalisation suivant une fracture de hanche est en déclin ainsi que la proportion des patients envoyés en réadaptation à leur congé. Cela a comme conséquence d'augmenter de la demande de services en communauté. Rechercher les lacunes et décrire les besoins constituent une première étape vers l'amélioration de la qualité des soins, mais elle demeure insuffisante. Le but de la dernière partie est de proposer des solutions potentielles. Un examen systématique de la littérature a été mené dans le but de trouver des solutions aux lacunes identifiées précédemment, en particulier, le fait que l'état fonctionnel des patients ayant subit une fracture de la hanche se détériore après l'arrêt de la réadaptation et la nécessité d'augmenter les services de réadaptation communautaires. L'effet rapporté dans la littérature d'un programme d'exercices de réadaptation prolongée a été examiné et quantifié. Cette méta-analyse est la première à démontrer qu'une amélioration cliniquement significative du fonctionnement peut être acquise plus tard qu'on ne le croyait chez les personnes âgées ayant souffert d'une fracture de la hanche. Une telle amélioration suggère qu'il n'y a pas de «plateau» pour la récupération. Enfin, la méthodologie pour évaluer et créer un programme complet visant à servir les patients suivant une fracture de la hanche au cours du continuum des soins est discutée et un programme de simulation multidisciplinaire est proposé en tant que modèle

Extended Exercise Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture Improves Patients' Physical Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundAlthough the principal goal of hip fracture management is a return to the pre-event functional level, most survivors fail to regain their former levels of autonomy. One of the most effective strategies to mitigate the fracture's consequences is therapeutic exercise.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to review and quantify the reported effects of an extended exercise rehabilitation program offered beyond the regular rehabilitation period on improving physical functioning for patients with hip fractures.SourcesThe Cochrane libraries, PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, and EMBASE were searched to April 2012.Study SelectionAll randomized controlled trials comparing extended exercise programs with usual care for community-dwelling people after hip fracture were included in the review.Data Extraction and SynthesisTwo reviewers conducted each step independently. The data from the included studies were summarized, and pooled estimates were calculated for 11 functional outcomes.ResultsThirteen trials were included in the review and 11 in the meta-analysis. The extended exercise program showed modest effect sizes (ESs), which reached significance, under random theory, for knee extension strength for the affected and nonaffected sides (ES=0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.27–0.66, and ES=0.45, 95% CI=0.16–0.74, respectively), balance (ES=0.32, 95% CI=0.15–0.49), physical performance-based tests (ES=0.53, 95% CI=0.27–0.78), Timed “Up &amp; Go” Test (ES=0.83, 95% CI=0.28–1.4), and fast gait speed (ES=0.42, 95% CI=0.11–0.73). Effects on normal gait speed, Six-Minute Walk Test, activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, and physical function subscale of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-PF) did not reach significance. Community-based programs had larger ESs compared with home-based programs.ConclusionsTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to provide evidence that an extended exercise rehabilitation program for patients with hip fractures has a significant impact on various functional abilities. The focus of future research should go beyond just effectiveness and study the cost-effectiveness of extended programs.</jats:sec

Early Mobility After Fragility Hip Fracture: A Mixed Methods Embedded Case Study

Abstract BackgroundFollowing a hip fracture up to 60% of patients are unable to regain their pre-fracture level of mobility. For hospitalized older adults, the deconditioning effect of bedrest and functional decline has been identified as the most preventable cause of loss of ambulation. Participating in early mobility activities can decrease the overall length of hospital stay and aid in re-establishing a patients’ functional status. Recent studies demonstrate that this older adult population spends greater than 80% of their time in bed during hospitalization, despite being ambulatory prior to their fracture. We do not fully understand why there continues to be such high rates of sedentary times, given that evidence demonstrates functional decline is preventable and early mobility recommendations have been available for over a decade.MethodsA descriptive mixed method embedded case study was selected to understand the phenomenon of early mobility after fragility hip fracture surgery. In this study, the main case was one post-operative unit with a history of recommendation implementation, and the embedded units were patients recovering from hip fracture repair. Data from multiple sources provided an understanding of mobility activity initiation and patient participation.ResultsActivity monitor data from eighteen participants demonstrated a mean sedentary time of 23.18h. Median upright time was 24 min, and median number of steps taken was 30. Qualitative interviews from healthcare providers and patients identified two main categories of themes; factors that are external to the person (system, healthcare provider team, environment) and factors that are unique to the person (psychological and physical factors). Discussion There are multi-level factors that require consideration with implementation of best practice interventions, namely, systemic, healthcare provider related, and patient related. Recommendations are being sustained at the system level, and the unit has embraced a strong interdisciplinary approach. At the micro level, patients identify several factors influencing their participation, which ultimately demonstrates successful uptake of recommendations.ConclusionsThe study reports several variables to be important considerations for facilitating early mobility. Communicating mobility expectations and addressing physical and psychological readiness are essential. Our findings can be used to develop meaningful patient centred interventions to address these barriers.</jats:p