Background Accurate comparable prevalence proportions are required to better understand the epidemiology of frailty. Estimates in many countries are missing or incomparable. The Global Burden of Disease Frailty Index (GBD-FI) applies the deficit accumulation model to generate frailty scores from items available in the Global Burden of Disease study. Objective To externally validate the GBD-FI. Methods

Background Falls are a leading cause of injury and mortality among older adults. While multiple strategies are effective at reducing fall risk, uptake is low. Understanding how older adults think about fall risk and prevention activities can inform outreach initiatives and engagement. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, SCOPUS and Google Scholar for articles published between January 2015 and

Background Cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly used to treat patients with neurocognitive disorders, who often have an elevated risk of falling. Effective use of these medications requires a thoughtful assessment of risks and benefits. Objective To provide an update on previous reviews and determine the association between cholinesterase inhibitors and falls, syncope, fracture and accidental injuries

Background Multifactorial fall prevention trials providing interventions based on individual risk factors have variable success in aged care facilities. To determine configurations of trial features that reduce falls, intervention component analysis (ICA) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) were undertaken. Methods Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from a Cochrane Collaboration review (Cameron

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is amongst the commonest causes of dizziness and falls in older adults. Diagnosing and treating BPPV can reduce falls, and thereby reduce fall-related morbidity and mortality. Recent World Falls Guidelines recommend formal assessment for BPPV in older adults at risk of falling, but only if they report vertigo. However, this recommendation ignores the data

Background and Purpose The management of older aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) cases is a clinical challenge. This study aimed to analyse the survival and functional outcomes in older aSAH patients (age ≥ 70 years) to provide evidence for making treatment decisions for such patients. Methods We performed a 2-year follow-up analysis of the Chinese Multi-Centre Cerebral Aneurysm Database for

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the cornerstone of modern geriatric medicine and the framework around which conventional and new models of care for older people are developed. Whilst there are a substantial number of reviews synthesising the evidence on patient and service outcomes from CGA, as an intervention it remains poorly described. There is a lack of detail on how a CGA plan is coordinated

This study investigated the risk of post-COVID-19 conditions in older patients with COVID-19 compared to those with influenza, and how age impacts this relationship. Patients aged ≥65 years with COVID-19 or influenza were identified using the TriNetX network. The risk of post-COVID-19 conditions was compared between survivors of COVID-19 and influenza, followed by a comparison of post-COVID-19 conditions

Evidence synthesis, embedded within a systematic review of the literature, is a well-established approach for collating and combining all the relevant information on a particular research question. A robust synthesis can establish the evidence base, which underpins best practice guidance. Such endeavours are frequently used by policymakers and practitioners to inform their decision making. Traditionally

Systematically reviewing all the available evidence and then creating summary analyses of the pooled data is the foundation of evidence-based practice. Indeed, this evidence synthesis approach informs much of the care of older adults in hospital and community. It is perhaps no surprise that the journal Age and Ageing is a frequent platform for publishing research papers based on systematic review and

Rationale Adults with a recent fracture have a high imminent risk of a subsequent fracture. We hypothesise that, like subsequent fracture risk, fall risk is also highest immediately after a fracture. This study aims to assess if fall risk is time-dependent in subjects with a recent fracture compared to subjects without a fracture. Methods This retrospective matched cohort study used data from the UK

Background Internationally, screening programmes and clinical practice guidelines recommend when older adults should stop cancer screening using upper age limits, but it is unknown how older adults view these recommendations. Objective To examine older adults’ views and experiences about continuing or stopping cancer screening beyond the recommended upper age limit for breast, cervical, prostate and

Introduction Unpaid carers are an increasing proportion of the UK population. One of the many ways in which they help those they care for is assisting with medication adherence. Many older adults have medicines dispensed in pharmacy-filled multi-compartment medication compliance aids (pMCAs). However, evidence suggests that pMCAs may increase medication-related harm, and little is known about the interaction

BACKGROUND Preserving and enhancing mobility is an important part of healthy ageing. Life-space mobility is a construct that captures actual mobility within the home and the community. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesise the measurement properties and interpretability of scores produced by life-space mobility measures in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS This systematic

BACKGROUND Locomotor capacity (LC) is an important domain of intrinsic capacity and key determinant of functional ability and well-being in older age. The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) calls for strengthening data and research on healthy ageing, including the measurement of older persons' LC. To advance the measurement and monitoring of LC, there is pressing need to identify valid

Mobility is often referred to as a 'sixth vital sign' because of its ability to predict critical health outcomes in later adulthood. In the World Health Organization (WHO) World Report on Aging and Health, mobility is described as movement in all its forms whether powered by the body or a vehicle. As such, mobility encompasses basic physical actions such as getting up from a chair and walking, as well

OBJECTIVE to examine the measurement properties of instruments that have been used to measure aspects of psychological capacity in adults aged 60 years and over. METHODS the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMCARE and Scopus from 2010 were searched using search terms related to psychological capacity, older persons and measurement properties. Both data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted

South Korea is the fastest ageing country among OECD countries. Unlike the older generation growing up in the aftermath of the Korean war, the first and second baby boomer generations have heightened expectations regarding public services. In addition to the demand in higher quality of both social and health services by these newer older population, there is a concomitant increased quantitative demand

BACKGROUND Within the scope of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) world report on ageing and health and how healthy ageing was conceptualised, the WHO has been working with academia towards producing reviews of the psychometric properties of instruments that measure different domains of functional ability. This study aimed to conduct a review of reviews to examine existing and validated instruments

BACKGROUND Older person's ability to contribute covers contributions divided into five subdomains: assisting friends and neighbours, mentoring peers and younger people, caring for family, engaging in the workforce and voluntary activity. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the psychometric properties of ability to contribute measurements as a domain of functional ability of older persons using Consensus-based Standards

BACKGROUND Vitality capacity (VC) is a key domain of intrinsic capacity (IC) and is the underlying biophysiological aspect of IC. Energy and metabolism (E&M) is one of the domains of VC. Fatigue is one of the main characteristics of E&M. OBJECTIVE The aims of this umbrella review are (i) to identify the available instruments suitable for measuring fatigue in community-dwelling older adults and (ii)

OBJECTIVES ageism harms individuals' health and wellbeing and can be costly to societies. Reliable and valid measures that can quantify ageism are critical for achieving accurate data on its global prevalence, determinants and impacts, and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce it. Ageism scales exist; however, none have been demonstrated to validly measure ageism in a manner consistent

This commentary discusses the WHO definition of health ageing in terms of functional abilities, and the problem definition and evidence-based public health response framework outlined in the 2015 WHO Report on Ageing and Health. After identifying the neglect of older people in health policy at national and global levels, some data are presented on the majority of COVID-19 deaths being older people

Over 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. With 40% of modifiable risk factors estimated to contribute to dementia, the potential for prevention is high, and preventive measures, at an early stage of cognitive decline, are likely to positively influence future dementia trends. Countries need reliable health data and adequate measurement tools to quantify, monitor and track early changes in

OBJECTIVE this study aims to conduct a systematic review on available instruments for measuring older persons' ability to learn, grow and make decisions and to critically review the measurement properties of the identified instruments. METHODS we searched six electronic databases, which include PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, SciELO, ERIC and AgeLine, between January 2000 and April 2022. Reference lists

Hearing and vision impairment are highly prevalent in ageing individuals and are significant public health concerns given their meaningful impacts on individuals and society. Yet, many cases of both visual and hearing impairment remain unidentified and thus, unaddressed. This article describes the rationale and process of monitoring for visual and hearing impairment in older adults, by summarising

OBJECTIVES The objective of this systematic review was to synthesise the psychometric properties of measures of perceived mobility ability and related frameworks used to define and operationalise mobility in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS We registered the review protocol with PROSPERO (CRD42022306689) and included studies that examined the psychometric properties of perceived mobility measures

BACKGROUND Global population aging, and the accelerated increase in the number of oldest-old adults, over 80 years, has implied a heightened need for long-term care (LTC). We aimed to provide a theoretical care cascade of LTC services to assess publicly funded LTC (Analysis 1) and to investigate the association between the use of LTC insurance (LTCI) and unmet care needs among older people (Analysis

BACKGROUND The ability of older persons to meet their basic needs (i.e. personal, financial and housing security), as well as to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL), is crucial. It is unclear, however, whether such measures exist. This systematic review aimed to review English-language measures of the ability of older persons to meet their basic needs, and to critically review the comprehensiveness

Background Frailty is a dynamic process associated with adverse health outcomes. However, little is known about the long-term trajectories of frailty in older cancer survivors. Objectives To describe the trajectories of frailty phenotype over time amongst older cancer survivors and examine the socio-demographic and health-related predictors of different trajectories. Design Population-based longitudinal

Objective The benefit of antiplatelet therapy in preventing cognitive impairment or dementia is uncertain. We investigated the association between antiplatelet therapy and incident cognitive impairment or dementia in randomised clinical trials. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL for randomised clinical trials published from database inception through 1 February 2023. Trials that evaluated

Objectives To replicate the phenotypic associations of grip strength with frailty, physical performance and functional limitations in older adults for longer follow-up periods and to examine whether these associations are due to shared genetic factors. Methods In total 2,262 participants 55 years and older with follow-up data up to 23 years (Nobservations = 8,262) from the Longitudinal Aging Study

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Ageing is considered to be the greatest risk factor for PD, with a complex interplay between genetics and the environment. With population ageing, the prevalence of PD is expected to escalate worldwide; thus, it is of utmost importance to reduce the burden of PD. To date, there are no therapies

Hydration is a fundamental aspect of clinical practice and yet it is an under-researched topic, particularly in older people, leading to many areas of uncertainty. There are two types of dehydration; hypertonic, which is a water deficit, and isotonic, which is a deficit of both water and salt. Individual clinical signs and bedside tests are poor diagnostic tools, making dehydration difficult to identify

Background Falls in older people are common, leading to significant harm including death. Coroners have a duty to report cases where action should be taken to prevent future deaths, but dissemination of their findings remains poor. Objective To identify preventable fall-related deaths, classify coroner concerns and explore organisational responses. Design A retrospective systematic case series of coroners’

The Task Force on Global Guidelines for Falls in Older Adults has put forward a fall risk stratification tool for community-dwelling older adults. This tool takes the form of a flowchart and is based on expert opinion and evidence. It divides the population into three risk categories and recommends specific preventive interventions or treatments for each category. In this commentary, we share our insights

OBJECTIVES To examine factors contributing to delaying care home admission; and compare the rates of care home admission and cost consequence between two government subsidised programmes, Veterans' Affairs Community Nursing (VCN) and Home Care Package (HCP). METHODS Our national, population-based retrospective cohort study and cost analysis used existing, de-identified veterans' claims databases (2010-19)

BACKGROUND Vietnam-era veterans were exposed to Agent Orange (AO), which is associated with a high prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, little is known about the development of PD-like symptoms caused by drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) in such populations. This study aimed to investigate PD incidence and PD risk following exposure to AO or DIP-risk drugs in veterans. METHODS A retrospective

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) as part of a new public health model for healthy ageing. IC refers to the overall combination of an individual's physical and mental capacities, and is promoted as a new positive approach to the health and wellbeing of older adults. However, there is still insufficient evidence that implementing IC leads

Currently in the UK and Ireland, after a hip fracture most patients do not receive bone protection medication to reduce the risk of refracture. Yet randomised controlled trial data specifically examining patients with hip fracture have shown that intravenous zoledronate reduces refracture risk by a third. Despite this evidence, use of intravenous zoledronate is highly variable following a hip fracture;

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the early stage of AD, and about 10–12% of MCI patients will progress to AD every year. At present, there are no effective markers for the early diagnosis of whether MCI patients will progress to AD. This study aimed to develop machine learning-based models for predicting the progression from MCI to AD within 3 years, to assist in screening and prevention

Background Care home residents transitioning from hospital are at risk of receiving poor-quality care with their safety being challenged by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) pandemic. Little is known about how care home staff worked with hospital staff and other healthcare professionals to address these challenges and make improvements to increase patient safety. Objective To gain insight into how the

Background Plant-based dietary patterns are increasingly popular in western countries and are supported by many governments and health organisations for their potential beneficial role in the prevention of chronic diseases. Yet, the potential role of plant-based dietary patterns in the development of dementia remains unclear. Objective To evaluate the association between plant-based dietary patterns

Background Although liaison services in acute hospitals are now the norm, the reverse is not usually available for patients in mental health trusts. Following the introduction of support from geriatricians to older people’s mental health inpatient wards, we wanted to see if this intervention was effective and acceptable to clinicians. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort service evaluation on

Introduction Anticholinergic medications block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain and peripheral nervous system. Many medications have anticholinergic properties, and the cumulative effect of these medications is termed anticholinergic burden. Increased anticholinergic burden can have short-term side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision and urinary retention as well as long-term effects

Background There is evidence that community-based palliative care programmes can improve patient outcomes and caregiver experiences cost-effectively. However, little is known about which specific components within these programmes contribute to improving the outcomes. Aim To systematically review research that evaluates the effectiveness of community-based palliative care components. Design A systematic

Background Delirium is highly prevalent, yet two-thirds of cases remain undetected. Irish national guidance recommends daily delirium screening for all acute hospital in-patients at risk of delirium, including older patients. In this audit, we aimed to assess efficacy of implementation of a Delirium Care Bundle (DCB), incorporating delirium screening, risk factor assessment, and management, on two

Background Frail older adults represent a growing proportion of the acute in-patient population. A point-prevalence audit in our hospital revealed 40% of adult in-patients were frail (median age: 74). Following a patient-mapping exercise and review of service-user requirements, a consensus was reached among stakeholders that a multidisciplinary in-patient frailty team would be the most effective approach

Background Psychotropic medications increase the risk of falls among older people. The aim of this study is to examine the link between psychotropic medication use and Orthostatic Hypotension (OH), a frequent cause of falls in later life. Methods: Participants ≥65 years at TILDA Wave 1 had an active stand to assess orthostatic blood pressure. OH was defined as a blood pressure (BP) drop ≥20 mmHg systolic

Background Early Supported Discharge (ESD) is well established as a model of health service delivery for people with stroke. Emerging evidence indicates that ESD reduces length of stay for older medical inpatients. There is a dearth of evidence exploring the views of stakeholders on ESD as a model of care for older medical inpatients. The overall aim of this study is to explore the views and perceptions

Background The OPTI-3S criteria comprise newly developed consensus-based statements identifying potentially inappropriate medications for hospitalised frail older adults. This study assessed the inter-rater reliability of the OPTI-3S core list. Methods Data were collated from ten patient cases in the publicly archived ‘The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing’ (TILDA) dataset (Wave 3). Five healthcare

Background Procrastination, the voluntary delay of an intended course of action despite potentially negative consequences, is experienced by individuals of all ages, and yet little research to date has focused on procrastination behaviours among older adults. We wanted to explore the potential association between age and procrastination, and potential causal mechanisms therein. Methods We applied structural

Background Simulation is a clinical education opportunity that creates an experience without having to go through a real event. Simulation facilitates a debriefing for the participants of the ‘event’. Simulations support healthcare professionals in developing knowledge and skills. Falls are common in hospital and are potentially serious events. Prompt patient post-fall assessment is important in identifying

Background Age-friendly health systems entail assessing the 4Ms (1) what Matters to you (2) Mood and Mental state (3) Medication review and (4) Mobility and functional assessment. This study aimed to measure Frailty at the Front Door team compliance with the 4Ms. Methods An abbreviated ‘4MsComprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) was designed. Members of an interdisciplinary team, including geriatric

Background Nursing Home Residents (NHR) are the frailest group of older people in society and require a gerontologically attuned approach to address multiple challenges presented to the practitioner. In 2018 we commenced an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) specialist liaison service with bespoke comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to support NHR admitted to a tertiary referral university teaching

Background Global AF burden in acute ischemic stroke patients is studied in some evidence at 30%, with similar results in Ireland. We therefore sought to perform an audit of prevalence of atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke patients in a level III hospital in republic of Ireland, to study its comparability with available evidence nationally and internationally. Methods The study was retrospective

Background Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle disorder, underpinned by adverse muscle changes that accrue across the lifespan. It is associated with increased likelihood of falls, fractures, physical disability and mortality. Low muscle strength is a principal parameter of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is probable when low muscle strength (grip strength) is detected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the