Canadian Geriatrics Journal

Exercise and Language Performance in Healthy Aging, Stroke and Neurodegenerative Conditions: a Scoping Review

Roya Khalili — 2024-09-04

Background

While the benefits of exercise on cognitive functions have already been reviewed, little is known about the impact of exercise on language performance. This scoping review was conducted to identify existing evidence on exercise-induced changes in language performance in healthy aging individuals and adults with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions.

Methods & Results

Using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, 29 studies were included. Eleven studies in healthy aging indicated enhanced language performance, with 72.72% having significant improvement in semantic/phonological Verbal Fluency (VF) following exercise. Among 18 studies on older adults with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions, 11 reported better language performance, with 44.44% having significant improvement in picture naming/description and semantic/phonological VF by exercise. The seven remaining studies reported no significant change in language performance in persons with stroke or neurodegenerative conditions.

Conclusion

Overall, exercise interventions showed improvement in language performance in healthy aging, while selective enhancement was shown for language performance in persons with either stroke or neurodegenerative conditions.

Quality of Life Among Hospitalized Fibromyalgia Older Adults: a Case-Control Study

Abdallah Fawaz — 2024-09-04

Background

Only few studies addressed the topic of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) effects on geriatric population quality of life and drug usage. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the significant impact of FMS in terms of quality of life (QOL) in geriatric aged patients.

Methods

80 patients were studied, 40 with FMS according to FMS 2016 classification criteria, and 40 non-FMS controls. The patients were all above the age of 65 years. The FMS and control group completed Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Score (SSS). Three questionnaires, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form (SF-36) Questionnaire, and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) were completed. These with additional medical records were used to classify symptoms and severity in both groups.

Results

Fibromyalgia patients demonstrated significant higher disability scores, (FIQ of 79.5 vs. 33.9, p<.01, and HAQ-DI of 2.00 vs. 1.00, p<.01 for FMS vs. non-FMS, respectively), and lower social functioning in comparison to non-FMS controls (SF-36 of social functioning 0.31 vs. 0.92, p<.01 for FMS vs. non-FMS, respectively). The FMS group had a higher use of pain management medications (opioid use of 12 patients vs. 0, p<.01, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by 11 FMS patients vs. 4 non-FMS controls, p<.01).

Conclusions

Patients with FMS older than 65 years of age demonstrate poorer outcomes and worse symptoms in comparison to matched-aged non-FMS control group. An association was found between FMS and the effect on the quality of life in this population.

Canadian Inpatient Orthogeriatric Models of Care: A Mixed Methods Survey of Facilitators and Barriers

Dana Trafford — 2024-09-04

Background

Fragility fractures are a serious and common consequence of falls in older adults. Orthogeriatric models of care reduce mortality and morbidity, but, despite this evidence, orthogeriatric programs (OGPs) are not standardized across Canada. The aim of this study was to better understand the facilitators and barriers of OGPs across Canada.

Methods

Data on OGPs across Canada were gathered via email survey to all Canadian Geriatric Society (CGS) members and distributed April 1st to May 1st 2021. Respondents answered 15 questions, using SKIP LOGIC, and data analysis was conducted with QualtricsXM software.

Results

62 CGS members completed the survey. Respondents came from nine provinces/territories, with most being physicians from academic centres. 77% respondents indicated an existing OGP at their site, commonly an optional or automatic geriatrician consult. 23% indicated no formal OGP, of which 56% had an alternative service automatically consulted for older adults with fragility fracture, commonly internal medicine or a hospitalist. Responders indicated the most important factor in establishing an OGP is clinical leadership (56%, 10/18), and the most common barriers are lack of hospital prioritization and lack of funding (41%, 62/153).

Conclusions

The survey found that clinical leadership, hospital prioritization, and available funding are imperative to establishing OGPs. Limitations include the survey being distributed only to CGS members, a lower response rate, and respondents predominantly from academic centres in Ontario. Further qualitative data from other specialties (for example, orthopedics) and greater representation from community hospitals would be helpful to understand additional perceived barriers and facilitators.

Multi-Stakeholder Validation of an Entrustable Professional Activities Framework for Canadian Geriatrics Residency Programs

Derek C.P. Fisk — 2024-09-04

Background

Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) have become a cornerstone for an increasing number of competency-based medical education programs. Today, frameworks of EPAs are being used in most, if not all, medical specialties. These frameworks can break a discipline down to its constituting tasks, and structure the training and evaluation of residents. In 2018, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada created an EPA framework for Geriatric Specialty residency programs nationwide. The present study aims to evaluate this EPA framework through focus groups consisting of several stakeholder groups.

Methods

Participants were recruited to be part of one of five focus groups—one for each stakeholder group of interest. The five focus groups consisted of: physician faculty, residents, allied health professionals, administrators/managers, and patients. Each focus group met once virtually over ZOOM® for no longer than 90 minutes. Meeting transcripts were iteratively coded based on emerging themes, and were compared for similarities and gaps between stakeholder perspectives.

Results

Multi-stakeholder consultation yielded feedback on many specific EPAs, suggestions for new EPAs, and additional input which gave rise to four themes: (i) EPA scope, (ii) Operationalization, (iii) Interprofessional Collaboration, and (iv) Patient Advocacy. Lastly, we received their thoughts on how the framework defines Geriatrics relative to the work of Care of the Elderly physicians in Canada.

Conclusions

Consulting a variety of stakeholder groups generates a robust and diverse supply of feedback that holistically augments EPA frameworks to be more practical, appropriate, socially accountable and patient-centred.

Health Outcomes of Older Adults after a Hospitalization for a Hip Fracture

Cameron MacLellan — 2024-09-04

Background

Hip fractures in older adults often lead to adverse health outcomes, which may be related to time to surgery and longer hospital stays. The experience of older adults with hip fractures in New Brunswick is not known.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study. All hip fracture patients 65 years of age and older admitted to one hospital designated as a Level One Trauma Centre between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2019 comprised the sample.

Results

The majority (86.5%) received surgery within 48 hours and those who had surgery beyond this time frame had a significantly longer stay in acute care (OR: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.05-7.15). The mean total length of stay (Total-LOS) for patients discharged after their acute care needs were met was 9.8 days (SD=8.1) compared to patients experiencing delays in discharge for nonmedical reasons which was 26.3 days (SD=33.7). An extended stay in acute care (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.09-3.43) and increasing age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.001-1.06) were associated with a higher likelihood of death at one year post-discharge. Time to surgery beyond 24 hours (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.13-7.38) was associated with a higher likelihood of death 30 days post-discharge.

Conclusions

Most patients had surgery within the national benchmark of less than 48 hours. The Total-LOS increased 2.5-fold in patients who remained in hospital after their acute care needs were met. A better understanding of patient characteristics, such as frailty, may better predict patients at risk for longer hospital stays and adverse health outcomes.

Level, Motivation and Barriers to Participate in Physical Activity among Geriatric Population at Ahmedabad City, India: An Epidemiological Factsheet

Viral R. Dave — 2024-09-04

Objectives

To estimate the level of physical activity among geriatric population, to determine the motivating factors for being active and identifying barriers that prevent participants from engaging in physical activity.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out at one of the wards within Ahmedabad city following multi-stage random sampling. The calculated sample size was 230. A pre-designed, validated, short version International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Behaviour Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3) were used for data collection by personal interview. From selected sampling-frame, geriatric people residing in every 5th household were interviewed after obtaining oral informed consent following simple-random sampling.

Results

Of total 230 study participants, 67 (29.13%) were physically active (cumulative for Category 2 and Category 3), while the remaining 163 (70.87%) were found physically inactive (i.e., minimally active [Category 1]). Motivational scores, particularly in identified regulation, showed higher median scores across subdomains of the BREQ-3. Amotivation exhibited a strong negative correlation with physical activity, while intrinsic regulation displayed a strong positive correlation.

Conclusion

More than two-third of study participants were physically inactive. Level of educational status, type of previous occupation involved, presence of addiction, BMI, electronic device usage duration per day and presence of chronic illness were statistically significant determinants to decide involvement of elderly people in category of physical activity. Amotivation, external and introjected regulation had negative correlation with physical activity, while intrinsic regulation and RAI (Relative Autonomy Index) showed positive correlation with physical activity. None of the behavioural regulators had statis-tically significant association with category of physical activity.

COVID-19–Associated Outcomes of Critical Illness in Patients with Frailty: a Cohort Study

Carmel L. Montgomery — 2024-09-04

Background

Pre-admission frailty has been associated with higher hospital mortality in patients with critical illness. We aimed to measure the prevalence of frailty and its associated outcomes in patients with COVID-19 critical illness.

Methods

A historical cohort study of all adults admitted to ICU with a pneumonia diagnosis in Alberta, Canada between May 1, 2020, and October 31, 2020. At ICU admission patients were routinely assessed for frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Frailty was defined as a CFS score ≥5. Primary outcomes were pre-admission frailty prevalence and hospital mortality.

Results

The cohort (n=521) prevalence of frailty was 34.2% (n=178), mean (SD) age was 58.8 (14.9) years, APACHE II 22.8 (8.0), and 39.5% (n=206) were female. COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed in (19.0%; n=99) admissions; pre-admission frailty was present in 20.2% (n=20) vs. 79.8% (n=79) non-frail (p<.001). Among ICU patients admitted with COVID-19, hospital mortality in frail patients was 35.4% (n=63) vs. 14.0% (n=48) in non-frail (p<.001).

Conclusion

Pre-admission frailty was present in 20.2% of COVID-19 ICU admissions and was associated with higher risk of hospital mortality. Frailty assessment may yield valuable prognostic information when considering COVID-19 ICU admission; however, further study is needed to identify effect on patient-centred outcomes in this heterogeneous population.

Poster Session Abstracts from the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Partners Forum and Science Days 2024

2024-09-04

Abstracts from the 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Geriatrics Society

2024-09-04

The Association Between the Presence of Medical Care and Resident Outcomes in Canadian Nursing Homes: a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis

Krittika Bali — 2024-09-04

The quality of medical care provided to older residents in nursing homes may depend upon available staffing models; this study examined the relationship between physician and nurse practitioner (NP) presence, care involvement, and resident outcomes. The secondary analysis of data collected in the Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) study during 2019-20 included items on daily presence of physicians and NPs on units, physician involvement in care planning, and ability to contact physician or NP when necessary linked to routinely collected Resident Assessment Instrument—Minimum Data Set version 2.0 data. Eight logistic regression models tested the association between measures of staffing involvement and each outcome (antipsychotic use without indication (APM), physical restraint use, hospital transfers, and polypharmacy). The sample consisted of 10,888 residents across 320 care units in 90 facilities. Of the units, 277 (86%) reported a physician or NP visited daily, 160 (72.1%) reported that the physician was involved in care planning, and 318 (99%) units reported that the physician or NP could be reached when needed. Following adjustment for multiple confounding variables, there were no statistically significant associations between presence/involvement of medical professionals and resident outcomes (for example, physician or NP presence on the unit and hospitalization transfers [AOR=1.17, 95% CI: 0.46-3.10] or polypharmacy [AOR=1.37, 95% CI: 0.64-2.93]). We found non-significant associations between medical staff presence and involvement and selected resident outcomes, suggesting either the presence of many unaccounted for confounding inter-related resident–care provider variables or underlying insensitivity of the available data.