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Abstract: The aim of the study is to compare factors associated with physical performance in older individuals with severe knee osteoarthritis and those with less-severe osteoarthritis. This is an ancillary cross-sectional study to a population-based cohort study focusing on Koreans age 65 years or older. The analysis included 553 subjects with information about knee pain, depressive symptoms, and comorbidities collected by self-reported questionnaire, and body weight, knee osteoarthritis severity, muscle strength, and physical measures by observer-rated tests. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed with physical performance as an outcome variable and the others as independent variables across radiographic knee osteoarthritis severity. In the minimal-to-moderate-severity group, muscle strength, knee pain, BMI, and age were related to poor performance (OR [CI] 0.81 [0.73–0.90], 1.12 [1.03–1.21], 0.87 [0.79–0.96], and 1.09 [1.05–1.14], respectively). In the severe group, muscle strength was the only factor significantly associated with poor performance (OR [CI] 0.72 [0.58–0.89]). Muscle strength, knee pain, and BMI were important determinants of physical performance in the older population with knee osteoarthritis. In severe knee osteoarthritis patients, muscle strength was the only significant determinant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reduced executive function and physical performance are common age-related conditions. This study evaluated the associations between executive function and physical performance in a representative sample of older adults. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from a population-based sample of 629 men and women aged 65 or older and living in one typical city in Korea. Specific aspects of executive function were assessed using the trail making test, digit span test, and lexical fluency test to measure set shifting, working memory and cognitive flexibility functions. Physical performance was measured using performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) scores and isokinetic muscle strength. Subjects’ self-efficacy was also assessed using the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale. Results of the lexical fluency test were associated with POMA scores and muscle strength, independent of age, gender, education, comorbidity, physical activity status, depression, and global cognition, suggesting that reduced cognitive flexibility is associated with reduced physical performance and muscle strength. Self-efficacy was also independently associated with physical performance and muscle strength. Clinicians need to consider the association between executive function and physical performance when working to improve physical functioning in an aged population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in the upper extremities (UE), low back, and lower extremities (LE) in an elderly population, and to identify related factors. In this cross-sectional cohort study, 1118 Korean elderly subjects were randomly selected from residents aged ≥65 years living in an urban city of Korea. The study data included presence of MSK pain, educational levels, activity levels over a 24h, monthly income, body mass indices and presence of depression. Estimated age- and gender-standardized prevalences of UE, low back, and LE pain were 62.6%, 72.6%, and 45.7%, respectively. The prevalence of LE pain increased with age, whereas those of UE pain and back pain did not. By multivariate analysis, a female gender and a low income were found to be significantly associated with pain at all sites, and obesity was related with low back and LE pain. Furthermore, an uneducated state was found to be associated with LE pain, and major depressive disorder to be obviously related to UE and LE pain. MSK pain was identified to be a common problem in the elderly Korean population, and a female gender was consistently associated with MSK pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]