Fatih Tufan

Prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with functional and nutritional status among male residents in a nursing home in Turkey

The prevalence of sarcopenia differs between different populations, ages, gender and between settings such as the community and nursing homes. Studies on the association of sarcopenia with functional status revealed conflicting results whereas its association with nutritional status is well documented. We aimed at investigating the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with functional and nutritional status among male residents in a nursing home in Turkey. Fat free mass (FFM) was detected by bioelectric impedance analysis. Functional status was evaluated with Katz activities of daily living (ADL) and Lawton Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Nutritional assessment was performed by Mini Nutritional Assessment Test (MNA®). One hundred fifty-seven male residents composed the study cohort. Mean age was 73.1 ± 6.7 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 85.4%. No significant correlation was found between sarcopenia and ADL or IADL. There was a weak but significant correlation between IADL score and FFM (r = 0.18; p = 0.02). Sarcopenic residents had lower MNA score than non-sarcopenic residents (18.1 ± 3.2 vs. 21.8 ± 0.8, p = 0.02). FFM was significantly lower in the residents with malnutrition compared to well-nourished residents (26.8 ± 1 kg/body surface area vs. 28.1 ± 1.8 kg/body surface area, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of sarcopenia was very high among male nursing home residents in Turkey. Sarcopenia was associated with low nutritional status but not with functional status.

Which body mass index (BMI) is better in the elderly for functional status

BMI is commonly used indicator of malnutrition and 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) is generally regarded optimal. However, there is an ongoing debate on ideal range for elderly. BMI cut-off values vary also between ethnic groups. We aimed to investigate relationships between BMI, functional status and malnutrition in elderly living in a nursing home in Turkey. BMIs of 254 residents were calculated. Chronic diseases and currently used drugs were noted. Functional status was evaluated with Katz-activities-of-daily-living (ADL) and Lawton-instrumental-activities-of-daily-living (IADL). Nutritional assessment was performed by Mini-Nutritional-Assessment (MNA) test. Mean age was 75.2 ± 8.2 years. Subjects were classified into 4 groups as BMI <18.5, 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, and ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2). ADL scores and IADL scores were higher in higher BMI groups. There were no differences in terms of age-number of chronic diseases. Even in BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) residents, ADL was significantly higher than 25-34.9 kg/m(2) residents. BMI was significantly correlated with ADL and IADL scores. In Groups 3 and 4, there were 22.2% and 9.1% residents without normal nutrition, respectively. Better functional status was associated with higher BMI values even in BMIs ≥ 30 kg/m(2). In elderly, relative high rates of undernutrition may be present in BMIs regarded as overweight or obese.

Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: From Impaired Tubules to Impaired Carotid and Coronary Arteries

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Endothelial dysfunction, an early and reversible feature in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, is associated with increased vascular smooth muscle tone, arterial stiffening, and increased intima-media thickness. Coronary flow velocity reserve is a noninvasive test showing endothelial function of epicardial coronary arteries and coronary microcirculatory function. The aim of the study was to investigate the carotid intima-media thickness and coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Thirty normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (10 male, 20 female) with well-preserved renal function and 30 healthy subjects (12 male, 18 female) were included in the study. Coronary flow velocity reserve was measured at baseline and after dipyridamole infusion by echocardiography. Coronary flow velocity reserve was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline diastolic peak velocities. RESULTS Carotid intima-media thickness was significantly higher in patients than in control subjects (0.80 +/- 0.29 versus 0.54 +/- 0.14 mm, respectively; P < 0.001). Moreover, coronary flow velocity reserve was significantly lower in patients than in control subjects (1.84 +/- 0.39 versus 2.65 +/- 0.68, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with well-preserved renal function have significantly increased carotid intima-media thickness and significantly decreased coronary flow velocity reserve compared with healthy subjects. These findings suggest that atherosclerosis starts at an early stage in the course of their disease in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Improvement of Endothelial Dysfunction with Simvastatin in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Cardiovascular problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Endothelial dysfunction (ED), which is an early manifestation of vascular injury, has been shown in patients with ADPKD. Statins have a beneficial effect in the reversal of ED. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a statin, simvastatin, on ED in patients with ADPKD. Sixteen patients with ADPKD having well-preserved renal function were included in the study. Endothelial function of the brachial artery was evaluated by using high-resolution vascular ultrasound. Endothelial-dependent dilatation (EDD) was expressed as the percentage change in the brachial artery diameter from baseline to reactive hyperemia. After the baseline evaluations of EDDs, patients were started treatment with simvastatin at a dose of 40 mg/day and were treated for six months. EDDs were recalculated after one and six months of therapy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were also measured as markers of inflammation. Baseline EDD was 11.3 ± 6.9% in patients with ADPKD. After one month of simvastatin treatment, EDD increased significantly to 14.6 ± 4.6 % (P = 0.016 versus baseline). Endothelial-dependent dilatation further increased significantly to 18.9 ± 7.5 % (P = 0.011 versus baseline, P = 0.048 versus first month) after six months of therapy. There was also a significant decrease in the level of IL-6 from 21.6 ± 21.7 pg/mL to 9.1 ± 3.5 pg/mL (P= 0.002). Six months of simvastatin therapy resulted in a significant improvement of ED in patients with ADPKD. This finding may be in part related to the pleiotropic effects of simvastatin.

Clinical and molecular characterization of two adults with autosomal recessive Robinow syndrome

Autosomal recessive Robinow syndrome is caused by mutations in ROR2 and is characterized by short stature, mesomelic limb shortening, brachydactyly, vertebral abnormalities, and a characteristic “fetal face” dysmorphology. We report the clinical and molecular studies on two adults with this condition. Besides typical skeletal and facial features, one patient developed hydronephrosis, nephrocalcinosis, and renal failure. The second patient had characteristic skeletal manifestations including severe spinal involvement and showed endocrinological abnormalities including elevated gonadotropic hormones. The facial phenotype in both patients remained distinctive into adulthood. Analysis of the ROR2 gene revealed a homozygous c.1937_1943delACAAGCT mutation in Patient 1, and compound heterozygosity for c.355C > T (p.R119X). and c.550C > T (p.R184C) in Patient 2.

Relation between hand grip strength, respiratory muscle strength and spirometric measures in male nursing home residents

Abstract Adverse-outcomes related to sarcopenia are mostly mentioned as physical disability. As the other skeletal muscles, respiratory muscles may also be affected by sarcopenia. Respiratory muscle strength is known to affect pulmonary functions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relations between extremity muscle strength, respiratory muscle strengths and spirometric measures in a group of male nursing home residents. Among a total of 104 male residents, residents with obstructive measures were excluded and final study population was composed of 62 residents. Mean age was 70.5 ± 6.7 years, body mass index: 27.7 ± 5.3 kg/m2 and dominant hand grip strength: 29.7 ± 6.5 kg. Hand grip strength was positively correlated with maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) (r = 0.35, p < 0.01 and r = 0.26, p < 0.05, respectively). In regression analysis, the only factor related to MIP was hand grip strength; among spirometric measures only parameter significantly related to grip strength was peak cough flow (PCF). The association of PCF with grip strength disappeared when MIP alone or “MIP and MEP” were included in the regression analysis. In the latter case, PCF was significantly associated only with MIP. We found peripheric muscle strength be associated with MIP and PCF but not with MEP or any other spirometric parameters. The relation between peripheral muscle strength and PCF was mediated by MIP. Our findings suggest that sarcopenia may affect inspiratory muscle strength earlier or more than the expiratory muscle strength. Sarcopenia may cause decrease in PCF in the elderly, which may stand for some common adverse respiratory complications.

Prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing among older adults: A comparison of the Beers 2012 and Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions criteria version 2

To date, there is no study comparing the Beers 2012 and Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions (STOPP) version 2 criteria, nor reporting a comparison of the prevalence of potentially inappropriate Prescribing (PIM) with STOPP version 2. We aimed to evaluate the prescriptions of patients admitted to a geriatric outpatient clinic with these tools, and to document the factors related to PIM use.

Assessments of functional status, comorbidities, polypharmacy, nutritional status and sarcopenia in Turkish community-dwelling male elderly

Abstract Functionality, comorbidities, polypharmacy, nutritional status and sarcopenia affect the prognosis of elderly excessively. These parameters are influenced by the population, living settings and age. We aimed to study these parameters in Turkish community-dwelling male elderly. We studied 274 male elderly ≥60 years of age admitted to our Geriatrics outpatient clinics. Mean age was 74.4 ± 7.1 years; 47.4% of the subjects were ≥75 years, 24.1% were ≥80 years. Mean activities-of-daily-living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) scores were 9.4 and 11.1, respectively. Patients with at least one-dependence at ADL–IADL were 22.6%–47.2%, and more than half-dependence at ADL–IADL were 2.8%–17.9%, respectively. Mean number of comorbidities were 2.6. Most common diagnosis was hypertension with 65%; mean number of drugs were 4.5; 55.3% were using ≥4 chronic drugs. Prevalences of malnutrition were 3.7%–6.9%, malnutrition risk were 23.5%–26.7% by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Test - Long Form and Short Form, respectively. Calf circumference was measured <31 cm in 10.5%. Our findings suggest that Turkish community-dwelling male elderly may have greater prevalences of functional dependence, sarcopenia but lower rates of malnutrition and similar rates of polypharmacy compared with the western developing countries and developed countries. This study emphasized the geographical differences in and/or between the individual countries highlighting the need for studies both country- and world-wide.

Cardiac Biomarkers and Noninvasive Predictors of Atherosclerosis in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: We investigated the relationship among serum cardiac biomarkers including N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), uric acid and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and noninvasive predictors of atherosclerosis including carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), aortic stiffness (pulse wave velocity (PWV)) and transthoracic coronary flow reserve (CFR) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: 37 PD patients were included in the study. We measured (1) carotid IMT, (2) PWV and augmentation index (AIx), and (3) CFR. Simultaneous measurements of serum NT-pro-BNP, cTnT, uric acid and hs-CRP were also performed. Associations among these variables were analyzed. Results: cTnT was significantly associated with carotid IMT (r = 0.747, p < 0.001), PWV (r = 0.431, p = 0.035) and CFR (r = –0.439, p = 0.007). In multivariate analysis, cTnT was a significant independent predictor of carotid IMT (β = 4.446, p < 0.001) and CFR (β = –2.272, p = 0.013). Patients with high cTnT levels (≥0.01 ng/ml) significantly hadhigher carotid IMT and PWV values. Only the aortic PWV significantly correlated with residual renal function (r = –0.574, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Serum cTnT appeared to be a useful clinical biomarker for evaluating noninvasive predictors of atherosclerosis in chronic PD patients. Arterial stiffness as determined by PWV is also correlated with residual renal function.

The Causes of Acute Fever Requiring Hospitalization in Geriatric Patients: Comparison of Infectious and Noninfectious Etiology

Introduction. Infectious diseases may present with atypical presentations in the geriatric patients. While fever is an important finding of infections, it may also be a sign of noninfectious etiology. Methods. Geriatric patients who were hospitalized for acute fever in our infectious diseases unit were included. Acute fever was defined as presentation within the first week of fever above 37.3°C. Results. 185 patients were included (82 males and 103 females). Mean age was 69.7 ± 7.5 years. The cause of fever was an infectious disease in 135 and noninfectious disease in 32 and unknown in 18 of the patients. The most common infectious etiologies were respiratory tract infections (n = 46), urinary tract infections (n = 26), and skin and soft tissue infections (n = 23). Noninfectious causes of fever were rheumatic diseases (n = 8), solid tumors (n = 7), hematological diseases (n = 10), and vasculitis (n = 7). A noninfectious cause of fever was present in one patient with no underlying diseases and in 31 of 130 patients with underlying diseases. Conclusion. Geriatric patients with no underlying diseases generally had infectious causes of fever while noninfectious causes were responsible from fever in an important proportion of patients with underlying diseases.