Objectively‐measured outdoor time and physical and psychological function among older adults

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Aim The present cross‐sectional study examined the associations of social frailty status with loss of muscle mass and weakness among community‐dwelling older adults. Methods Data from 353 older adults (74.8% women) who had participated in a community‐based health check survey (Tarumizu Study) were analyzed. Social frailty was defined using responses to five questions (going out less frequently, rarely visiting friends, feeling unhelpful to friends or family, living alone and not talking with someone every day). Participants with two or more components were considered socially frail. We assessed appendicular skeletal muscle mass using bioelectrical impedance analysis and calculated appendicular skeletal muscle index. Dominant handgrip strength was assessed. Loss of skeletal muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle index <7.0 kg/m2 for men, <5.7 kg/m2 for women) and muscle weakness (handgrip strength <26 kg for men, <18 kg for women) were determined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. Results The prevalence of social frailty was 14.7%. A higher prevalence of muscle weakness and loss of skeletal muscle mass in participants with social frailty was shown than in those without (muscle weakness 44.2% vs 23.6%, P ≤ 0.05; loss of skeletal muscle mass 59.6% vs 46.2%, P = 0.07). Social frailty was independently associated with muscle weakness (odds ratio 2.04, 95% confidence interval 1.06–3.95), but not with loss of skeletal muscle mass (odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 0.78–2.76) after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions Social frailty status could be associated with muscle weakness, though not a loss of skeletal muscle mass. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 76–80.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Associations of social frailty with loss of muscle mass and muscle weakness among community‐dwelling older adults

Makizako

Kubozono

Kiyama

et al. 2018

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“…12,15,17 The present study suggests that there are individual differences that affect the impact of going outdoors on mental health. the influence was observed only among those who were unemployed).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] To better understand the health benefits of going outdoors among older adults, examinations of potential moderators are necessary. As the baseline characteristics differed by living alone and employment status (Supporting Information), the present study examined their moderating role after statistically adjusting for other baseline variables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, it is easier for older adults to incorporate going outdoors into their daily lives compared with other behavioral predictors of quality of life, such as exercise 4 and/or smoking cessation. Previous studies have shown that lower frequencies of going outdoors are associated with various health outcomes (including mortality, 7 instrumental activities of daily living [IADL], 7,8 urinary continence, 9 functional capacities, [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] cognitive impairments 12,13,16 and psychological well-being 12,15,17 ). 6 Regardless of the purpose, going outdoors usually involves certain levels of physical, cognitive and/or social activities for older people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Frequency of going outdoors and health‐related quality of life among older adults: Examining the moderating role of living alone and employment status

Harada

Masumoto

Katagiri

et al. 2017

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“…In terms of the social frailty items, the presence of chronic pain was associated with going out less frequently, rarely visiting friends and feeling unhelpful to friends or family. Going outdoors and visiting friends plays an important role in physical and psychological health, and it has been documented that greater objectively‐measured outdoor time is related to better physical and psychological function . Feeling helpful toward friends or family might also play an important role in psychological health, because this item reflects the social role of individuals .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic pain is independently associated with social frailty in community‐dwelling older adults

Hirase

Makizako

Okubo

et al. 2019

Aim The present study aimed to determine whether measures of chronic pain are associated with social frailty in community‐dwelling older adults. Methods Participants comprised 248 older adults who enrolled for community‐based exercise classes. Chronic pain was defined as the presence of significant pain‐related symptoms within the past month that had continued for at least 6 months. Social frailty was defined as positive responses to two of the following five questions (going out less frequently, rarely visiting friends, feeling unhelpful to friends or family, living alone and not talking with someone every day). Physical function was assessed using the Chair Stand and Timed Up and Go tests. Results A total of 55 participants (22.2%) met the criteria for social frailty. A total of 28 socially frail participants (50.9%) and 56 of the socially integrated participants (29.0%) reported chronic pain. The presence of chronic pain was significantly associated with social frailty after adjusting for age, sex and physical function measures (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.01–4.48). Chronic pain was also significantly associated with three social frailty items: going out less frequently, rarely visiting friends and feeling unhelpful to friends or family. Conclusions Chronic pain was independently associated with social frailty in community‐dwelling older adults. Simple assessments of chronic pain and subsequent pain management interventions might be beneficial for older people with social frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 1153–1156.