0000000000384283
AUTHOR
Valter Giantin
Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in the healthy older adults of the Peruvian Andes
Aim To assess the prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in a population of older people living in a rural area of the Peruvian Andes. Materials and methods The study concerned 222 people aged ≥65 years. Sarcopenia was diagnosed on the basis of skeletal muscle mass, measured using bioimpedance analysis, and gait speed, measured with the 4-m walking test, as recommended by the International Working Group on sarcopenia. Self-reported physical activity, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the Six-Minute Walking Test also contributed information on participants’ physical performance status. Disabilities were investigated by assessing participants’ self-reported difficulties in …
A case of naturally evolving gout in an elderly man
Gout is a common disorder in adults that can lead to severe organ decline, disability and impaired quality of life due to the formation of periarticular tophi. We report a case of massive tophaceous gout in a 78-year-old man with a 16-year-long history of untreated disease. The patient gradually became disabled, his renal function deteriorated, and he finally died of sepsis. Our case demonstrates that chronic gout not only affects the joints, but is also associated with organ function decline and can, even nowadays, lead to death. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Orthostatic Changes in Blood Pressure and Cognitive Status in the Elderly: The Progetto Veneto Anziani Study.
We studied a cohort of 1408 older subjects to explore whether postural changes in blood pressure (BP; defined as orthostatic hypo- or hypertension) can predict the onset of cognitive deterioration. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a drop of 20 mm Hg in systolic or 10 mm Hg in diastolic BP and orthostatic hypertension as a rise of 20 mm Hg in systolic BP. Orthostatic BP values were grouped into quintiles for secondary analyses. Two cognitive assessments were considered: (1) cognitive impairment, that is, Mini-Mental State Examination scores ≤24/30, and (2) cognitive decline (CD), that is, a 3-point decrease in Mini-Mental State Examination score from the baseline to the follow-up. At t…
High serum uric acid levels increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in elderly women: The PRO.V.A study
Background and aims: Serum uric acid (SUA) is the end-product of purine metabolism in humans, and its levels often increase in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Despite several studies demonstrating a relationship between increased SUA levels and the prevalence of MetS, prospective data on SUA as a predictor of the incidence of MetS in the elderly are limited. Our aim was to conduct a prospective study on the association between SUA concentrations and the onset of MetS in an elderly Italian cohort. Methods and results: This is a cohort study (Progetto Veneto Anziani Pro.V.A.) involving community-dwelling subjects aged ≥65 years and followed up for a mean 4.4 years. We included 1128 p…
Nutritional status, physical performance and disability in the elderly of the Peruvian Andes
Background: Although nutritional status plays an important part in the physical performance and disability of older people, this relationship has been little studied in developing countries. Aims: A study on the effects of nutritional status on the physical performance and functional status of elderly people living in rural areas of the Peruvian Andes. Methods: The study concerned 222 people aged ≥65 years living in a rural area of the Peruvian Andes. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to classify participants as malnourished (MNA <= 17), at risk of malnutrition (MNA 18-23), or well-nourished (MNA>= 24). The short physical performance battery (SPPB) and six-minute walking …