BACKGROUND: A significant number of older patients planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) experience a decline in physical functioning and death, despite a successful procedure.OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on the association of preprocedural muscle strength and physical performance with functional decline or long-term mortality after TAVI.METHODS: We followed the PRISMA guidelines and pre-registered this review at PROSPERO (CRD42020208032). A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to 10 December 2021. Studies reporting on the association of preprocedural muscle strength or physical performance with functional decline or long-term (>6 months) mortality after the TAVI procedure were included. For outcomes reported by three or more studies, a meta-analysis was performed.RESULTS: In total, two studies reporting on functional decline and 29 studies reporting on mortality were included. The association with functional decline was inconclusive. For mortality, meta-analysis showed that low handgrip strength (hazard ratio (HR) 1.80 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.63]), lower distance on the 6-minute walk test (HR 1.15 [95% CI: 1.09-1.21] per 50 m decrease), low performance on the timed up and go test (>20 s) (HR 2.77 [95% CI: 1.79-4.30]) and slow gait speed (<0.83 m/s) (HR 2.24 [95% CI: 1.32-3.81]) were associated with higher long-term mortality.CONCLUSIONS: Low muscle strength and physical performance are associated with higher mortality after TAVI, while the association with functional decline stays inconclusive. Future research should focus on interventions to increase muscle strength and physical performance in older cardiac patients.
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This paper investigates whether encouraging children to become more physically active in their everyday life affects their primary school performance. We use data from a field quasi‐experiment called the Active Living Program, which aimed to increase active modes of transportation to school and active play among 8‐ to 12‐year‐olds living in low socioeconomic status (SES) areas in the Netherlands. Difference‐in‐differences estimations reveal that while the interventions increase time spent on physical activity during school hours, they negatively affect school performance, especially among the worst‐performing students. Further analyses reveal that increased restlessness during instruction time is a potential mechanism for this negative effect. Our results suggest that the commonly found positive effects of exercising or participating in sports on educational outcomes may not be generalizable to physical activity in everyday life. Policymakers and educators who seek to increase physical activity in everyday life need to weigh the health and well‐being benefits against the probability of increasing inequality in school performance.
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Progressive disability develops with older age in association with underlying disease, comorbidity and frailty. Physical performance characteristics are important to improve the physical condition of older persons and therefore may be able to prevent or delay the onset of (progressive) disability. However lack of understanding of the physiology and etiology of functional decline leading to disability causes a problem in the development of effective preventive interventions. The aim of the present review is to determine which physical performance characteristics are determinants of disability in the older general population.
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Background: The concept of Functional Independence (FI), defined as ‘functioning physically safe and independent from other persons, within one’s context”, plays an important role in maintaining the functional ability to enable well-being in older age. FI is a dynamic and complex concept covering four clinical outcomes: physical capacity, empowerment, coping flexibility, and health literacy. As the level of FI differs widely between older adults, healthcare professionals must gain insight into how to best support older people in maintaining their level of FI in a personalized manner. Insight into subgroups of FI could be a first step in providing personalized support This study aims to identify clinically relevant, distinct subgroups of FI in Dutch community-dwelling older people and subsequently describe them according to individual characteristics. Results: One hundred fifty-three community-dwelling older persons were included for participation. Cluster analysis identified four distinctive clusters: (1) Performers – Well-informed; this subgroup is physically strong, well-informed and educated, independent, non-falling, with limited reflective coping style. (2) Performers – Achievers: physically strong people with a limited coping style and health literacy level. (3) The reliant- Good Coper representing physically somewhat limited people with sufficient coping styles who receive professional help. (4) The reliant – Receivers: physically limited people with insufficient coping styles who receive professional help. These subgroups showed significant differences in demographic characteristics and clinical FI outcomes. Conclusions: Community-dwelling older persons can be allocated to four distinct and clinically relevant subgroups based on their level of FI. This subgrouping provides insight into the complex holistic concept of FI by pointing out for each subgroup which FI domain is affected. This way, it helps to better target interventions to prevent the decline of FI in the community-dwelling older population.
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End-stage kidney disease patients treated with conventional hemodialysis (CHD) are known to have impaired physical performance and protein-energy wasting (PEW). Nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) was shown to improve clinical outcomes, but the evidence is limited on physical performance and PEW. We investigate whether NHD improves physical performance and PEW. This prospective, multicenter, non-randomized cohort study compared patients who changed from CHD (2-4 times/week 3-5 h) to NHD (2-3 times/week 7-8 h), with patients who continued CHD. The primary outcome was physical performance at 3, 6 and 12 months, assessed with the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Secondary outcomes were a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), physical activity monitor, handgrip muscle strength, KDQOL-SF physical component score (PCS) and LAPAQ physical activity questionnaire. PEW was assessed with a dietary record, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and subjective global assessment (SGA). Linear mixed models were used to analyze the differences between groups. This study included 33 patients on CHD and 32 who converted to NHD (mean age 55 ± 15.3). No significant difference was found in the SPPB after 1-year of NHD compared to CHD (+0.24, [95% confidence interval -0.51 to 0.99], p = 0.53). Scores of 6MWT, PCS and SGA improved (+54.3 [95%CI 7.78 to 100.8], p = 0.02; +5.61 [-0.51 to 10.7], p = 0.03; +0.71 [0.36 to 1.05], p &lt; 0.001; resp.) in NHD patients, no changes were found in other parameters. We conclude that NHD patients did not experience an improved SPPB score compared to CHD patients; they did obtain an improved walking distance and self-reported PCS as well as SGA after 1-year of NHD, which might be related to the younger age of these patients.
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Objective: To obtain insight into (a) the prevalence of nursing staff–experienced barriers regarding the promotion of functional activity among nursing home residents, and (b) the association between these barriers and nursing staff–perceived promotion of functional activity. Method: Barriers experienced by 368 nurses from 41 nursing homes in the Netherlands were measured with the MAastrIcht Nurses Activity INventory (MAINtAIN)-barriers; perceived promotion of functional activities was measured with the MAINtAIN-behaviors. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Most often experienced barriers were staffing levels, capabilities of residents, and availability of resources. Barriers that were most strongly associated with the promotion of functional activity were communication within the team, (a lack of) referral to responsibilities, and care routines. Discussion: Barriers that are most often experienced among nursing staff are not necessarily the barriers that are most strongly associated with nursing staff–perceived promotion of functional activity.
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Background: Clinicians are currently challenged to support older adults to maintain a certain level of Functional Independence (FI). FI is defined as "functioning physically safely and independent from another person, within one's own context". A Core Outcome Set was developed to measure FI. The purpose of this study was to assess discriminative validity of the Core Outcome Set FI (COSFI) in a population of Dutch older adults (≥ 65 years) with different levels of FI. Secondary objective was to assess to what extent the underlying domains 'coping', 'empowerment' and 'health literacy' contribute to the COSFI in addition to the domain 'physical capacity'. Methods: A population of 200 community-dwelling older adults and older adults living in residential care facilities were evaluated by the COSFI. The COSFI contains measurements on the four domains of FI: physical capacity, coping, empowerment and health literacy. In line with the COSMIN Study Design checklist for Patient-reported outcome measurement instruments, predefined hypotheses regarding prediction accuracy and differences between three subgroups of FI were tested. Testing included ordinal logistic regression analysis, with main outcome prediction accuracy of the COSFI on a proxy indicator for FI. Results: Overall, the prediction accuracy of the COSFI was 68%. For older adults living at home and depending on help in (i)ADL, prediction accuracy was 58%. 60% of the preset hypotheses were confirmed. Only physical capacity measured with Short Physical Performance Battery was significantly associated with group membership. Adding health literacy with coping or empowerment to a model with physical capacity improved the model significantly (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The current composition of the COSFI, did not yet meet the COSMIN criteria for discriminative validity. However, with some adjustments, the COSFI potentially becomes a valuable instrument for clinical practice. Context-related factors, like the presence of a spouse, also may be a determining factor in this population. It is recommended to include context-related factors in further research on determining FI in subgroups of older people.
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Background: Over the years, a plethora of frailty assessment tools has been developed. These instruments can be basically grouped into two types of conceptualizations – unidimensional, based on the physical–biological dimension – and multidimensional, based on the connections among the physical, psychological, and social domains. At present, studies on the comparison between uni- and multidimensional frailty measures are limited. Objective: The aims of this paper were: 1) to compare the prevalence of frailty obtained using a uni- and a multidimensional measure; 2) to analyze differences in the functional status among individuals captured as frail or robust by the two measures; and 3) to investigate relations between the two frailty measures and disability.
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Surgical resection is currently the cornerstone of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) cancer treatment. A low preoperative aerobic fitness level has been identified as a modifiable risk factor associated with complications after major abdominal surgery. A person’s aerobic fitness is influenced by performing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study aims to determine the activity monitor measured levels of MVPA performed among patients on the waiting list for HPB cancer surgery and their association with postoperative outcomes. A prospective, observational multi-center cohort pilot study was conducted. Patients enlisted for resection surgery on suspicion of HPB (pre)malignancy were enrolled. Performed MVPA was measured by an Actigraph wGT3X-BT. Additionally, aerobic fitness was measured via the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, and (post)operative variables were collected from the electronic patient files. The association between MVPA and the pre- and postoperative variables was determined by univariate and multivariable (logistic) robust regression. A total of 38 participants, median age 66.0 (IQR 58.25–74.75) years, were enrolled. The median daily MVPA was 10.7 (IQR 6.9–18.0) min; only 8 participants met the Dutch MVPA guidelines. Participant’s age and aerobic fitness were associated with MVPA by multivariable statistical analysis. Time to functional recovery was 8 (IQR 5–12) days and was associated with MVPA and type of surgery (major/minor) in multivariable analysis. Seventy-six percent of patients enlisted for resection of HPB (pre)malignancy performed insufficient MVPA. A higher level of MVPA was associated with a shorter time to functional recovery.
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BACKGROUND: Nursing home residents are mainly inactive. Nursing staff can encourage residents to perform functional activities during daily care activities. This study examines 1) the extent to which nursing staff perceive that they encourage functional activity in nursing home residents and 2) the associations between these nursing behaviors and professional characteristics, contextual factors, and information-seeking behaviors. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 368 registered nurses and certified nurse assistants, working in somatic and psychogeriatric wards of forty-one nursing homes throughout the Netherlands participated. Self-reported data were collected with a questionnaire, comprising the MAINtAIN-behaviors, which assesses the extent to which nursing staff encourage functional activities, including different activities of daily living (ADL), household activities, and miscellaneous encouraging activities (e.g., discouraging informal caregivers from taking over activities residents can do themselves). Additional data collected included professional characteristics (e.g., age), contextual factors (e.g., ward type), and information-seeking behaviors (e.g., reading professional journals). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the extent to which functional activities were encouraged. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between the encouragement of functional activities and other factors. RESULTS: Nursing staff perceived that household activities (mean 4.1 (scale range 1-9), SD 1.9) were less often encouraged than ADL (mean 6.9, SD 1.2) or miscellaneous activities (mean 6.7, SD 1.5). The percentage of nursing staff stating that different household activities, ADL, or miscellaneous activities were almost always encouraged ranged from 11 to 45%, 41 to 86%, and 50 to 83% per activity, respectively. The extent to which these activities were encouraged differed for some of the professional characteristics, contextual factors, or information-seeking behaviors, but no consistent pattern in associations emerged. CONCLUSIONS: According to nursing staff, household activities are not as often encouraged as ADL or miscellaneous activities. Professional characteristics, contextual factors, and information-seeking behaviors are not consistently associated with the encouragement of functional activity. Nursing staff should also focus on improving the encouragement of household activities. Future research could examine the role of other factors in encouraging functional activity, such as experienced barriers, and assess to what extent the perception of nursing staff corresponds with their actual behavior.
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