Timed Up and Go test and gastrointestinal disorders among hospitalized older adults with fall risk

Fall status and risk factors in older Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To analyse the risk factors and incidence of falls in geriatric outpatients in a university hospital ward in Hangzhou, China.

METHODS

From May 2020 to August 2022, 1712 geriatric outpatients in a university hospital ward in Hangzhou, China, were screened using a socio-demographic questionnaire (e.g. gender, age, living arrangement, etc.) and assessment scales. The correlation between each factor and falls was preliminarily analysed by chi-squared tests. Finally, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to further analyse the risk factors of falls. The STROBE checklist was used in reporting this study.

RESULTS

Of the 1712 geriatric outpatients recruited, 1626 participants (60-79 and ≥ 80 years old) with complete questionnaire and assessment data were included. The occurrence of falls for those in the 60-79 age group was 8.4%, and for those in the ≥80 age group it was 13.4%. Age (p = .007), use of a walking assistance device (p < .001), the Stay Independent Brochure Questionnaire (SIB) (OR = 7.751, 95% CI = 5.089-11.806, p < .001), living arrangement (p = .004), timed up and go test (TUGT) (p = .007) and three diseases or above (OR = 2.496, 95% CI = 1.358-11.4.586, p = .003) reached statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Older people have a high incidence of falls. In this study, age, disease history, SIB scores (≥4 points), living arrangement, TUGT and walking assistance device increased the probability of falls in older Chinese adults. Personalised interventions should be carried out according to the specific situation of older people to effectively reduce their incidence of falls and improve their quality of life.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The basic characteristics and fall risk factors of the older can help nurses identify fall risk, and early intervention by caregivers can reduce fall-related injuries, which has practical significance for promoting healthy aging.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The subjects of this study were older patients ≥60 years old, and the demographic characteristics and fall-related information of patients were obtained by questionnaire. The team worked closely with a team of experts in the field of health care. Some researchers collect data and rewrite them, while other researchers analyse the information and write a paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

REAC Neurobiological Modulation as a Precision Medicine Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and psychopathological symptoms, often associated with central pain modulation failure and dysfunctional adaptive responses to environmental stress. The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology is a neuromodulation technology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of some REAC treatments on psychomotor responses and quality of life in 37 patients with FS. Tests were conducted before and after a single session of Neuro Postural Optimization and after a cycle of 18 sessions of Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization (NPPO), using evaluation of the functional dysmetria (FD) phenomenon, Sitting and Standing (SS), Time Up and Go (TUG) tests for motor evaluation, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) for quality of life. The data were statistically analyzed, and the results showed a statistically significant improvement in motor response and quality of life parameters, including pain, as well as reduced FD measures in all participants. The study concludes that the neurobiological balance established by the REAC therapeutic protocols NPO and NPPO improved the dysfunctional adaptive state caused by environmental and exposomal stress in FS patients, leading to an improvement in psychomotor responses and quality of life. The findings suggest that REAC treatments could be an effective approach for FS patients, reducing the excessive use of analgesic drugs and improving daily activities.