Search

This study's objective was to examine the characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presenting with various exercise tolerance levels. A total of 235 patients with stable COPD were classified into 4 groups: (1) LoFlo + HiEx-patients with a six-minute walking distance (6MWD) ≥350 m and percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV 1.0 ) <50%; (2) HiFlo + HiEx-patients with a 6MWD ≥350 m and a %FEV 1.0 ≥50%; (3) LoFlo + LoEx-patients with a 6MWD < 350 m and %FEV 1.0 < 50%; and (4) HiFlo + LoEx-patients with a 6MWD <350 m and %FEV 1.0 ≥ 50%. Aspects of physical ability in the HiFlo + LoEx group were significantly lower than those in the HiFlo + HiEx group. The HiFlo + LoEx group was characterized by a history of hospitalization for respiratory illness within the past year, treatment with at-home oxygen therapy, and lacking daily exercise habits. Following three months of pulmonary rehabilitation, the LoFlo + HiEx group significantly improved in the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea score, maximum gait speed, and 6MWD, while the HiFlo + LoEx group significantly improved in the percentage of maximal expiratory pressure, maximum gait speed, 6MWD, incremental shuttle walking distance, and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score. The HiFlo + LoEx group had the greatest effect of three-month pulmonary rehabilitation compared to other groups.

Few studies have examined the effects of health literacy on people at risk of developing dementia; its effects on the pathogenesis of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are particularly unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between health literacy and SCD in a population of healthy community-dwelling older adults. SCD status was assessed using the Cognitive Function domain of the Kihon Checklist (KCL-CF). Health literacy, in turn, was evaluated using the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (CCHL) scale. Global cognitive function and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a five-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5), respectively. Participants who were suspected of having SCD were significantly older than their non-SCD peers, and scored significantly worse on the CCHL, MMSE, and GDS-5. In addition, SCD status was found to be associated with CCHL and GDS-5 scores, as well as age, according to a logistic regression analysis. These findings suggest that low health literacy is linked to SCD morbidity in healthy community-dwelling older adults and should prove useful in the planning of dementia prevention and intervention programs for this population.

The association between gait speed, a vital health outcome in older adults, and health literacy, an important health promotion aspect, is unclear. This study examined the relationship of gait speed with health literacy, physical function, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. The subjects were 240 older adults (52 men, mean age 73.8 ± 6.0 years). Gender, age, and education were self-reported, while height and weight were measured directly. Health literacy was evaluated using Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (CCHL). Grip strength, knee extension strength, toe-grip strength, sit-up test, sit-and-reach test, one-leg stance test time, 30-s chair-stand test (CS-30), and normal gait speed were measured. Subjects were divided into two groups based on normal gait speed-fast (speed ≥ 1.3 m/s) and slow (<1.3 m/s). In the logistic regression analysis, the dependent variable was normal gait speed (fast/slow). Four logistic regression models were utilized to determine whether health literacy affects gait speed. Height and CCHL were found to independently affect gait speed. That health literacy influences gait speed is a new discovery.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is complex and not well understood, especially among Japanese people. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the relationships of subjective and objective mental and physical function with SCD among older community-dwelling Japanese adults. SCD was evaluated using the Kihon Checklist: Cognitive Function. Other parameters were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the five-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5), for an objective mental function other than SCD. A timed up-and-go test (TUG) and knee extension strength were used to test objective physical function, and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) in the Health-Related Quality of Life survey eight-item short form (SF-8) were used for subjective mental and physical functions. The results of the MMSE, GDS-5, TUG, knee extension strength, and MCS were significantly worse in the SCD group. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that GDS-5 and MCS were associated with SCD onset. Depressive symptoms and decreased subjective mental function contribute to SCD among community-dwelling Japanese adults. These findings will be useful for planning dementia prevention and intervention programs for older Japanese adults.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance among community-dwelling older women. Data were collected from 306 older adults, and the data of 214 older women were included in the final analysis. Participants' calcaneus bone mass was measured using ultrasonography. Based on their T-scores, participants were divided into the following three groups: normal (T-score > -1), low (-2.5 < T-score ≤ -1), and very low (T-score ≤ -2.5) bone mass. Further, participants' skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength (grip and knee extension strength), and physical performance [gait speed and timed up and go (TUG)] were measured. Arm skeletal muscle index (SMI, skeletal muscle mass/height 2 ), leg SMI, and appendicular SMI in the very low bone mass group were low compared to those of the low bone mass group ( p = 0.034, p = 0.011, and p = 0.009, respectively). Grip and knee extension strength, gait speed, and TUG were not significantly different between the groups. These findings suggest that older women with low bone density had decreased skeletal muscle mass. Therefore, maintaining or improving skeletal muscle mass may prevent low bone mass.