Anna Moschny

Physical activity patterns in older men and women in Germany: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundData on physical activity in older adults in Germany is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze physical activity patterns and to explore factors associated with physical activity in different domains, i.e. sporting activities (SA) and domestic activities (DA), in older men and women.MethodsAs part of the 7-year follow-up telephone interviews of the getABI cohort (community-dwelling older adults in Germany), the PRISCUS-PAQ was used to survey participants about their everyday physical activity patterns. Time per week (hh:mm) spent in SA and DA (heavy housework, gardening) was analyzed for men and women. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in order to assess the odds of participating in SA and DA for at least 2.5 hours/week in association with sociodemographic factors, a broad range of physical health-related factors and interview date (season of the year).ResultsA total of 1,610 primary health care patients (51.6% women) with a median age of 77 (range 72-93) years were included in the analyses. Men engaged in SA more often than women (01:45 vs. 01:10), whereas women did more DA per week than men (04:00 vs. 03:00).Being interviewed in spring or summer was associated with increased performance of DA in both sexes. Participation in these activities was reduced in more highly educated men and women. Living alone increased the odds of sports participation in women, but not in men. Most physical health-related factors were only selectively associated with either SA or DA, in men or women, respectively. The need for a walking aid was the only factor that consistently lowered the odds of being active in both activity domains and sexes.ConclusionsThis exploratory study delivers reliable and relevant data on the participation in and correlates of sporting and domestic activities of community-dwelling older adults for whom there had previously been only limited information at a population level in Germany. Findings are discussed and implications for epidemiological research and health promotion practice are provided.

General practitioner advice on physical activity: Analyses in a cohort of older primary health care patients (getABI)

BackgroundAlthough the benefits of physical activity for health and functioning are recognized to extend throughout life, the physical activity level of most older people is insufficient with respect to current guidelines. The primary health care setting may offer an opportunity to influence and to support older people to become physically active on a regular basis. Currently, there is a lack of data concerning general practitioner (GP) advice on physical activity in Germany. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and characteristics of older patients receiving advice on physical activity from their GP.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study using data collected at 7 years of follow-up of a prospective cohort study (German epidemiological trial on ankle brachial index, getABI). 6,880 unselected patients aged 65 years and above in the primary health care setting in Germany were followed up since October 2001. During the 7-year follow-up telephone interview, 1,937 patients were asked whether their GP had advised them to get regular physical activity within the preceding 12 months. The interview also included questions on socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, medical conditions, and physical activity. Logistic regression analysis (unadjusted and adjusted for all covariables) was used to examine factors associated with receiving advice. Analyses comprised only complete cases with regard to the analysed variables. Results are expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsOf the 1,627 analysed patients (median age 77; range 72-93 years; 52.5% women), 534 (32.8%) stated that they had been advised to get regular physical activity. In the adjusted model, those more likely to receive GP advice on physical activity were men (OR [95% CI] 1.34 [1.06-1.70]), patients suffering from pain (1.43 [1.13-1.81]), coronary heart disease and/or myocardial infarction (1.56 [1.21-2.01]), diabetes mellitus (1.79 [1.39-2.30]) or arthritis (1.37 [1.08-1.73]), and patients taking a high (> 5) number of medications (1.41 [1.11-1.80]).ConclusionsThe study revealed a relatively low rate of older primary health care patients receiving GP advice on physical activity. GPs appeared to focus their advice on patients with chronic medical conditions. However, there are likely to be many more patients who would benefit from advice.

Falls and EQ-5D rated quality of life in community-dwelling seniors with concurrent chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAlthough recommended for use in studies investigating falls in the elderly, the European Quality of Life Group instrument, EQ-5D, has not been widely used to assess the impact of falls on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single and frequent falls with EQ-5D rated quality of life in a sample of German community-dwelling seniors in primary care suffering a variety of concurrent chronic diseases and conditions.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, a sample of community-dwelling seniors aged ≥ 72 years was interviewed by means of a standardised telephone interview. According to the number of self-reported falls within twelve months prior to interview, participants were categorised into one of three fall categories: no fall vs. one fall vs. two or more falls within twelve months. EQ-5D values as well as other characteristics were compared across the fall categories. Adjustments for a variety of concurrent chronic diseases and conditions and further variables were made by using multiple linear regression analysis, with EQ-5D being the target variable.ResultsIn total, 1,792 participants (median age 77 years; 53% female) were analysed. The EQ-5D differed between fall categories. Participants reporting no fall had a mean EQ-5D score of 81.1 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 15.4, median: 78.3), while participants reporting one fall (n = 265; 14.8%) and participants with two or more falls (n = 117; 6.5%) had mean total scores of 77.0 (s.d.: 15.8, median: 78.3; mean difference to participants without a fall: -4.1, p < 0.05) and 72.1 (s.d.: 17.6, median: 72.5; mean difference: -9.0, p < 0.05), respectively. The mean difference between participants with one fall and participants with two or more falls was -4.9 (p < 0.05). Under adjustment for a variety of chronic diseases and conditions, the mean decrease in the total EQ-5D score was about -1.0 score point for one fall and about -2.5 points for two or more falls within twelve months. In quantity, this decrease is comparable to other chronic diseases adjusted for. Among the variables with the greatest negative association with EQ-5D ratings in multivariate analysis were depression and fear of falling.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that falls are negatively associated with EQ-5D rated quality of life independent of a variety of chronic diseases and conditions.

[Prerequisites for a new health care model for elderly people with multiple morbidities: results and conclusions from 3 years of research in the PRISCUS consortium].

BACKGROUND The concurrent presence or manifestation of multiple chronic conditions, i.e. multimorbidity, poses a challenge to affected patients and their relatives, physicians, and practitioners, and to the health care system in general. Aiming to improve medical care for different chronic diseases, the Chronic Care Model also appears to be suited for multimorbidity. The established research consortium PRISCUS is trying to create some of the prerequisites for a new care model for multimorbid, elderly patients oriented along the lines of the Chronic Care Model. METHODS AND RESULTS Four out of seven subprojects of the research consortium provide an overview of some of their findings. Topics in a sports medicine subproject were the assessment of physical activity by means of a newly developed questionnaire and the development and feasibility testing of an exercise program for elderly people with chronic conditions and mobility impairment. Partners from family medicine implemented geriatric assessment in a primary care setting and evaluated its consequences. In a pharmacological subproject, potentially inappropriate medication as well as drug-drug interactions and dosing errors were addressed. The health economic subproject investigated quality of life impairment due to multiple chronic diseases and the effects of multimorbidity on costs. CONCLUSIONS The results of the PRISCUS research consortium allow a better description of consequences of multimorbidity and illustrate at least some new approaches towards prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients suffering from multimorbidity. Ongoing projects will test the efficacy of a physical activity program and a new complex intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication in the elderly. With this, the research consortium will create some prerequisites for a new health care model for patients with multimorbidity comparable to the Chronic Care Model.ZusammenfassungHintergrundDas gleichzeitige Auftreten oder Vorhandensein mehrerer chronischer Erkrankungen im Sinne einer Multimorbidität stellt den Betroffenen und seine Angehörigen, Ärzte und Therapeuten, aber auch das Gesundheitssystem vor große Herausforderungen. Für eine verbesserte medizinische Versorgung bietet sich das für chronisch Kranke entwickelte Chronic Care Modell an. Der Forschungsverbund PRISCUS versucht, die Voraussetzungen für ein daran orientiertes, neues Versorgungsmodell für multimorbide, ältere Patienten zu schaffen.Methoden und ErgebnisseÜbersichtsartig werden Ergebnisse aus vier der insgesamt sieben Teilprojekte des Forschungsverbunds dargestellt. Im sportmedizinischen Teilprojekt geht es um die Erfassung körperlicher Aktivität über ein neues Fragebogeninstrument sowie die Entwicklung eines Heimübungsprogramms für chronisch kranke und in der Mobilität eingeschränkte Ältere. Das allgemeinmedizinische Teilprojekt befasst sich mit der Implementierung eines geriatrischen Assessments in der hausärztlichen Versorgung sowie dessen Auswirkungen. Im pharmakologischen Teilprojekt geht es um potenziell inadäquate Medikation für Ältere, Interaktionen und Nebenwirkungen. Das gesundheitsökonomische Teilprojekt eruiert Auswirkungen von Multimorbidität bei Älteren auf Lebensqualität und gesundheitsassoziierte Kosten.SchlussfolgerungDie Ergebnisse des Forschungsverbunds erlauben eine Abschätzung der Krankheitsfolgen von Multimorbidität und zeigen einige neue Ansätze zu Prävention, Diagnostik und Therapie bei Multimorbidität auf. Folgeprojekte werden sich mit der Wirksamkeit eines hausärztlich vermittelten, multidimensionalen Bewegungsprogramms sowie mit einem Interventionsprogramm zur Reduktion potenziell inadäquater Medikation bei Älteren befassen. Damit werden erste Voraussetzungen geschaffen, durch Anpassung der Versorgung nach Vorbild des Chronic Care Modell ein verbessertes Management von Patienten mit Multimorbidität zu erreichen.AbstractBackgroundThe concurrent presence or manifestation of multiple chronic conditions, i.e. multimorbidity, poses a challenge to affected patients and their relatives, physicians, and practitioners, and to the health care system in general. Aiming to improve medical care for different chronic diseases, the Chronic Care Model also appears to be suited for multimorbidity. The established research consortium PRISCUS is trying to create some of the prerequisites for a new care model for multimorbid, elderly patients oriented along the lines of the Chronic Care Model.Methods and resultsFour out of seven subprojects of the research consortium provide an overview of some of their findings. Topics in a sports medicine subproject were the assessment of physical activity by means of a newly developed questionnaire and the development and feasibility testing of an exercise program for elderly people with chronic conditions and mobility impairment. Partners from family medicine implemented geriatric assessment in a primary care setting and evaluated its consequences. In a pharmacological subproject, potentially inappropriate medication as well as drug–drug interactions and dosing errors were addressed. The health economic subproject investigated quality of life impairment due to multiple chronic diseases and the effects of multimorbidity on costs.ConclusionsThe results of the PRISCUS research consortium allow a better description of consequences of multimorbidity and illustrate at least some new approaches towards prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients suffering from multimorbidity. Ongoing projects will test the efficacy of a physical activity program and a new complex intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication in the elderly. With this, the research consortium will create some prerequisites for a new health care model for patients with multimorbidity comparable to the Chronic Care Model.

Voraussetzungen für ein neues Versorgungsmodell für ältere Menschen mit Multimorbidität

BACKGROUND The concurrent presence or manifestation of multiple chronic conditions, i.e. multimorbidity, poses a challenge to affected patients and their relatives, physicians, and practitioners, and to the health care system in general. Aiming to improve medical care for different chronic diseases, the Chronic Care Model also appears to be suited for multimorbidity. The established research consortium PRISCUS is trying to create some of the prerequisites for a new care model for multimorbid, elderly patients oriented along the lines of the Chronic Care Model. METHODS AND RESULTS Four out of seven subprojects of the research consortium provide an overview of some of their findings. Topics in a sports medicine subproject were the assessment of physical activity by means of a newly developed questionnaire and the development and feasibility testing of an exercise program for elderly people with chronic conditions and mobility impairment. Partners from family medicine implemented geriatric assessment in a primary care setting and evaluated its consequences. In a pharmacological subproject, potentially inappropriate medication as well as drug-drug interactions and dosing errors were addressed. The health economic subproject investigated quality of life impairment due to multiple chronic diseases and the effects of multimorbidity on costs. CONCLUSIONS The results of the PRISCUS research consortium allow a better description of consequences of multimorbidity and illustrate at least some new approaches towards prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients suffering from multimorbidity. Ongoing projects will test the efficacy of a physical activity program and a new complex intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication in the elderly. With this, the research consortium will create some prerequisites for a new health care model for patients with multimorbidity comparable to the Chronic Care Model.ZusammenfassungHintergrundDas gleichzeitige Auftreten oder Vorhandensein mehrerer chronischer Erkrankungen im Sinne einer Multimorbidität stellt den Betroffenen und seine Angehörigen, Ärzte und Therapeuten, aber auch das Gesundheitssystem vor große Herausforderungen. Für eine verbesserte medizinische Versorgung bietet sich das für chronisch Kranke entwickelte Chronic Care Modell an. Der Forschungsverbund PRISCUS versucht, die Voraussetzungen für ein daran orientiertes, neues Versorgungsmodell für multimorbide, ältere Patienten zu schaffen.Methoden und ErgebnisseÜbersichtsartig werden Ergebnisse aus vier der insgesamt sieben Teilprojekte des Forschungsverbunds dargestellt. Im sportmedizinischen Teilprojekt geht es um die Erfassung körperlicher Aktivität über ein neues Fragebogeninstrument sowie die Entwicklung eines Heimübungsprogramms für chronisch kranke und in der Mobilität eingeschränkte Ältere. Das allgemeinmedizinische Teilprojekt befasst sich mit der Implementierung eines geriatrischen Assessments in der hausärztlichen Versorgung sowie dessen Auswirkungen. Im pharmakologischen Teilprojekt geht es um potenziell inadäquate Medikation für Ältere, Interaktionen und Nebenwirkungen. Das gesundheitsökonomische Teilprojekt eruiert Auswirkungen von Multimorbidität bei Älteren auf Lebensqualität und gesundheitsassoziierte Kosten.SchlussfolgerungDie Ergebnisse des Forschungsverbunds erlauben eine Abschätzung der Krankheitsfolgen von Multimorbidität und zeigen einige neue Ansätze zu Prävention, Diagnostik und Therapie bei Multimorbidität auf. Folgeprojekte werden sich mit der Wirksamkeit eines hausärztlich vermittelten, multidimensionalen Bewegungsprogramms sowie mit einem Interventionsprogramm zur Reduktion potenziell inadäquater Medikation bei Älteren befassen. Damit werden erste Voraussetzungen geschaffen, durch Anpassung der Versorgung nach Vorbild des Chronic Care Modell ein verbessertes Management von Patienten mit Multimorbidität zu erreichen.AbstractBackgroundThe concurrent presence or manifestation of multiple chronic conditions, i.e. multimorbidity, poses a challenge to affected patients and their relatives, physicians, and practitioners, and to the health care system in general. Aiming to improve medical care for different chronic diseases, the Chronic Care Model also appears to be suited for multimorbidity. The established research consortium PRISCUS is trying to create some of the prerequisites for a new care model for multimorbid, elderly patients oriented along the lines of the Chronic Care Model.Methods and resultsFour out of seven subprojects of the research consortium provide an overview of some of their findings. Topics in a sports medicine subproject were the assessment of physical activity by means of a newly developed questionnaire and the development and feasibility testing of an exercise program for elderly people with chronic conditions and mobility impairment. Partners from family medicine implemented geriatric assessment in a primary care setting and evaluated its consequences. In a pharmacological subproject, potentially inappropriate medication as well as drug–drug interactions and dosing errors were addressed. The health economic subproject investigated quality of life impairment due to multiple chronic diseases and the effects of multimorbidity on costs.ConclusionsThe results of the PRISCUS research consortium allow a better description of consequences of multimorbidity and illustrate at least some new approaches towards prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients suffering from multimorbidity. Ongoing projects will test the efficacy of a physical activity program and a new complex intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication in the elderly. With this, the research consortium will create some prerequisites for a new health care model for patients with multimorbidity comparable to the Chronic Care Model.

Recruiting Hard-to-Reach Subjects for Exercise Interventions: A Multi-Centre and Multi-Stage Approach Targeting General Practitioners and Their Community-Dwelling and Mobility-Limited Patients

The general practitioner (GP)’s practice appears to be an ideal venue for recruiting community-dwelling older adults with limited mobility. This study (Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN17727272) aimed at evaluating the recruiting process used for a multi-centre exercise intervention (HOMEfit). Each of six steps resulted in an absolute number of patients (N1–N6). Sex and age (for N4–N6) and reasons for dropping out were assessed. Patient database screening (N1–N3) at 15 GP practices yielded N1 = 5,990 patients aged 70 and above who had visited their GP within the past 6 months, N2 = 5,467 after exclusion of institutionalised patients, N3 = 1,545 patients eligible. Using a pre-defined limitation algorithm in order to conserve the practices’ resources resulted in N4 = 1,214 patients (80.3 ± 5.6 years, 68% female), who were then officially invited to the final assessment of eligibility at the GP’s practice. N5 = 434 patients (79.5 ± 5.4 years, 69% female) attended the practice screening (n = 13 of whom had not received an official invitation). Finally, N6 = 209 (79.8 ± 5.2 years, 74% female) were randomised after they were judged eligible and had given their written informed consent to participate in the randomised controlled trial (overall recruitment rate: 4.4%). The general strategy of utilising a GP’s practice to recruit the target group proved beneficial. The data and experiences presented here can help planners of future exercise-intervention studies.

Adverse Events in Mobility‐Limited and Chronically Ill Elderly Adults Participating in an Exercise Intervention Study Supported by General Practitioner Practices

To present detailed adverse event (AE) data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a home‐based exercise program delivered to an elderly high‐risk population by an exercise therapist after medical clearance from a general practitioner (GP).

An exercise programme for community-dwelling, mobility-restricted and chronically ill older adults with structured support by the general practitioner's practice (HOMEfit). From feasibility to evaluation.

Programmes containing health-enhancing physical exercise should be evaluated using standards that are just as rigorous as those required for drug development. In contrast to new medicines, exercise programmes are highly complex. This has to be taken into account when designing the research plan. In order to illustrate the development process of a “complex intervention”, we use the example of an exercise programme for community-dwelling, mobility-restricted and chronically ill older adults. Based on a framework for evaluation of complex interventions (Medical Research Council [MRC], UK), a research plan was set up containing the phases: development, feasibility, evaluation, implementation. The development phase resulted in the design of a home-based exercise programme in which the target group is approached and supported via their general practitioner and an exercise therapist. A feasibility study was performed. Three quantitative criteria for feasibility (adoption, safety, continuing participation) were statistically confirmed which permitted the decision to proceed with the research plan. So far, the MRC framework has proved to be valuable for the development of the new programme.ZusammenfassungBewegungstherapeutische Programme sollten nach denselben Standards entwickelt und evaluiert werden wie Medikamente. Im Gegensatz zu neuen Medikamenten sind bewegungstherapeutische Programme allerdings in hohem Maße „komplex“, was bei der Erstellung des Forschungsplans berücksichtigt werden muss. Im vorliegenden Artikel wird der Entwicklungsprozess einer „komplexen Intervention“ anhand eines bewegungstherapeutischen Programms für zu Hause lebende, mobilitätseingeschränkte und chronisch kranke Ältere dargestellt. Basierend auf einem Evaluationsmodell für komplexe Interventionen des Medical Research Council (MRC, UK) wurde ein Forschungsplan aufgestellt, der die Phasen Entwicklung, Machbarkeit, Evaluation und Implementation beinhaltet. Die Entwicklungsphase resultierte in einem Heimübungsprogramm, bei dem die Zielgruppe über eine Kooperation zwischen Hausärzt(inn)en und Bewegungstherapeut(inn)en erreicht und unterstützt wird. In einer Machbarkeitsstudie wurden drei quantitative Machbarkeitskriterien (Annahme, Sicherheit, anhaltende Teilnahme) statistisch bestätigt. Dies erlaubte die Entscheidung, in die nächste Phase des Forschungsplans überzugehen. Bislang hat sich das Modell des MRC als nützlich und wertvoll für den Entwicklungs- und Evaluationsprozess des neuen Programms herausgestellt.

An exercise programme for community-dwelling, mobility-restricted and chronically ill older adults with structured support by the general practitioner’s practice (HOMEfit)

Programmes containing health-enhancing physical exercise should be evaluated using standards that are just as rigorous as those required for drug development. In contrast to new medicines, exercise programmes are highly complex. This has to be taken into account when designing the research plan. In order to illustrate the development process of a “complex intervention”, we use the example of an exercise programme for community-dwelling, mobility-restricted and chronically ill older adults. Based on a framework for evaluation of complex interventions (Medical Research Council [MRC], UK), a research plan was set up containing the phases: development, feasibility, evaluation, implementation. The development phase resulted in the design of a home-based exercise programme in which the target group is approached and supported via their general practitioner and an exercise therapist. A feasibility study was performed. Three quantitative criteria for feasibility (adoption, safety, continuing participation) were statistically confirmed which permitted the decision to proceed with the research plan. So far, the MRC framework has proved to be valuable for the development of the new programme.ZusammenfassungBewegungstherapeutische Programme sollten nach denselben Standards entwickelt und evaluiert werden wie Medikamente. Im Gegensatz zu neuen Medikamenten sind bewegungstherapeutische Programme allerdings in hohem Maße „komplex“, was bei der Erstellung des Forschungsplans berücksichtigt werden muss. Im vorliegenden Artikel wird der Entwicklungsprozess einer „komplexen Intervention“ anhand eines bewegungstherapeutischen Programms für zu Hause lebende, mobilitätseingeschränkte und chronisch kranke Ältere dargestellt. Basierend auf einem Evaluationsmodell für komplexe Interventionen des Medical Research Council (MRC, UK) wurde ein Forschungsplan aufgestellt, der die Phasen Entwicklung, Machbarkeit, Evaluation und Implementation beinhaltet. Die Entwicklungsphase resultierte in einem Heimübungsprogramm, bei dem die Zielgruppe über eine Kooperation zwischen Hausärzt(inn)en und Bewegungstherapeut(inn)en erreicht und unterstützt wird. In einer Machbarkeitsstudie wurden drei quantitative Machbarkeitskriterien (Annahme, Sicherheit, anhaltende Teilnahme) statistisch bestätigt. Dies erlaubte die Entscheidung, in die nächste Phase des Forschungsplans überzugehen. Bislang hat sich das Modell des MRC als nützlich und wertvoll für den Entwicklungs- und Evaluationsprozess des neuen Programms herausgestellt.

[Measurement of physical activity in older adults. Correlation between the PRISCUS-PAQ and accelerometry].

BACKGROUND The German questionnaire PRISCUS-PAQ was developed to measure actual physical activity of older adults in a telephone interview. PRISCUS-PAQ consists of ten main questions to assess the time spend in domestic activities (e.g., housework, gardening), sporting activities (e.g., riding a bicycle), and inactivity (e.g., sedentary activity, sleeping during the day) during the prior week. By assessing the number of days for each activity and the mean duration of performing this activity, a total score can be calculated. The total score corresponds to the energy consumption for 1 week. The aim of this study is to estimate the correlation of the PRISCUS-PAQ total score and accelerometry as an objective measurement method for the assessment of physical activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 114 participants (58% women) with a mean age of 76 years participated in the study. PRISCUS-PAQ was initially analyzed descriptively. To assess the validity of PRISCUS-PAQ, the correlation (correlation coefficient of Spearman) was calculated between the total score of the questionnaire PRISCUS-PAQ and the 95% trimmed sum of an accelerometer with a measurement period of 1 week. RESULTS The correlation coefficient for the association of the PRISCUS-PAQ total score and the 95% trimmed sum of the acceleration values was r = 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.10–0.44). Activities of daily life like cleaning and other domestic activities highly contributed to the weekly energy consumption of the participants. CONCLUSION The association between the PRISCUS-PAQ questionnaire and accelerometry measured physical activity is comparable to other validated and established international questionnaires. The PRISCUS-PAQ is the first German questionnaire that allows the measurement of physical activity of older adults in a telephone interview.