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Recent research showed that physical activity (PA)-adjusted pain measures were more strongly associated with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) severity than an unadjusted pain measure. This exploratory study examined whether PA-adjusted pain measures were more closely associated with other key OA-related measures, compared to unadjusted pain scores.Participants were 122 Veterans (mean age = 61.2 years, 88.5% male) with knee OA. Baseline Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores were adjusted for accelerometer-derived daily: (1) step counts, (2) minutes of any activity, (3) minutes of moderate or greater intensity activity, (4) minutes of light intensity activity, and (5) energy expenditure. Partial correlations, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, estimated associations of unadjusted and PA-adjusted WOMAC pain scores with functional assessments (6-minute walk test, 8-foot walk test, chair stand test, satisfaction with physical function), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), and anxiety/depressive symptoms (single item).Significant (p 0.05) associations were found in 29 of 36 of models. For the four function-related assessments, step count and energy expenditure-adjusted WOMAC pain scores had stronger associations (partial rs = 0.24-0.48) than WOMAC pain score (partial rs = 0.19-0.25). For fatigue and anxiety/depressive symptoms, WOMAC pain score had stronger, positive associations than most PA-adjusted pain scores. Of the PA-adjusted measures, the strongest associations overall were observed for step count and energy expenditure.PA-adjusted pain scores may have particular value for OA studies involving functional assessments, whereas unadjusted WOMAC pain scores are more closely associated with psychological symptoms. This has implications for measurement in clinical OA studies.NCT01058304 KEY POINTS: • Among patents with osteoarthritis, physical activity-adjusted pain measures (particularly those adjusted for step count and energy expenditure) were more strongly associated with measures of physical function, compared to unadjusted pain scores, whereas unadjusted pain score was more strongly associated with a measure of psychological symptoms. • In clinical osteoarthritis research, the most appropriate or sensitive symptom measure (pain vs. physical activity-adjusted pain) may depend on the type of intervention or outcome being studied.

Purpose The aim of this work was to investigate the predictive value of in-hospital posture and ambulatory activity for 30 days following discharge on functional status in older patients with heart failure. Methods and Results We undertook a prospective observational pilot study of 27 patients (78 ± 9.8 y, 51.8% female) admitted with heart failure. Participants wore 2 inclinometric accelerometers to record posture in-hospital and an ankle accelerometer to record ambulatory activity in-hospital and 30 days after discharge. Function was assessed on the day after discharge (Timed Up and Go [TUG], Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB], hand grip strength) and 30 days after discharge. Length of stay was 5.1 ± 3.9 days. Participants spent 63.0 ± 19.2% of their hospital time lying down, 30.2 ± 18.7% sitting, 5.3 ± 4.2% standing, and 1.9 ± 8.6% ambulating. Thirty-day mean post-discharge stepping was 4890 ± 2285 steps/day. Each 10% increase in hospital lying time was associated with 0.7 s longer TUG time (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2–1.9) at 30 days. Each 1000 additional daily steps in the post-discharge period was associated with a 0.8-point higher SPPB score (95% CI 0.1–1.0) at 30 days. Handgrip strength was unchanged. Conclusions Older patients with heart failure were sedentary during hospitalization, which may contribute to decreased functional performance. Physical activity after discharge may minimize this negative effect.

Background Physical therapy (PT) and other exercise-based interventions are core components of care for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but both are underutilized, and some patients have limited access to PT services. This clinical trial is examining a STepped Exercise Program for patients with Knee OsteoArthritis (STEP-KOA). This model of care can help to tailor exercise-based interventions to patient needs and also conserve higher resource services (such as PT) for patients who do not make clinically relevant improvements after receiving less costly interventions. Methods / Design Step-KOA is a randomized trial of 345 patients with symptomatic knee OA from two Department of Veterans Affairs sites. Participants are randomized to STEP-KOA and Arthritis Education (AE) Control groups with a 2:1 ratio, respectively. STEP-KOA begins with 3 months of access to an internet-based exercise program (Step 1). Participants not meeting response criteria for clinically meaningful improvement in pain and function after Step 1 progress to Step 2, which involves bi-weekly physical activity coaching calls for 3 months. Participants not meeting response criteria after Step 2 progress to in-person PT visits (Step 3). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months (primary outcome time point). The primary outcome is the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and secondary outcomes are objective measures of physical function. Linear mixed models will compare outcomes between the STEP-KOA and AE control groups at follow-up. We will also evaluate patient characteristics associated with treatment response and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of STEP-KOA. Discussion STEP-KOA is a novel, efficient and patient-centered approach to delivering exercise-based interventions to patients with knee OA, one of the most prevalent and disabling health conditions. This trial will provide information on the effectiveness of STEP-KOA as a novel potential model of care for treatment of OA. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02653768 (STepped Exercise Program for Knee OsteoArthritis (STEP-KOA)), Registered January 12, 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-019-2627-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aims: To explore the experience of fatigue and living with fatigue in persons with advanced heart failure. Design: Single-setting, qualitative interview study. Methods: In-depth in-person interviews were conducted with participants from November 2012 to June 2013. Participant responses to open-ended questions were analysed using thematic content analysis. Inclusion criteria were: 18 years and older, diagnosis of New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure with reduced ejection fraction by a consultant cardiologist, and able to participate in conversational-style interviews in their own language. Major exclusion criteria was cognitive deficit identified by Abbreviated Mental Test Score. Twenty-three adults participated in the study. Results: Participants (age 72.5 ± 9.5 years, 10/23 female, 17/23 New York Heart Association class III, and 6/23 class IV) identified experiencing fatigue almost daily with over 14/23 reporting it as their worst symptom or combined worst symptom with breathlessness. 9/23 identified fatigue as their second-worst symptom. Three key themes were identified: fatigue as a physical barrier, psychological response to fatigue, and living with fatigue as a part of daily life. The three themes however combine to influence a patients well-being and we suggest need to be acknowledged when planning self-care management. Conclusion: As heart failure progresses fatigue influences patients’ daily life and may negatively affect self-care abilities however patients strive to adapt to these limitations. Understanding the patient experience of fatigue and living with fatigue is important to optimize health management strategies.

The experience of breathlessness in patients with heart failure is understudied. This review was aimed at evaluating the most recent qualitative findings regarding the experience of breathlessness in persons diagnosed with heart failure.A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Psycinfo, BNI, Cinahl and Google Scholar including studies on breathlessness experience in patients with heart failure, published between 2017 and 2018. Only three studies were identified, and findings were categorized into five themes: acknowledgment of breathlessness, prevailing consequences of breathlessness, breathlessness in daily life, recognising when breathlessness is a problem and communicating breathlessness. Understanding the experience of breathlessness was different before and after heart failure diagnosis. Patients experienced similar physical and emotional consequences of breathlessness but varied in strategies to manage the symptom. Patients often do not report breathlessness symptom, or are not asked to describe their symptom by the provider.Recent studies show those at risk for and those who have heart failure need appropriate education to recognize breathlessness as a critical symptom. In addition, adequate communication between patients and providers of the breathlessness symptom is needed to support management.

Our study examined feasibility and acceptability of continuous objective activity monitoring during hospitalization and after discharge in older adults with heart failure. Recruitment rate was 49.2% of eligible patients with a 93.1% retention rate. Twenty-seven older patients admitted with heart failure (78 ± 9.8 years; 51.8% female) wore two inclinometric accelerometers to record posture in-hospital and an ankle accelerometer to record ambulatory activity in-hospital and 30-days after discharge. During hospitalization, participants had 96.2% recorded wear time for postural accelerometers, and 99% for the ankle accelerometer. During the post-discharge period, there was 92% recorded wear time of the ankle accelerometer. Themes identified by participants were ease of wear, compatibility with hospital technology, remembering device/device use, and need for feedback/curiosity. Our study demonstrates feasibility and acceptability of continuous objective monitoring during hospitalization and at home in this clinical population.

Immobility during hospitalization is widely recognized as a contributor to deconditioning, functional loss, and increased need for institutional post-acute care. Several studies have demonstrated that inpatient walking programs can mitigate some of these negative outcomes, yet hospital mobility programs are not widely available in U.S. hospitals. STRIDE (assiSTed eaRly mobIlity for hospitalizeD older vEterans) is a supervised walking program for hospitalized older adults that fills this important gap in clinical care. This paper describes how STRIDE works and how it is being disseminated to other hospitals using the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework. Guided by REP, we define core components of the program and areas where the program can be tailored to better fit the needs and local conditions of its new context (hospital). We describe key adaptations made by four hospitals who have implemented the STRIDE program and discuss lessons learned for successful implementation of hospital mobility programs.

BACKGROUND Pharmacological management only controls 58% of those with hypertension. Combining pharmacological therapy with physical activity is important in controlling hypertension. AIM To examine factors associated with physical activity (PA) adherence in African Americans (AAs) with hypertension and antihypertensive medication adherence. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used to examine if systolic BP, co-morbidities, serum creatinine and potassium, education, depression, locus of control, and social support explained PA adherence in a convenience sample of AAs (N = 77) aged 55 to 84. All completed: demographic data, PA visual analog scale (VAS-PA); Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale; Patient Health Question-9 Depression Instrument. Physiological data and co-morbidities were also collected. RESULTS A third (n = 26) had systolic BP over 140 mm/Hg. The model explained 26% variance in adherence to PA (F = 3.378 [8, 68]; p = .003) with creatinine (p

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of step detection in consumer-based wearable activity monitors in older adults with varied ambulatory abilities is not known. METHODS: We assessed the validity of two hip-worn (Fitbit One and Omron HJ-112) and two wrist-worn (Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP) activity monitors in 99 older adults of varying ambulatory abilities and also included the validity results from the ankle-worn StepWatch as a comparison device. Nonimpaired, impaired (Short Physical Performance Battery Score < 9), cane-using, or walker-using older adults (62 and older) ambulated at a self-selected pace for 100 m wearing all activity monitors simultaneously. The criterion measure was directly observed steps. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), mean percent error and mean absolute percent error, equivalency, and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess accuracy. RESULTS: Nonimpaired adults steps were underestimated by 4.4% for StepWatch (ICC = 0.87), 2.6% for Fitbit One (ICC = 0.80), 4.5% for Omron HJ-112 (ICC = 0.72), 26.9% for Fitbit Flex (ICC = 0.15), and 2.9% for Jawbone UP (ICC = 0.55). Impaired adults steps were underestimated by 3.5% for StepWatch (ICC = 0.91), 1.7% for Fitbit One (ICC = 0.96), 3.2% for Omron HJ-112 (ICC = 0.89), 16.3% for Fitbit Flex (ICC = 0.25), and 8.4% for Jawbone UP (ICC = 0.50). Cane-user and walker-user steps were underestimated by StepWatch by 1.8% (ICC = 0.98) and 1.3% (ICC = 0.99), respectively, where all other monitors underestimated steps by >11.5% (ICCs < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: StepWatch, Omron HJ-112, Fitbit One, and Jawbone UP appeared accurate at measuring steps in older adults with nonimpaired and impaired ambulation during a self-paced walking test. StepWatch also appeared accurate at measuring steps in cane-users.

This paper reviews randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) that have used a physical activity/exercise intervention in older adults with heart failure and reported outcomes of physical function and/or health-related quality of life. An integrative review was necessary because a literature search indicated no reviews have been done regarding these outcomes which are deemed very important by the older adult population. Computerized database search strategies by authors between 2002 and 2015 resulted in 163 studies, with 12 meeting inclusion criteria. Interventions were performed in clinic and home-based, group and/or individual settings with durations from three to 12 months. Interventions were varied. Common methodological weaknesses of the studies include lack of theory guiding the intervention, small sample and low minority representation. Strengths included detailed intervention methods. There was a moderate effect of interventions with no reported adverse effects. Further work is essential to identify successful strategies to support older adults with heart failure to increase their physical activity levels.