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Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (PI-1339 Project) Spanish Ministry of Health, Carlos III Institute (FIS: PI 09/2143) RETICEF (Network Research in aging and frailty) (RD 06/0013/1013) 4.481 Q2 JCR 2021 0.911 Q2 SJR 2021 No data IDR 2021 UEM

Older adults with lower limb osteoarthritis (LLOA) are highly dependent on their physical and social environment for being physically active. Longitudinal data from 2286 older adults (M age = 73.8 years; 50.3% female) in six European countries were analyzed using cross-lagged Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM. In cross-sectional analyses, neighborhood resources were associated with physical activity (r = 0.26;p

Objectives: To study associations between perceived neighborhood resources and time spent by older adults in active travel. Methods: Respondents in six European countries, aged 65–85 years, reported on the perceived presence of neighborhood resources (parks, places to sit, public transportation, and facilities) with response options “a lot,” “some,” and “not at all.” Daily active travel time (total minutes of transport-related walking and cycling) was self-reported at the baseline (n = 2,695) and 12–18 months later (n = 2,189). Results: Reporting a lot of any of the separate resources (range B’s = 0.19–0.29) and some or a lot for all four resources (B = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [0.09, 0.35]) was associated with longer active travel time than reporting none or fewer resources. Associations remained over the follow-up, but the changes in travel time were similar, regardless of the neighborhood resources. Discussion: Perceiving multiple neighborhood resources may support older adults’ active travel. Potential interventions, for example, the provision of new resources or increasing awareness of existing resources, require further study.

Pain is a key symptom of osteoarthritis (OA) and has been linked to poor mental health. Pain fluctuates over time within individuals, but a paucity of studies have considered day-to-day fluctuations of joint pain in relation to affective symptoms in older persons with OA. This study investigated the relationship of pain severity as well as within-person pain variability with anxiety and depression symptoms in 832 older adults with OA who participated in the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA): a 6-country cohort study. Affective symptoms were examined with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, pain severity was assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index and the Australian/Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index, and intraindividual pain variability was measured using pain calendars assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 to 18 months. Age-stratified multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for relevant confounders showed that more pain was associated with more affective symptoms in older-old participants (74.1–85 years). Moreover, older-old participants experienced fewer symptoms of anxiety (ratio = .85, 95% confidence interval [CI], .77–.94), depression (ratio = .90, 95% CI, .82–.98), and total affective symptoms (ratio = .87, 95% CI, .79–.94) if their pain fluctuated more. No such association was evident in younger-old participants (65–74.0 years). These findings imply that stable pain levels are more detrimental to mental health than fluctuating pain levels in older persons. Perspective This study showed that more severe and stable joint pain levels were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in older persons with OA. These findings emphasize the importance of measuring pain in OA at multiple time points, because joint pain fluctuations may be an indicator for the presence of affective symptoms.

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between osteoarthritis (OA) and incident social isolation using data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) study.Design: Prospective, observational study with 12 to 18 months of follow-up.Setting: Community dwelling.Participants: Older people living in six European countries.Measurements: Social isolation was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale and the Maastricht Social Participation Profile. Clinical OA of the hip, knee, and hand was assessed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. Demographic characteristics, including age, sex, multijoint pain, and medical comorbidities, were assessed.Results: Of the 1967 individuals with complete baseline and follow-up data, 382 (19%) were socially isolated and 1585 were nonsocially isolated at baseline; of these individuals, 222 (13.9%) experienced social isolation during follow-up. Using logistic regression analyses, after adjustment for age, sex, and country, four factors were significantly associated with incident social isolation: clinical OA, cognitive impairment, depression, and worse walking time. Compared to those without OA at any site or with only hand OA, clinical OA of the hip and/or knee, combined or not with hand OA, led to a 1.47 times increased risk of social isolation (95% confidence interval = 1.03-2.09).Conclusion: Clinical OA, present in one or two sites of the hip and knee, or in two or three sites of the hip, knee, and hand, increased the risk of social isolation, adjusting for cognitive impairment and depression and worse walking times. Clinicians should be aware that individuals with OA may be at greater risk of social isolation.

Background: This study examines the association of both pain severity and within-person pain variability with physical activity (PA) in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis were used. At baseline, clinical classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were used to diagnose OA in older adults (65–85 years). At baseline and 12–18 months follow-up, frequency and duration of participation in the activities walking, cycling, gardening, light and heavy household tasks, and sports activities were assessed with the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam Physical Activity Questionnaire. Physical activity was calculated in kcal/day, based on frequency, duration, body weight and the metabolic equivalent of each activity performed. At baseline and 12–18 months follow-up, pain severity was assessed using the pain subscales of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index and the Australian/Canadian Hand OA Index. Within-person pain variability was assessed using two-week pain calendars that were completed at baseline, 6 months follow-up and 12–18 months follow-up. Results: Of all 669 participants, 70.0% were women. Sex-stratified multiple linear regression analyses showed that greater pain severity at baseline was cross-sectionally associated with less PA in women (Ratio = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.90–0. 99), but not in men (Ratio = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.85–1.15). The longitudinal analyses showed a statistically significant inverse association between pain severity at baseline and PA at follow-up in women (Ratio = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.89–0.99), but not in men (Ratio = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.87–1.11). Greater pain variability over 12–18 months was associated with more PA at follow-up in men (Ratio = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.01–1.38), but not in women (Ratio = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.86–1.03). Conclusions: Greater pain severity and less pain variability are associated with less PA in older adults with OA. These associations are different for men and women. The observed sex differences in the various associations should be studied in more detail and need replication in future research., The Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma - Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study (IMCA - ActiFE) was supported by the European Union [No.: 2005121] and the Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg. The Italian cohort study is part of the National Research Council Project on Aging (PNR). The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, Directorate of Long-term Care. The Penagrande study was partially supported by the National Fund for Health Research (Fondo de Investigaciones en Salud) of Spain [project numbers FIS PI 05/1898; FIS RETICEF RD06/0013/1013 and FIS PS09/02143]. The Swedish Twin Registry is supported in part by the Swedish Ministry of Higher Education. The Hertfordshire Cohort Study is funded by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain, Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and the International Osteoporosis Foundation. The funding sources had no role in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of the report and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Objective To examine the role of comorbidity and pain in the associations of hand osteoarthritis (OA) with self-reported and performance-based physical function in a general population of elderly persons. Methods We studied data from 2,942 participants ages 65–85 years in the European Project on OSteoArthritis, a collaborative observational study of 6 European cohorts (from Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). Outcome measures included self-reported physical function of the hands measured by the AUStralian/CANadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) for hand OA physical function subscale and performance-based grip strength measured using a strain gauge dynamometer. Results Comorbidity was not a confounder in the association of hand OA with self-reported and performance-based functional limitations, while the role of pain as a mediator was confirmed. Anxiety, depression, stroke, and osteoporosis were associated with AUSCAN scores reflecting more impairment. Depression and osteoporosis were associated with less grip strength. Conclusion Although comorbidity was decidedly and independently associated with hand functional limitation, it had no effect on the relationship of hand OA with physical function. Hand OA was found to be associated with both self-reported and performance-based physical function impairment; the association was found to be partially mediated by pain, which reduced its impact.

PurposeOsteoarthritis (OA) has been shown to be associated with decreased physical function, which may impact upon a person’s self-rated health (SRH). Only a few studies have examined the association between OA and SRH in the general population, but to date none have used a clinical definition of OA. The objectives are: (1) To examine the cross-sectional association between clinical OA and fair-to-poor SRH in the general population; (2) To examine whether this association differs between countries; (3) To examine whether physical function is a mediator in the association between clinical OA and SRH.MethodsBaseline data of the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used, which includes pre-harmonized data from six European cohort studies (n = 2709). Clinical OA was defined according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. SRH was assessed using one question: How is your health in general? Physical function was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index and Australian/Canadian OA Hand Index.ResultsThe prevalence of fair-to-poor SRH ranged from 19.8 % in the United Kingdom to 63.5 % in Italy. Although country differences in the strength of the associations were observed, clinical OA of the hip, knee and hand were significantly associated with fair-to-poor SRH in five out of six European countries. In most countries and at most sites, the association between clinical OA and fair-to-poor SRH was partly or fully mediated by physical function.ConclusionsClinical OA at different sites was related to fair-to-poor SRH in the general population. Most associations were (partly) mediated by physical functioning, indicating that deteriorating physical function in patients with OA should be a point of attention in patient care.

Objectives The aim of this study is to identify transitions in the functional status (FS) of older adults and to assess the influence of physical performance, depression, and cognitive impairment at baseline, and their changes over time, on FS decline. Methods This is a population-based cohort with 4 years of follow-up (2008–2011) in “Penagrande cohort” (Madrid) in Primary care centres, composed of 607 persons aged ≥ 65 years. Transition in FS was classified as no disability, mobility disability and activities of daily living disability based on FS in 2008 and 2011. FS decline was considered as transition to decline, continued disability or death. The Short physical performance battery (SPPB), gait speed (GS), depression and cognitive impairment at baseline and as time-dependent variables (TDVs), were the principal independent variables in logistic regression analysis. Results Some 43.3% (95% CI: 39.3–47.4) of the study population experienced FS decline. Low SPPB and depression at baseline were associated with FS decline (odds ratio [OR] 5.79, 95% CI: 3.39–9.90 and OR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.71–5.02, respectively). The OR of FS decline (fully adjusted) were: 2.90 (95% CI: 1.59–5.29) for decrease in SPPB over time, 5.73 (95% CI: 3.36–9.77) for worsening depression, and 1.93 (95% CI: 1.13–3.29) for worsening of cognitive impairment. GS was also associated with FS decline when used as an alternative indicator of physical performance both at baseline (OR 3.26 [95% CI: 2.08–5.11]) and as TDV (OR 5.60 [95% CI: 3.17–9.89]). Conclusion The presence of low physical performance, depression and cognitive impairment predicts FS decline. Evaluation of these factors could be helpful in early diagnosis of FS decline.

Objetivo: Conocer el consumo de medicamentos entre los mayores de un área de Oporto, determinar la prevalencia de la prescripción de medicamentos potencialmente inapropiados y analizar su asociación con la polimedicación y otros factores. Dise˜no: Estudio observacional transversal de base poblacional. Emplazamiento: Unidade de Saúde Familiar Rainha D. Amélia, Centro histórico de Oporto (Por- tugal). Participantes: Muestra de 747 personas representativa de la población de 65 a˜nos y más del área de referencia. Mediciones principales: Identificación de todos los medicamentos prescritos utilizando los registros electrónicos disponibles. Se definió polimedicación como el tratamiento simultáneo con 5 o más medicamentos, y medicación potencialmente inapropiada (MPI) como el uso de medicamentos considerados inadecuados según los criterios de Beers 2012. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, de diagnóstico y de utilización de servicios. Se utilizó la regresión logística para analizar la asociación de las distintas covariables con el uso de MPI. Resultados: El 89,2% (IC 95%: 87,6-92,0) de la población de estudio tenían prescrito, al menos, un medicamento. El 59,2% (IC 95%: 55,7-62,7) estaban polimedicados. El 37,0% (IC 95%: 33,5- 40,5) consumían MPI. La prescripción de MPI se asocia a mayor edad (OR = 1,02 [IC 95%: 1,00- 1,05]), polimedicación (OR = 4,45 [IC 95%: 3,12-6,36]), depresión/ansiedad (OR = 2,18 [IC 95%: 1,36-3,51]) y artrosis (OR = 1,64 [IC 95%: 1,11-2,42]), Objective: To determine medication consumption in the older people from a central area ofOporto; determine the prevalence of prescription of Potentially Inappropriate Medication andto analyse the polypharmacy and other important connected factors.Design, setting and patients: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 747 patients older than64 years, who were attended in a Primary care health centre: USF Rainha D. Amélia, Oporto,Portugal.Main outcome measures: identification of all medication prescribed from electronic registers.Polypharmacy was considered more than 5 medication prescribed and Potential InappropriateMedication was identified by Beers criteria 2012. The socio-demographic factors, diagnosis andhealth care services use were registered too. Logistic regression analysis was used to determinethe association between co-variables.Results: There were 89.2% (95% CI: 87.6-92.0) of the studied population with at least one pres-cription. The polypharmacy was present at 59.2% (95% CI: 55.7-62.7) of people. The PotentialInappropriate Medication was present in 37.0% (95% CI: 33.5-40.5) of the cases. The PotentialInappropriate Medication was related with increasing age [OR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.05)], polyp-harmacy [OR = 4.45 (95% CI: 3.12-6.36)], and be diagnosed with depression/anxiety [OR = 2.18(95% CI: 1.36-3.51)] and/or arthrosis [OR = 1.64 (95% CI: 1.11-2.42)].Conclusion: The rate of medication prescription, polypharmacy and the prescription ofPotentially Inappropriate Medication are very high in Portuguese population studied. The polyp-harmacy is the most important factor related with this potential inappropriate medication. Thephysician need to have carefully with prescription of the anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory paindrugs.

Introduction: The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Methods: Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%). Results: Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%). Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources. Resumen: Introducción: El aumento progresivo de la demencia hace conveniente disponer de métodos rápidos que complementen los estudios poblacionales de prevalencia. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de demencia en la población mayor de 65 años a partir del consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del uso de anticolinesterásicos y/o memantina en 2011 en 2 bases de datos: Farm@drid, con registro de facturación en farmacias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) y Base de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria (BIFAP), con registros sobre diagnóstico y prescripción. Se analizó la comparabilidad de resultados sobre utilización de fármacos de ambas bases mediante χ2 de Pearson y razón de prevalencias. La prevalencia de demencia en la CAM se estimó a partir de la dosis por 100 habitantes/día, ajustando el resultado con los datos obtenidos en la BIFAP sobre tratamiento combinado en población general (0,37%) y proporción de pacientes con demencia en tratamiento (41,13%). Resultados: El consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina entre la población > 65 años de la CAM fue del 2,08 y el 0,72% respectivamente. Ambas bases muestran resultados con similar uso de estos medicamentos. La prevalencia estimada de demencia en > 65 años en la CAM es del 5,91% (IC del 95%, 5,85-5,95) (52.287 personas), mayor en mujeres (7,16%) que en hombres (4,00%). Conclusiones: La prevalencia estimada de demencia es similar a la encontrada en estudios poblacionales. El análisis del consumo de fármacos específicos para la demencia puede ser una herramienta fiable que actualice periódicamente esta prevalencia sin gran coste, ayudando en la planificación de recursos sociosanitarios. Keywords: Dementia, Prevalence, Cholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine, Drug utilisation, Pharmacoepidemiology, Palabras clave: Demencia, Prevalencia, Anticolinesterásicos, Memantina, Uso de fármacos, Farmacoepidemiología

Resumen: Introducción: El aumento progresivo de la demencia hace conveniente disponer de métodos rápidos que complementen los estudios poblacionales de prevalencia. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de demencia en la población mayor de 65 años a partir del consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del uso de anticolinesterásicos y/o memantina en 2011 en 2 bases de datos: Farm@drid, con registro de facturación en farmacias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) y Base de Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria (BIFAP), con registros sobre diagnóstico y prescripción. Se analizó la comparabilidad de resultados sobre utilización de fármacos de ambas bases mediante χ2 de Pearson y razón de prevalencias. La prevalencia de demencia en la CAM se estimó a partir de la dosis por 100 habitantes/día, ajustando el resultado con los datos obtenidos en la BIFAP sobre tratamiento combinado en población general (0,37%) y proporción de pacientes con demencia en tratamiento (41,13%). Resultados: El consumo de anticolinesterásicos y memantina entre la población > 65 años de la CAM fue del 2,08 y el 0,72% respectivamente. Ambas bases muestran resultados con similar uso de estos medicamentos. La prevalencia estimada de demencia en > 65 años en la CAM es del 5,91% (IC del 95%, 5,85-5,95) (52.287 personas), mayor en mujeres (7,16%) que en hombres (4,00%). Conclusiones: La prevalencia estimada de demencia es similar a la encontrada en estudios poblacionales. El análisis del consumo de fármacos específicos para la demencia puede ser una herramienta fiable que actualice periódicamente esta prevalencia sin gran coste, ayudando en la planificación de recursos sociosanitarios. Abstract: Introduction: The progressive rise in dementia prevalence increases the need for rapid methods that complement population-based prevalence studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 and older based on use of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Methods: Descriptive study of use and prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine in 2011 according to 2 databases: Farm@drid (pharmacy billing records for the Region of Madrid) and BIFAP (database for pharmacoepidemiology research in primary care, with diagnosis and prescription records). We tested the comparability of drug use results from each database using the chi-square test and prevalence ratios. The prevalence of dementia in Madrid was estimated based on the dose per 100 inhabitants/day, adjusting the result for data obtained from BIFAP on combination treatment in the general population (0.37%) and the percentage of dementia patients undergoing treatment (41.13%). Results: Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine were taken by 2.08% and 0.72% of Madrid residents aged 65 and older was respectively. Both databases displayed similar results for use of these drugs. The estimated prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 65 and older is 5.91% (95% CI%, 5.85-5.95) (52 287 people), and it is higher in women (7.16%) than in men (4.00%). Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of dementia is similar to that found in population-based studies. Analysing consumption of specific dementia drugs can be a reliable and inexpensive means of updating prevalence data periodically and helping rationalise healthcare resources. Palabras clave: Demencia, Prevalencia, Anticolinesterásicos, Memantina, Uso de fármacos, Farmacoepidemiología, Keywords: Dementia, Prevalence, Cholinesterase inhibitors, Memantine, Drug utilisation, Pharmacoepidemiology

Resumen Objetivo Identificar a la población mayor de 70 años atendida en Atención Primaria, susceptible de participar en un programa de ejercicio físico para prevenir fragilidad. Analizar la concordancia entre 2 criterios para seleccionar la población beneficiaria del programa. Diseño Estudio transversal de base poblacional. Emplazamiento Atención Primaria. Participantes Mayores de 70 años no frágiles residentes del Barrio Peñagrande (distrito Fuencarral, Madrid) pertenecientes a la cohorte de Peñagrande localizables en 2015 y que aceptaron participar (n = 307). Mediciones principales La variable principal del estudio es la necesidad de prescripción de ejercicio en Atención Primaria en personas mayores de 70 años; se identificó a través de 2 definiciones diferentes: personas prefrágiles (1 o 2 de los 5 criterios de Fried) y personas independientes con desempeño físico limitado, definida por los criterios del documento de consenso sobre prevención de fragilidad y caídas en la persona mayor (mayor de 70 años independiente y con puntuación total del SPPB < 10). Resultados El 63,84% de los participantes (n = 196) necesitan prescripción del ejercicio por ser prefrágiles y/o por cumplir los criterios definidos en el documento de consenso. En 82 casos cumplían los 2 criterios (prefragilidad y desempeño físico disminuido), 80 eran prefrágiles con desempeño físico normal y 34 eran robustos con desempeño físico limitado. La concordancia entre ambos criterios es débil (índice kappa 0,27). Conclusión Casi 2 tercios de los mayores presentan algún tipo de limitación funcional. Los criterios del documento de consenso para prevenir la fragilidad detectan a la mitad de los individuos prefrágiles de la comunidad.

Resumen Introduccion La hipovitaminosis D es frecuente en los ancianos, especialmente entre los institucionalizados y/o con fractura de cadera. Sin embargo, existen pocos estudios sobre la prevalencia de este deficit en la poblacion general mayor de 64 anos de nuestro entorno. El objetivo del presente trabajo es conocer la prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en una cohorte poblacional urbana de mayores de 64 anos, y analizar su relacion con factores sociodemograficos, climaticos y de salud. Material y metodos Se realizo un estudio descriptivo transversal a partir de la «cohorte de Penagrande», de base poblacional y formada por mayores de 64 anos. Se determino el valor de 25-hidroxivitamina D en sangre y se recogieron variables sociodemograficas (edad, sexo, estado civil, nivel educativo, nivel socioeconomico), estacion del ano en que se realizo la determinacion, y de salud (comorbilidad, obesidad, desnutricion, insuficiencia renal, deterioro cognitivo, discapacidad e ingesta de suplementos de vitamina D). Resultados Se obtuvo una muestra de 468 individuos siendo el 53,4% mujeres y la edad media de 76 anos (DE 7,7). El valor medio de vitamina D fue de 20,3 ± 11,7 ng/mL. El 86,3% (IC95%: 83,0-89,5) presento insuficiencia vitaminica (≤ 30 ng/mL) y el 35,2% (IC95%: 30,8-39,7) deficiencia grave (≤ 15 ng/mL). La insuficiencia vitaminica se incrementa linealmente con la edad (OR 1,06; IC95%: 1,01-1,11), y con nivel socioeconomico bajo (OR 3,29; IC95%: 1,55-6,95). La deficiencia severa de vitamina D aumenta con la edad (OR 1,06; IC95%: 1,02-1,09), el sexo femenino (OR 1,80; IC95%: 1,18-2,75) y con deterioro cognitivo (OR 1,71; IC95%: 1,04-2,83). Conclusion La prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en los mayores de 65 anos de nuestra comunidad es elevada. Seria muy recomendable poder determinar los valores de vitamina D en mayores de riesgo en atencion primaria con el objetivo de adoptar medidas de suplementacion farmacologica en los pacientes con niveles no adecuados.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of self-reported diabetes and to study its association with medium- and long-term mortality from all causes in persons ≥65 years. Design: A population-based cohort study begun in 1993. Setting: “Envejecer en Leganés” cohort (Madrid). Participants: A random sample of persons ≥65 years (n = 1277 in the 1993 baseline sample). Methods: Participants were classified as having diabetes if they so reported and had consulted a physician for this reason within the last year. Diabetes history was categorized in

BACKGROUND: poor physical performance (PP) is known to be associated with disability, lower quality of life and higher mortality rates. Knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) might be expected to contribute to poor PP, through joint pain and restricted range of movement. Both clinical and self-reported OA are often used for large-scale community and epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE: to examine the relationships between hip and knee OA and PP in a large data set comprising cohorts from six European countries. METHODS: a total of 2,942 men and women aged 65-85 years from the Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK were recruited. Assessment included an interview and clinical assessment for OA. PP was determined from walking speed, chair rises and balance (range 0-12); low PP was defined as a score of ≤9. RESULTS: the mean (SD) age was 74.2 (5.1) years. Rates of self-reported OA were much higher than clinical OA. Advanced age, female gender, lower educational attainment, abstinence from alcohol and higher body mass index were independently associated with low PP. Clinical knee OA, hip OA or both were associated with a higher risk of low PP; OR (95% CI) 2.93 (2.36, 3.64), 3.79 (2.49, 5.76) and 7.22 (3.63, 14.38), respectively, with relationships robust to adjustment for the confounders above as well as pain. CONCLUSION: lower limb OA at the hip and knee is associated with low PP, and for clinical diagnosis relationships are robust to adjustment for pain. Those at highest risk have clinical OA at both sites.

Background:Older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) often report that their disease symptoms are exacerbated by weather conditions. This study examines the association between outdoor physical activity (PA) and weather conditions in older adults from 6 European countries and assesses whether outdoor PA and weather conditions are more strongly associated in older persons with OA than in those without the condition.Methods:The American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were used to diagnose OA. Outdoor PA was assessed using the LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data on weather parameters were obtained from weather stations.Results:Of the 2439 participants (65–85 years), 29.6% had OA in knee, hand and/or hip. Participants with OA spent fewer minutes in PA than participants without OA (Median = 42.9, IQR = 20.0 to 83.1 versus Median = 51.4, IQR = 23.6 to 98.6; P < .01). In the full sample, temperature (B = 1.52; P < .001) and relative humidity (B = –0.77; P < .001) were associated with PA. Temperature was more strongly associated with PA in participants without OA (B = 1.98; P < .001) than in those with the condition (B = 0.48; P = .47).Conclusions:Weather conditions are associated with outdoor PA in older adults in the general population. Outdoor PA and weather conditions were more strongly associated in older adults without OA than in their counterparts with OA.

Few studies have used time-dependent correction to analyze the relationship between blood pressure and all-cause mortality, and to our knowledge none has been performed in older people from the Mediterranean area. This study aimed to estimate the relationship between baseline blood pressure and blood pressure as a time-dependent covariate with the risk of all-cause mortality in a population cohort of persons aged 65 or older in Spain.Data were taken from the population-based study "Aging in Leganés" with 17 years of follow-up, launched in 1993 in a random sample (n=1560) of persons aged ≥65 years. Mortality was assessed in 2010. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to examine the effects on mortality of blood pressure at baseline and of blood pressure as a time-dependent covariate.The lowest mortality was observed at baseline systolic blood pressure of 136 mmHg and time-dependent covariate value of 147 mmHg. The highest risk of mortality for time-dependent covariates occurred with systolic blood pressure115 mmHg and93 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure80 mmHg. Diastolic blood pressure over 85 mmHg did not increase the risk of death.Based on the dynamic association between blood pressure and mortality, a U-shaped relationship was found for systolic blood pressure and a negative relationship for diastolic blood pressure and all-cause mortality. The lowest mortality corresponded to a systolic blood pressure level slightly over the diagnostic hypertension value and suggests that a value of 140 mmHg is not adequate as a diagnostic and therapeutic threshold in an elderly population.

Resumen Introduccion y objetivos Son pocos los estudios que han utilizado una correccion dependiente del tiempo para analizar la relacion entre presion arterial y mortalidad por cualquier causa, y hasta donde sabemos no se ha realizado ninguno en ancianos del area mediterranea. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la relacion que la presion arterial basal y la presion arterial como variable dependiente del tiempo tienen con el riesgo de mortalidad por cualquier causa en una cohorte poblacional en Espana de personas de 65 o mas anos. Metodos Los datos se obtuvieron del estudio de base poblacional «Envejecer en Leganes», con un seguimiento de 17 anos, que se puso en marcha en 1993 en una muestra aleatoria (n = 1.560) de personas de 65 o mas anos. Se evaluo la mortalidad en 2010. Se ajustaron modelos de riesgos proporcionales de Cox para analizar los efectos de la presion arterial basal y la presion arterial como covariable dependiente del tiempo en la mortalidad. Resultados El valor minimo de mortalidad se observo con una presion arterial sistolica basal de 136 mmHg y un valor de presion arterial sistolica como covariable dependiente del tiempo de 147 mmHg. El riesgo de mortalidad mas alto para la presion arterial sistolica como covariable dependiente del tiempo se produjo con valores de presion arterial sistolica 193 mmHg y presion arterial diastolica 85 mmHg no aumentaron el riesgo de muerte. Conclusiones Teniendo en cuenta la relacion dinamica entre la presion arterial y la mortalidad, nuestros datos muestran una relacion en forma de U para la presion arterial sistolica y una relacion negativa para la presion arterial diastolica y mortalidad por todas las causas. La menor mortalidad correspondio a un valor de presion arterial sistolica ligeramente superior al valor diagnostico de hipertension, lo que indica que 140 mmHg podria no ser adecuado como valor diagnostico y objetivo terapeutico en la poblacion anciana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of comorbidity and pain in the association between hip/knee osteoarthritis (OA) with self-reported as well as performance-based functional limitations in a general elderly population.METHODS: We analyzed the data of 2,942 individuals, ages between 65 and 85 years, who participated in the European Project on Osteoarthritis, which was made up of 6 European cohorts (from Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). Outcomes included self-reported physical function measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the participants' performance-based physical function was evaluated using the walking test.RESULTS: While comorbidity did not affect the significant association between hip/knee OA and physical function limitations found in the participants, pain reduced the effect of OA on self-reported physical function, and it cancelled the effect of OA on the walking test. Obesity, anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular diseases were associated with the worst WOMAC scores. Obesity, cognitive impairment, depression, peripheral artery disease, and stroke were associated with the worst walking times.CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that while comorbidity is strongly and independently associated with functional limitations, it does not affect the OA-physical function association. Hip/knee OA is associated with self-reported impairment in physical function, which was only partially mediated by pain. Its association with physical function, as evaluated by the walking test, was instead completely mediated by pain.

This study examines the availability and use of neighborhood resources in relation to clinical lower limb osteoarthritis (LLOA) in older participants from six European countries. Of the 2757 participants (65-85 years), 22.7% had LLOA. Participants with LLOA made more use of places to sit (OR=2.50; CI: 1.36-4.60 in the UK), and less use of parks and walking areas (OR=0.30; CI: 0.12-0.75 in Sweden), compared to participants without LLOA, particularly in countries with high availability of resources. The results suggest that specific features of the environment impact the use of neighborhood resources by older adults with LLOA.

To estimate the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in a Spanish cohort of people aged at least 65 years with 13 years' follow-up. This is the first study to provide age-adjusted and sex-adjusted incidence rates of hypertension in a Mediterranean-based population aged 65 years or older.Population-based longitudinal study set in the city of Leganes, Spain. The cross-sectional prevalence of hypertension was estimated using data available for the 1993, 1995, 1999, and 2006 cohorts. The incidence density (incident cases of hypertension/person-years) was calculated for 522 individuals without hypertension at baseline. Individuals were classified as hypertensive if they were taking physician-prescribed medication for hypertension or if their blood pressure was equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg.Hypertension prevalence increased progressively with time, from 53.5% in 1993 to 86.2% in 2006. In all four waves, women had a higher prevalence of hypertension than men (P 0.05). The total incidence density of hypertension was 7.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.6-8.7] cases per 100 person-years of follow-up: 9.0 (95% CI 7.2-11.2) in women and 6.9 (95% CI 5.8-8.3) in men. In all age groups, the incidence density was nonsignificantly higher in women than in men (P 0.05).Both the incidence and prevalence of hypertension in this population of people aged at least 65 years were high, and the prevalence increased dramatically over time, especially among women.

Objective.This study examined whether daily weather conditions, 3-day average weather conditions, and changes in weather conditions influence joint pain in older people with osteoarthritis (OA) in 6 European countries.Methods.Data from the population-based European Project on OSteoArthritis were used. The American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were used to diagnose OA in older people (65–85 yrs). After the baseline interview, at 6 months, and after the 12–18 months followup interview, joint pain was assessed using 2-week pain calendars. Daily values for temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed were obtained from local weather stations. Multilevel regression modelling was used to examine the pain-weather associations, adjusted for several confounders.Results.The study included 810 participants with OA in the knee, hand, and/or hip. After adjustment, there were significant associations of joint pain with daily average humidity (B = 0.004, p < 0.01) and 3-day average humidity (B = 0.004, p = 0.01). A significant interaction effect was found between daily average humidity and temperature on joint pain. The effect of humidity on pain was stronger in relatively cold weather conditions. Changes in weather variables between 2 consecutive days were not significantly associated with reported joint pain.Conclusion.The associations between pain and daily average weather conditions suggest that a causal relationship exist between joint pain and weather variables, but the associations between day-to-day weather changes and pain do not confirm causation. Knowledge about the relationship between joint pain in OA and weather may help individuals with OA, physicians, and therapists to better understand and manage fluctuations in pain.

This study analyzed the relationship between blood pressure and all-cause mortality according to objectively measured walking speed in a Mediterranean population-based sample of older persons. We used data from the longitudinal 'Penagrande' Cohort Study, initiated in 2008 in a sex- and age-stratified random sample of 1250 people aged ⩾65 years living in Madrid (Spain). A total of 814 individuals participated in the first study wave. The average of two standardized blood pressure readings was used. Walking speed was measured over a 3-m walk and classified as faster (⩾0.8 m s(-1)) or slower. A total of 314 individuals were slower walkers, 475 were faster walkers and 25 did not complete the walk test. Cox proportional hazards models stratified by walking speed were used to assess the association between blood pressure and all-cause death. Non-linear relationship between BP and mortality was explored by a restricted cubic spline analysis. There were 171 deaths from study entry through 31 March 2013. Systolic blood pressure

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of disability in the elderly. Clinical frailty is associated with high mortality, but few studies have explored the relationship between OA and frailty. The objective of this study was to consider the association between OA and frailty/pre-frailty in an elderly population comprised of six European cohorts participating in the EPOSA project. Methods: Longitudinal study using baseline data and first follow-up waves, from EPOSA; 2,455 individuals aged 65-85 years were recruited from pre-existing population-based cohorts in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Data were collected on clinical OA at any site (hand, knee or hip), based on the clinical classification criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Frailty was defined according to Fried's criteria. The covariates considered were age, gender, educational level, obesity and country. We used multinomial logistic regression to analyse the associations between OA, frailty/pre-frailty and other covariates. Results: The overall prevalence of clinical OA at any site was 30.4 % (95 % CI:28.6-32.2); frailty was present in 10.2 % (95 % CI:9.0-11.4) and pre-frailty in 51.0 % (95 % CI:49.0-53.0). The odds of frailty was 2.96 (95 % CI:2.11-4.16) and pre-frailty 1.54 (95 % CI:1.24-1.91) as high among OA individuals than those without OA. The association remained when Knee OA, hip OA or hand OA were considered separately, and was stronger in those with increasing number of joints. Conclusions: Clinical OA is associated with frailty and pre-frailty in older adults in European countries. This association might be considered when designing appropriate intervention strategies for OA management, The study was supported by a non-commercial private funder. The Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma - Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study (IMCA - ActiFE) was supported by the European Union (No.: 2005121) and the Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg. The Italian cohort study is part of the National Research Council Project on Aging (PNR). The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. The Peñagrande study was partially supported by the National Fund for Health Research (Fondo de Investigaciones en Salud) of Spain (project numbers FIS PI 05/1898; FIS RETICEF RD06/0013/1013 and FIS PS09/02143). The Swedish Twin Registry is supported in part by the Swedish Ministry of Higher Education. The Hertfordshire Cohort Study is funded by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain, Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

People with osteoarthritis (OA) frequently report that their joint pain is influenced by weather conditions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences in perceived joint pain between older people with OA who reported to be weather-sensitive versus those who did not in six European countries with different climates and to identify characteristics of older persons with OA that are most predictive of perceived weather sensitivity. Methods Baseline data from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) were used. ACR classification criteria were used to determine OA. Participants with OA were asked about their perception of weather as influencing their pain. Using a two-week follow-up pain calendar, average self-reported joint pain was assessed (range: 0 (no pain)-10 (greatest pain intensity)). Linear regression analyses, logistic regression analyses and an independent t-test were used. Analyses were adjusted for several confounders. Results The majority of participants with OA (67.2%) perceived the weather as affecting their pain. Weather-sensitive participants reported more pain than non-weather-sensitive participants (M = 4.1, SD = 2.4 versus M = 3.1, SD = 2.4; p, The Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma - Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study (IMCA - ActiFE) is supported by the European Union (No.: 2005121) and the Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg. The Italian cohort study is part of the National Research Council Project on Aging (PNR). The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. The Peñagrande study was partially supported by the National Fund for Health Research (Fondo de Investigaciones en Salud) of Spain (project numbers FIS PI 05/1898; FIS RETICEF RD06/0013/1013 and FIS PS09/02143). The Swedish Twin Registry is supported in part by the Swedish Ministry of Higher Education. The Hertfordshire Cohort Study was supported by the Medical Research Council, UK.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly, especially among institutionalized and/or hip fracture patients. However, there are few population studies on the prevalence of this deficiency in the general population over 64 years in our environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an urban population cohort of over 64 years, and analyze its relationship with sociodemographic, climatic, and health factors.Cross-sectional study from «Peñagrande cohort», a population-based cohort consisting of people over 64 years. We determined 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and recorded sociodemographic data (age, sex, marital status, education, socioeconomic status), season of measurement and health variables (comorbidity, obesity, malnutrition, renal failure, cognitive impairment, vitamin D supplements, and disability).A total of 468 individuals with a mean age of 76.0 years (SD: 7.7) were included, of which 53.4% were women. The mean value of vitamin D was 20.3 ± 11.7 ng/mL. The large majority (86.3%, 95% CI: 83.0-89.5) had a vitamin insufficiency (≤ 30 ng/ml), and 35.2% (95% CI: 30.8-39.7) showed severe vitamin deficiency (≤ 15 ng/ml). Vitamin insufficiency increases linearly with age (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11), and was associated with low socioeconomic status (OR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.55-6.95). Severe vitamin D deficiency increases with age (OR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.09), female gender (OR 1.80; 95% CI: 1.18-2.75) and with cognitive impairment (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.04-2.83).The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people over 65 years of age in our community is high. It would be advisable to determine the vitamin D values in the high risk elderly in order to introduce measures of pharmacological supplementation in those with inadequate levels.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a major contributor to functional impairment and loss of independence in older persons. The European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA) is a collaborative study involving six European cohort studies on ageing. This project focuses on the personal and societal burden and its determinants of osteoarthritis. This paper describes the design of the project, and presents some descriptive analyses on selected variables across countries. Methods/design: EPOSA is an observational study including pre-harmonized data from European cohort studies (Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) on older community-dwelling persons aged 65 to 85 years. In total, 2942 persons were included in the baseline study with a mean age of 74.2 years (SD 5.1), just over half were women (51,9%). The baseline assessment was conducted by a face-to-face interview followed by a clinical examination. Measures included physical, cognitive, psychological and social functioning, lifestyle behaviour, physical environment, wellbeing and care utilisation. The clinical examination included anthropometry, muscle strength, physical performance and OA exam. A follow-up assessment was performed 12–18 months after baseline. Discussion: The EPOSA study is the first population-based study including a clinical examination of OA, using preharmonized data across European countries. The EPOSA study provides a unique opportunity to study the determinants and consequences of OA in general populations of older persons, including both care-seeking and non care-seeking persons, The Indicators for Monitoring COPD and Asthma - Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm study (IMCA - ActiFE) is supported by the European Union (No.: 2005121) and the Ministry of Science, Baden-Württemberg. The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. The ProVA study was funded by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo, by the University of Padova, by Azienda Unità Locale Socio Sanitaria 15 and 18 of the Veneto Region, and by a grant from the Regione Veneto (Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata 156/03). The Hertfordshire Cohort Study was supported by the Medical Research Council, UK. The Peñagrande study was partially supported by the National Fund for Health Research (Fondo de Investigaciones en Salud) of Spain (project numbers FIS PI 05/1898); FIS RETICEF RD06/0013/1013 and FIS PS09/02143