Sarcopenia is a common problem among the elderly worldwide. Muscle mass can decrease with aging and decreased physical activity may occur. However, the sarcopenia prevalence among community dwelling older adults living in snow-covered cities remains largely unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of and risk factors for sarcopenia in this population aged 65 years or older according to the definitions and diagnoses of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People-2 from two welfare centers in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The demographic characteristics, nutrition, and depression status of 310 participants were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. All participants were assessed for grip strength. Skeletal muscle index, body mass index (BMI), and total body water (TBW) were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The overall sarcopenia prevalence in the study population was 8.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes and taking more than four drugs per day were independently associated with sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–12.61; OR = 2.66, CI = 1.05–6.77, respectively). BMI and TBW were negatively associated with sarcopenia. Sarcopenia prevalence was low in community dwelling older adults living in the snow-covered city. It is indicated that welfare center exercise may be a good intervention for the prevention of sarcopenia. Moreover, the management of diabetes, medication, and nutrition is necessary for sarcopenia prevention in community dwelling older adults.
AimEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are used as treatments for various cancers, but the associated skin toxicities affect quality of life (QoL). The aim of this review is to document the relationship between skin toxicity and QoL of cancer patients, and to identify implications for clinical practice and subjects for future studies.MethodsElectronic databases were searched systematically and all studies examining aspects of health‐related QoL in patients receiving EGFR inhibitor treatments for cancer.ResultsA total of 25 published studies met the criteria for inclusion. Some cancer patients maintained their health conditions by recognizing that skin toxicities are correlated with the efficacy of EGFR inhibitor therapy, yet QoL declined in all functional evaluations. In particular, QoL was low in patients above 81 years of age and in those under 50 years of age.ConclusionImproved understanding of the pain due to skin toxicity is required in all age groups, particularly in elderly and young cancer patients. In addition, further studies are required to define long‐term changes in QoL among patients receiving EGFR inhibitors for cancer. Healthcare professionals need to help patients to maintain subjective health conditions by understanding relationships between skin toxicity and therapeutic effects. To this end, assessments of patients who are prone to QoL decline due to skin toxicity are critical so that skin management can be started during early stages.
Aim Social isolation and oral health problems commonly exist in older populations and can influence each other. However, evidence on this bidirectional correlation is scarce. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of literature in which social isolation and oral health were associated with each other separately. Methods Electronic searches were performed through six databases. Original cross‐sectional and longitudinal prospective studies that evaluated the associations between social isolation and oral health as either exposure or outcome were included. Results In total, 282 articles were retrieved. Of these, 10 cross‐sectional studies and one longitudinal study were included in the analysis. The level of evidence reported was generally moderate to strong. Most studies found that both stronger objective and perceived social isolation were associated with worse oral health in both directions. The frequency of meeting friends had an inconsistent association with oral health. Conclusions The results of our systematic review showed a bidirectional association between social isolation and oral health in independent community‐dwelling older adults. Both objective and perceived social isolation are associated with oral health. As objective social isolation indicators, quality of social connectedness appears to play a more important role in the association with oral health.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.