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Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is considered one of the most important medical problems in the male population, with a very high incidence after the age of 65. Frailty represents one of the most critical issues facing healthcare due to its inherent relationship with poor healthcare outcomes. The physical phenotype of frailty syndrome based on Fried criteria has been associated with poor outcomes, morbidity, and premature mortality. To date, there are few studies that have analyzed frailty syndrome in patients with localized and advanced (mPCa) disease under androgen-deprivation therapy. Objective: Our goal was to assess whether there are differences in frailty criteria between mPCa and localized PCa. We also evaluated the role of other geriatric variables such as depressive and insomnia symptoms, which are frequently reported in cancer patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, frailty syndrome was evaluated in both groups, as well as its possible relationship with cognitive functions, depressive and insomnia symptoms, and other clinical variables related to PCa and its treatment. Frailty was defined on Fried's criteria: low lean mass, weakness, self-reported exhaustion, low activity level, and slow walking speed; prefrailty was defined as having one or two of those criteria and frailty as having three or more, depressive symptoms were defined by the Yesavage scale, cognitive functions with the Mini-Mental examination test, and insomnia symptoms by the Athens scale and self-reported health status. Results: The prevalence of prefrailty/frailty was slightly higher in mPCa compared to localized PCa (81.5% versus 72.3%, respectively), however by analyzing each of the frailty criteria, two of them were significantly reduced in mPCa compared to localized PCa patients, e.g., gait speed (p = 0.001) and muscle strength (p = 0.04). The reduced gait speed and muscle strength in mPCa were not due to the increased age in mPCa group, or to an increase in comorbidities or shorter time under androgen-deprivation therapy. The symptoms of insomnia were significantly higher in mPCa patients compared to those with localized PCa (p < 0.05) whereas cognitive functions or depressive symptoms were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with mPCa under androgen-deprivation therapy display higher alterations in gait speed and muscular strength and insomnia symptoms, thus interventions should be aimed to reduce these alterations in order to limit adverse outcomes related to them and to improve quality of life in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and adolescents with disabilities engage in low levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), which may create the onset of a sedentary lifestyle. In light of this, MVPA levels must be quantified with a valid tool such as accelerometry. This study aimed to: (i) analyze the accuracy of Evenson cut-points by estimating MVPA and sedentary behavior (SB) in children and adolescents with disabilities; (ii) define new equations to estimate energy expenditure (EE) with the GT3X+ accelerometer in this population and particularly in those with cerebral palsy (CP); (iii) define specific GT3X+ cut-points to estimate MVPA in those with CP. Methods: A total of 23 children and adolescents with disabilities (10 ± 3 years; 44%females) participated in the study. GT3X+-counts and oxygen uptake (VO2) were measured in four laboratory walking conditions. Results: (i) Evenson cut-points were accurate; (ii) new equations were defined to effectively predict EE; (iii) specific GT3X+ cut-points (VM ≥ 702 counts·min−1; Y-Axis ≥ 360 counts·min−1) were defined for estimating MVPA levels in children and adolescents with CP. Conclusions: The use of specific cut-points for ActiGraph GT3X+ seems to be accurate to estimate MVPA levels in children and adolescents with disabilities and, particularly, in those with CP, at least in laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although clinical gait speed may indicate health and well-being in older adults, there is a lack of studies comparing clinical tests with ambulatory gait speed with regard to several health outcomes. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the associations of clinical gait speed, measured by the 2.44-m walk test and the ambulatory gait speed with several physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes in older adults. Design A cross-sectional design was used. Methods The study population comprised 432 high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults (287 women) aged between 65 and 92 years. Clinical and ambulatory gait speeds were measured using the 2.44-m walk test and a portable gait analysis device, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association of clinical and ambulatory gait speeds with several health outcomes (body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, chronic conditions, self-rated health, exhaustion, upper- and lower-body strength, physical and mental health status, cognitive status, and self-rated cognitive status). Results The results showed that the average gait speed for clinical and ambulatory measures cannot be directly compared. Clinical gait speed was associated with 7 health outcomes, and the ambulatory gait speed was associated with 6 health outcomes. The significant associations between measures of gait speed and the health outcomes converged in 5 of the 13 health outcomes studied; however, the strength of associations was singly different between measures. Limitations The short monitoring time, the inability to distinguish between the ambulatory gait speed inside the home and outdoor gait speed, and the under-representative sample are limitations of the study. Conclusion The results indicated differences in the number and strength of associations between clinical and ambulatory gait speed. Both measures have construct validity because they have been associated with physical and health outcomes; however, they may have different predictive validity. Further research should be conducted to compare their predictive validity in longitudinal designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a person ages, total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), muscle mass and muscle strength tend to decline. The decline in ICW may reflect losses in the number of muscle cells but may also be responsible for less hydrated muscle cells.Aim: To assess whether TBW and ICW are associated with muscle strength, functional performance and frailty in an aged population, independently of muscle mass.Methodology: Design: An observational cross-sectional study of community-dwelling individuals aged 75 years and older. TBW, ICW, fat mass, lean mass and muscle mass were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, frailty status was measured according to Fried criteria, handgrip strength was measured using the hand-held JAMAR dynamometer, and functional performance was measured according to the Barthel index and gait speed.Results: A total of 324 subjects were recruited (mean age 80.1 years, 47.5% women). TBW and ICW were closely correlated with muscle mass in both sexes. ICW was also associated with Barthel score, gait speed and frailty in both sexes and with handgrip in men. Considerable variability in ICW was observed for the same muscle mass. Multivariate analysis showed a positive effect of ICW on handgrip, functional performance and gait speed and a protective effect of ICW on frailty, independently of age, sex, body mass index and number of comorbidities.Conclusions: In elderly individuals with similar muscle mass, those with higher ICW had a better functional performance and a lower frailty risk, suggesting a protective effect of cell hydration, independently of muscle mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty in the elderly increases their vulnerability and leads to a greater risk of adverse events. According to various studies, the prevalence of the frailty syndrome in persons age 65 and over ranges between 3% and 37%, depending on age and sex. Walking speed in itself is considered a simple indicator of health status and of survival in older persons. Detecting frailty in primary care consultations can help improve care of the elderly, and walking speed may be an indicator that could facilitate the early diagnosis of frailty in primary care. The objective of this work was to estimate frailty-syndrome prevalence and walking speed in an urban population aged 65 years and over, and to analyze the relationship between the two indicators from the perspective of early diagnosis of frailty in the primary care setting. Methods: Population cohort of persons age 65 and over from two urban neighborhoods in northern Madrid (Spain). Cross-sectional analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis with binary logistic regression to study the variables associated with frailty. Different cut-off points between 0.4 and 1.4 m/s were used to study walking speed in this population. The relationship between frailty and walking speed was analyzed using likelihood ratios. Results: The study sample comprised 1,327 individuals age 65 and older with mean age 75.41 ± 7.41 years; 53.4% were women. Estimated frailty in the study population was 10.5% [95% CI: 8.9-12.3]. Frailty increased with age (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.10-1.19) and was associated with poor self-rated health (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.43-4.44), number of drugs prescribed (OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.08-1.26) and disability (OR = 6.58; 95% CI: 3.92-11.05). Walking speed less than 0.8 m/s was found in 42.6% of cases and in 56.4% of persons age 75 and over. Walking speed greater than 0.9 m/s ruled out frailty in the study sample. Persons age 75 and older with walking speed <0.8 m/s are at particularly high risk of frailty (32.1%). Conclusions: Frailty-syndrome prevalence is high in persons aged 75 and over. Detection of walking speed <0.8 m/s is a simple approach to the diagnosis of frailty in the primary care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]