Association between heart diseases, social factors and physical frailty in community-dwelling older populations: The septuagenarians, octogenarians, nonagenarians investigation with centenarians study

Multidimensional insights about healthy aging from the cohort study for community-dwelling older adults: The SONIC study

The Septuagenarian, Octogenarian, Nonagenarian Investigation with Centenarian (SONIC) study was established considering population trends and targeting the oldest-old population. This study is unique in its narrow age range, consisting of individuals aged in their 70s, 80s and 90s, and is carried out as a longitudinal cohort study with follow ups every 3 years in urban and rural areas of eastern and western Japan. The aims of the SONIC study are primarily to clarify aging-related changes in multiple domains of human functioning, explore the dynamics of interactions among these domains and identify factors influencing healthy longevity, including psychological well-being. Investigations spanning medical, dental, nutritional, psychological and sociological fields were carried out by specialists, yielding important results. Findings from the SONIC study in Japan, a super-aged society, will provide valuable information for addressing the global aging trend. This review introduces the results from the SONIC study, and explains factors contributing to healthy longevity and happy aging. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 346-355.

Different impact of chronic kidney disease in older patients with heart failure according to frailty

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and frailty are often present in older patients with heart failure (HF). Our aim was to evaluate the association of CKD and frailty in one-year mortality in a cohort of older (≥75 years) outpatients with HF METHODS: Our data come from the FRAGIC study ("impacto de la FRAGilidad y otros síndromes Geriátricos en el manejo clínico y pronóstico del paciente anciano ambulatorio con Insuficiencia Cardíaca"), a multicenter prospective registry conducted in 16 cardiology services in Spain which included ≥75 years outpatients with HF. Renal function was assessed according to CKD-EPI formula. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed and frailty was identified according to visual mobility scale (frail if VMS≥2). Survival rates were analyzed by Cox regression model.

RESULTS

We included 499 patients, mean age 81.4 ± 4.3 years, 38 % women. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 52.1 ± 17.5 ml/min/1.72 m2. Patients were classified in normal renal function (eGFR≥60 ml/min/1.72m2, 182 patients, 36 %), moderately impaired (eGFR 30-59 ml/min/1.72m2, 261 patients, 52.7 %) and severely impaired (eGFR<30 ml/min/1.72m2, 56 patients, 11.3 %). Patients with severe CKD were older, more often female, and presented a worse clinical profile, with higher comorbidity burden and frailty. After a median follow up of 371 days, 58 patients (11.6 %) died. Mortality was higher in patients with worse renal function (8.8 %, 11 % and 21 % according to renal function subgroups, respectively, p = 0.036) and frailty in the univariate analysis. However, only frailty, according to VMS, but not severe renal dysfunction, was independently associated with one year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Most HF patients≥75 years have renal dysfunction. CKD is a marker of worse prognosis in elderly patients with chronic HF, but it does not independently associate one-year mortality in the presence of frailty.

Factors associated with social participation among community-dwelling frail older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

In recent years, it has become clear that participation in social activities by the older adult suppresses their need for long-term care. Likewise, social participation can promote long-term care prevention among frail older adults who are at a higher risk of needing long-term care. However, their social participation rate is low, and the factors causing these low rates of participation are unclear. Therefore, this study identifies the factors affecting social participation of frail older adults.

METHODS

After excluding those certified as requiring long-term care, 28,636 older adults within the target region were selected to receive questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed and collected via mail. A total of 22,048 respondents (77.0%), including 9,325 men and 10,150 women, were included; 2,655 frail older adults were identified for analysis. Questionnaire items inquired about social participation, basic attributes, need for long-term care, mobility, subjective health, direct and indirect contact with relatives living separately and direct and indirect contact with friends and neighbors. For the statistical analysis, this study employed a binomial logistic regression analysis with social participation as the objective variable.

RESULTS

The rate of social participation among frail older adults was 13.7%. Items related to social participation included sex, economic status, mobility, subjective health, direct contact with friends, and indirect contact with friends.

CONCLUSIONS

Interactions with friends and neighbors and physical functionality are correlated with levels of social participation among frail older adults, suggesting that social participation can be promoted by maintaining friendships, forming new ones, and maintaining and improving physical functionality.

Cognitive, psychological and social factors associated with older adults' mobility: a scoping review of self-report and performance-based measures

Although many factors have been associated with mobility among older adults, there is paucity of research that explores the complexity of factors that influence mobility. This review aims to synthesise the available evidence for factors comprising the cognitive, psychological, and social mobility determinants and their associations with mobility self-reported and performance-based outcomes in older adults (60 years). We followed Arksey and O'Malley's five stages of a scoping review and searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, AgeLine, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Sociological Abstract databases. Reviewers in pairs independently conducted title, abstract, full-text screening and data extraction. We reported associations by analyses rather than articles because articles reported multiple associations for factors and several mobility outcomes. Associations were categorised as significantly positive, negative, or not significant. We included 183 peer-reviewed articles published in 27 countries, most of which were cross-sectional studies and conducted among community-dwelling older adults. The 183 articles reported 630 analyses, of which 381 (60.5%) were significantly associated with mobility outcomes in the expected direction. For example, older adults with higher cognitive functioning such as better executive functioning had better mobility outcomes (e.g., faster gait speed), and those with poor psychological outcomes, such as depressive symptoms, or social outcomes such as reduced social network, had poorer mobility outcomes (e.g., slower gait speed) compared to their counterparts. Studies exploring the association between cognitive factors, personality (a psychological factor) and self-reported mobility outcomes (e.g., walking for transportation or driving), and social factors and performance-based mobility outcomes in older adults are limited. Understanding the additive relationships between cognitive, psychological, and social factors highlights the complexity of older adults' mobility across different forms of mobility, including independence, use of assistive devices, transportation, and driving.

Association between social capital and frailty and the mediating effect of health-promoting lifestyles in Chinese older adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

To explore the association between social capital and frailty and the mediating effect of health-promoting lifestyles among Chinese older adults, while providing scientific evidence for frailty intervention.

METHODS

In May 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 674 Chinese older adults in Changsha city. Data was collected using the Chinese Shortened Social Capital Scale (comprising structural social capital and cognitive social capital as two subscales), a simplified version of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between social capital and frailty. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediating effect of health-promoting lifestyles.

RESULTS

Cognitive social capital was significantly negatively associated with frailty and its three dimensions (physical, psychological, and social frailty), but structural social capital was not. Health-promoting lifestyles played a mediating role in the associations of cognitive social capital with frailty, physical and psychological frailty, but not with social frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher cognitive social capital was associated with a reduced likelihood of frailty. The health-promoting lifestyles partially mediated the association between cognitive social capital and frailty. The use of health-promoting lifestyles or appropriate cognitive social capital interventions may reduce frailty among older adults.

Síndrome de fragilidade entre pessoas idosas longevas de uma macrorregião de saúde em Minas Gerais

Resumo Objetivo identificar as condições de fragilidade e seus fatores associados entre pessoas idosas longevas residentes na área urbana de uma macrorregião de saúde de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos estudo transversal, desenvolvido com 314 pessoas idosas longevas residentes em uma macrorregião de saúde de Minas Gerais. Os dados foram coletados nos domicílios mediante a aplicação de instrumentos validados no Brasil. Procederam-se as análises descritiva e regressão logística multinomial (p<0,05). Resultados verificou-se que 44,3% do longevos eram frágeis, 44,3% pré-frágeis e 11,4% não frágeis. A condição de pré-fragilidade associou-se ao fato de morar só (p=0,047) e ao desempenho físico muito ruim/baixo (p=0,026), enquanto a fragilidade, ao desempenho físico muito ruim/baixo (p<0,001); ao indicativo de sintomas depressivos (p=0,029) e à presença de 5 ou mais morbidades (p=0,003). Conclusão as condições de pré-fragilidade e fragilidade foram as mais frequentes entre os longevos. A manutenção do desempenho físico é um aspecto passível de atuação pelos profissionais de saúde, a ser trabalhado entre as pessoas idosas longevas visando postergar a pré-fragilidade e a fragilidade.

Frailty syndrome among oldest old individuals in a health macro-region of Minas Gerais

Abstract Objective to identify frailty conditions and their associated factors among oldest old individuals living in the urban area of a health macro-region of Minas Gerais state. Methods a cross-sectional study of 314 oldest old from a health macro-region in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, was conducted. Data were collected from households by applying instruments validated for use in Brazil. Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses (p<0.05) were carried out. Results In the sample assessed, 44.3% of the oldest old were frail, 44.3% pre-frail and 11.4% non-frail. The pre-frail condition was associated with living alone (p=0.047) and very poor/poor physical performance (p=0.026), while frailty was associated with very poor/poor physical performance (p<0.001), the presence of depressive symptomatology (p=0.029) and of ≥5 morbidities (p=0.003). Conclusion pre-frail and frail conditions predominated among the oldest old assessed. Maintaining physical performance is an aspect that can be targeted by health professionals in oldest old to delay pre-frailty and frailty.