Fear of falling and mobility restrictions have a significant negative impact on the quality of life of older adults. Because older African American adults are at increased risk for various modifiable health problems, understanding potential constraints on their overall health and mobility is critical in this population. The current study investigated this issue by analyzing a dataset of 449 older African American adults (mean age=72.3 years) living in Detroit. We characterized and investigated the relationships among the following falls- and health-related variables: previous falls, falls efficacy, mobility, self-rated health (SRH), and depression and well-being. As a whole, participants reported moderate health and well-being, little depression, few mobility problems (mean=8.4/40), and very high falls efficacy (mean=94.9/100) despite the fact that a quarter of the sample experienced a fall within the past year. Correlation results indicated that previous falls, falls efficacy, mobility, SRH and depression and well-being were all inter-related. Regression analyses revealed that higher falls efficacy was more closely associated with better SRH than was having previously fallen. Findings suggest that improving falls efficacy in older African American adults may be beneficial to their mobility and overall health and well-being. Further, by asking a single-item SRH question, clinicians may be able to quickly identify older African American adults who have low falls efficacy and are at high risk for falling.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2013.08.005 | DOI Listing |
BMC Geriatr
December 2024
ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur Institute of Health Economics, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Background: Fall prevention programmes are essential interventions in societies with aging populations. This study assessed the fall rate and other health outcomes, as well as the cost-effectiveness of a home-based fall prevention programme for community-dwelling older people. In a single home visit, trained physical or occupational therapists performed fall risk assessments, eliminated environmental risk factors, and provided tailored exercises.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Complement Med Ther
December 2024
Division of internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Introduction: Sarcopenia is a disease primarily characterized by age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and/or decline in physical performance. Sarcopenia has an insidious onset which can cause functional impairment in the body and increase the risk of falls and disability in the elderly. It significantly increases the likelihood of fractures and mortality, severely impairing the quality of life and health of the elderly people.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Opin Pharmacother
December 2024
Department of Neurology, UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
Introduction: Chorea is a motor manifestation of Huntington's disease (HD), which can lead to decreased functional independence and falls. Even though multiple classes of medications have been used to treat this symptom, only the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine, and valbenazine have been approved by the FDA for this indication.
Areas Covered: This article reviews the pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of valbenazine in the treatment of chorea in HD.
Infect Dis Rep
November 2024
Department of Podiatry of the Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry of the University of Seville, Calle Avicena s/n, 41009 Seville, Spain.
: Plantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), are a common condition that can be painful and resistant to treatment. There are various therapeutic options for managing them, but it is not always clear which are the most effective and tolerated by patients. Among the most commonly used treatments are a zinc and nitric complex (nitrizinc complex), cantharidin, and bleomycin, each with different mechanisms of action and profiles in terms of pain and patient satisfaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Endocrinol (Lausanne)
December 2024
The Fertility Clinic, Skive Regional Hospital, Skive, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Skive, Denmark.
Background: In a global effort to assess expert perspectives on the use of recombinant gonadotropins, recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH) and recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH), a consensus meeting was held in Dubai. The key aim was to address three critical questions: What are the factors that influence follicle response to gonadotropins? Which categories of patients are most likely to benefit from LH supplementation? And what are the optimal management strategies for these patients?
Methods: A panel of thirty-six experts reviewed and refined the initial statements and references proposed by the Scientific Coordinator. Consensus was defined as agreement or disagreement by more than two-thirds (66%) of the panel members for each statement.
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