Changes in Sleep Duration and Sleep Timing in the General Population from before to during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown had a profound effect on everyday life, including sleep health. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated changes in quantitative sleep parameters during the first lockdown compared with pre-lockdown in the general population.

Methods: A search in scientific databases was performed to identify eligible observational studies from inception to 8 February 2023.

A multidisciplinary approach to improve adherence to medical recommendations in older adults at hospital discharge: The APPROACH study protocol.

Introduction: Poor comprehension and medication adherence are common in older people, especially after hospitalizations, in case of changes or prescriptions of new therapeutic regimes. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated approach in improving older individuals' adherence to medical recommendations after hospital discharge.

Methods: Data from an expected sample of 360 older inpatients (and their caregivers) will be collected.

Changes in sleep quality and sleep disturbances in the general population from before to during the COVID-19 lockdown: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore changes in sleep quality and sleep disturbances in the general population from before to during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021256378) and the PRISMA guidelines were followed. The major databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to 28/05/2021 to identify observational studies evaluating sleep changes in the general population during the lockdown with respect to the pre-lockdown period.

Health-Related Predictors of Changes in Cognitive Status in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals.

Given the rising numbers of older people living with dementia, this study focuses on identifying modifiable health-related factors associated with changes in cognitive status. The predictors of 1-year conversion from Preserved Cognitive Health (PCH) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in older adults were evaluated. Two logistic regression models were performed on data from an Italian multicenter population-based study; both included sociodemographic factors, family history of dementia (FHD), risk behaviors, and depressive symptoms.

The prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in an Italian institutionalized older population: findings from the cross-sectional Alvise Cornaro Center Study.

Background: While it is well established that frail older people have a higher risk of negative health outcomes, the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in Italian older institutionalized population has never been investigated.

Aims: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of frailty and to identify its associated factors in an Italian residential care home population.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate older people aged 70 or over of an Italian residential care home.

Neighborhood environment, social participation, and physical activity in older adults with lower limb osteoarthritis: A mediation analysis.

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 = 73.8 years; 50.

The Effect of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet on Late-Life Cognitive Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Although some results are conflicting, numerous investigations have demonstrated that the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has positive effects on brain health. This review intends to provide an update on the scientific evidence regarding the effects of adherence to the MedDiet on late-life cognitive disorders.

Design: A systematic review was performed.

Factors Associated With Functional Decline in Hand and Hip/Knee Osteoarthritis After One Year: Data From a Population-Based Study.

Objective: To investigate factors that together with hand or hip/knee osteoarthritis (OA) could contribute to functional decline over a year's time in elderly individuals.

Methods: The data of 1,886 individuals between ages 65 and 85 years in a prospective, observational population-based study with 12-18 months of follow-up in the context of the European Project on Osteoarthritis were analyzed. The outcome measures were self-reported hand and hip/knee functional decline, evaluated using a minimum clinically important difference of 4 on the Australian/Canadian Hand OA Index and of 2 on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index hip/knee physical function subscales, both normalized to 0-100.

Quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery: longitudinal findings from the QPro-Gin study.

Background: Many patients report postoperative pain, limited improvement in physical function and poor quality of life (QOL) after knee replacement surgery. Our study uses baseline predictors of change to investigate the QOL of patients with knee osteoarthritis 3-months after knee replacement surgery.

Methods: A prospective observational study was designed to evaluate patients (n = 132) scheduled for uni-compartmental or total knee replacement surgery who were assessed at baseline (preoperatively) and 3-months after.

Sex differentials in avoidable mortality and potential life expectancy gains in São Paulo, SP, Brazil: a cross-sectional study of the period 2014-2016.

Objective: to estimate potential life expectancy gains and differences between males and females, if avoidable deaths from circulatory system diseases, neoplasms and external causes had been eliminated in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in the period 2014- 2016.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM), and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), using multiple decrement tables.

Results: of the 81,087 deaths from the diseases studied here, 75.

Mild polypharmacy and MCI progression in older adults: the mediation effect of drug-drug interactions.

Background: Polypharmacy has been associated with worse cognitive performance, but its impact on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression to dementia has not been explored.

Aims: The aims of the study were to investigate the association between multidrug regimens and MCI progression, and the possible mediation of drug-drug interactions and drugs' anticholinergic effect in such association.

Methods: This work included 342 older adults with MCI, who were involved in an Italian multicenter population-based cohort study.

Association Between Osteoarthritis and Social Isolation: Data From the EPOSA Study.

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.

Minimal clinically important decline in physical function over one year: EPOSA study.

Background: The Australian/Canadian hand Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities knee and hip Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) are the most commonly used clinical tools to manage and monitor osteoarthritis (OA). Few studies have as yet reported longitudinal changes in the AUSCAN index regarding the hand. While there are published data regarding WOMAC assessments of the hip and the knee, the two sites have always evaluated separately.

Within-person pain variability and physical activity in older adults with osteoarthritis from six European countries.

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).

Within-Person Pain Variability and Mental Health in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis: An Analysis Across 6 European Cohorts.

Unlabelled: 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.

Regulatory framework on bioequivalence criteria for locally acting gastrointestinal drugs: the case for oral modified release mesalamine formulations.

Bioequivalence testing for locally acting gastrointestinal drugs is a challenging issue for both regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical industries. The international regulatory framework has been characterized by the lack of specific bioequivalence tests that has generated a negative impact on the market competition and drug use in clinical practice. Areas covered: This review article provides an overview of the European Union and United States regulatory frameworks on bioequivalence criteria for locally acting gastrointestinal drugs, also discussing the most prominent scientific issues and advances that has been made in this field.

Prevalence and conversion to dementia of Mild Cognitive Impairment in an elderly Italian population.

Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a significant risk factor for dementia but there are only a few Italian population studies on its prevalence and its rate of conversion to dementia.

Aims: Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MCI, its subtypes, and rates of conversion to dementia 1 year later in an elderly Italian population.

Methods: The data are based on an Italian multicenter population-based cohort study with both cross-sectional and longitudinal components.

How Hand Osteoarthritis, Comorbidity, and Pain Interact to Determine Functional Limitation in Older People: Observations From the European Project on OSteoArthritis Study.

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.

The Influence of Weather Conditions on Outdoor Physical Activity Among Older People With and Without Osteoarthritis in 6 European Countries.

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.

Performance of the Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment and Multidimensional Prognostic Index in predicting negative outcomes in older adults with cancer.

Unlabelled: The Multidimensional Geriatric Assessment (MGA) is currently used for assessing geriatric oncological patients, but a new prognostic index - the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) - has a demonstrated prognostic value in cancer patients too. The present work was designed to compare the MPI and MGA as predictors of 12-month mortality. 160 patients ≥70 years old with locally-advanced or metastatic solid cancers consecutively joining our Geriatric Oncology Program were administered a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to calculate their MGA and MPI scores.

Osteoarthritis and frailty in elderly individuals across six European countries: results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis (EPOSA).

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.

Role of Osteoarthritis, Comorbidity, and Pain in Determining Functional Limitations in Older Populations: European Project on Osteoarthritis.

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.

The Influence of Weather Conditions on Joint Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Results from the European Project on OSteoArthritis.

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).

The Trochanteric Localization is a Mediator of Slower Short-Term Functional Recovery in Overweight and Obese Elderly Women with Recent Hip Fracture: The BREAK Study.

The hypothesis tested in this study, carried out on elderly Italian women with recent hip fracture, was to assess the extent to which the effect of a condition of being overweight/obese on short-term functional recovery as evaluated by the "time to permitted load" could be explained by a mediator variable (type of hip fracture). We studied 727 women aged 60 years or over with a recent low trauma surgically treated hip fracture and for whom an information on post-surgery complications and on the time to permitted load was available. To assess for mediation, the statistical analyses were carried out following the procedure described by Baron and Kenny.

European collaboration on relative effectiveness assessments: What is needed to be successful?

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the possible barriers and critical success factors for the implementation of European collaboration in the field of relative effectiveness assessment (REA) of drugs.

Methods: Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with representatives from eight European health technology assessment (HTA) organisations involved in assessment of drugs for coverage decision-making (AAZ, AIFA, AHTAPol, HAS, HVB, IQWIG, NICE and ZiN).

Results: Potential barriers identified mainly relate to methodology, resources and challenges with implementation in the respective national processes (e.