Publications by authors named "Linda J Crighton"
Background: Studying physical activity (PA) trends in older populations and potential interventions for increasing PA is important, as PA is a factor in many age-related health outcomes such as chronic disease, premature mortality, physical function and injuries from falls. Objective measures of PA provide valuable information regarding the functional impact that ageing and chronic disease states may have on a patient's life.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the AX3 PA monitor in an older population and to investigate whether the AX3 is a valid measure of distinct types or levels of activity in older people with a spectrum of mobility.
Background: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, commonly found in older patients with heart failure, may contribute to the chronic inflammation and skeletal myopathy that lead to poor exercise tolerance. We tested whether vitamin D supplementation of patients with heart failure and vitamin D insufficiency can improve physical function and quality of life.
Methods And Results: In a randomized, parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with systolic heart failure aged >or=70 years with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) received 100,000 U of oral vitamin D2 or placebo at baseline and 10 weeks.
Background: Existing tools purporting to measure quality of life in heart failure do not allow expression of individual needs and preferences. The Patient Generated Index is a recently introduced tool that allows individualised assessment of quality of life.
Methods: 59 patients aged 65 years and over with a clinical diagnosis of chronic heart failure were administered the Patient Generated Index at baseline, 1 week and 12 weeks, along with the Guyatt chronic heart failure questionnaire, Minnesota Living with Heart failure questionnaire and Short Form-12 tool.