Medicine (Western Health) - Research Publications
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ItemNo Preview AvailableFactor analysis to determine relative contributions of strength, physical performance, body composition and muscle mass to disability and mobility disability outcomes in older men(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2022-05)BACKGROUND: It is not known how measures of body composition, strength and physical performance are interrelated or how empirical groupings of these measures relate to disability and mobility disability. METHODS: Muscle mass was assessed by D3-creatine dilution (D3Cr muscle mass) in 1345 men (84.1 ± 4.1 years) enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. Participants completed anthropomorphic measures, walk speed, grip strength, chair stands, and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) estimated appendicular lean mass (ALM) and body fat percentage. Men reported limitations in mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs at initial and over 2.2 ± 0.3 years. Factor analysis reduced variables into related groups and negative binomial models calculated relative risk (RR) of factors with mobility and disability outcomes. RESULTS: Factor analysis reduced 10 variables into four factors: Factor 1, body composition, including ALM, body fat percentage, weight and muscle mass; Factor 2, body size and lean mass, including height, weight and ALM; Factor 3, muscle mass, strength and performance, including walk speed, chair stands, grip strength, and muscle mass; and Factor 4, lean mass and weight, including ALM and weight. Only Factor 3 was significantly associated (p-value < .001) with prevalent disability (RR per standard deviation increment in factor score (reflecting higher muscle mass, strength and physical performance) 0.44, 0.35-0.56) and mobility disability (RR 0.22, 0.17 0.28), and incident mobility disability (RR 0.37, 0.27-0.50). CONCLUSION: D3Cr muscle mass was the only body composition variable that co-segregated with strength and physical performance measures, and contributed to a factor that was associated with disability outcomes in older men.
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ItemA micro-costing analysis of post-fracture care pathways: results from the International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study (ICUROS)(SPRINGER LONDON LTD, 2022-09)UNLABELLED: This study identified the costs and health-related quality of life impacts of several post-fracture multidisciplinary care pathways specific to individual skeletal site (hip, distal forearm, vertebrae, humerus). These care pathways may assist healthcare providers in allocating resources for osteoporotic fractures in more effective and cost-efficient ways. INTRODUCTION: This micro-costing study was undertaken to provide the estimated healthcare costs of several fracture site-specific health service use pathways associated with different trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 12-months post-fracture. METHODS: The study included 4126 adults aged ≥ 50 years with a fragility fracture (1657 hip, 681 vertebrae, 1354 distal forearm, 434 humerus) from the International Costs & Utilities Related to Osteoporotic fractures Study (ICUROS). ICUROS participants were asked to recall the frequency and duration (where applicable) of their health and community care service use at 4- and 12-month follow-up visits. Patient-level costs were identified and aggregated to determine the average cost of healthcare use related to the fracture in each care pathway (presented in Australian 2021 dollars). Mean cost differences were calculated and analysed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Bonferroni correction to determine any statistically significant differences. RESULTS: The total direct cost of fractures was estimated at $89564, $38926, $18333, and $38461AUD per patient for hip, vertebral, wrist, and humeral participants, respectively. A Kruskal-Wallis test yielded a statistically significant difference in cost values between most care pathways (p < 0.001). Of the 20 care pathways, those associated with recovery of HRQoL had lower mean costs per patient across each fracture site. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the costs and HRQoL impacts of several multidisciplinary care pathways for individual fracture sites based on the health service utilization of an international cohort of older adults. These care pathways may assist healthcare providers in allocating resources for fragility fractures in more effective and cost-efficient ways.
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ItemSarcopenia: a deserving recipient of an Australian ICD-10-AM code(WILEY, 2020-01)
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ItemBody composition reference ranges in community-dwelling adults using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: the Australian Body Composition (ABC) Study(WILEY, 2021-08)BACKGROUND: Reference ranges for lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) are essential in identifying soft tissue disorders; however, no such reference ranges exist for the most commonly used Hologic dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machine in Australia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults (aged 18-88 years) who underwent a Hologic DXA scan at one of three commercialized densitometry centres in Australia. Age-specific and sex-specific percentile curves were generated for LM [LM, appendicular lean mass (ALM), ALM adjusted for height squared (ALM/h2 ), and ALM adjusted for body mass index (ALM/BMI)] and FM [FM, FM adjusted for height squared (FM/h2 ), appendicular fat mass, and android and gynoid fat] parameters using the LMS statistical method. Cutpoints equivalent to T-scores of -1, -2, and -2.5 standard deviations below the young mean reference group (20-29 years) were also generated for LM parameters. RESULTS: A total of 15 479 community-dwelling adults (54% men) with a median age of 33 years (interquartile range: 28, 42) were included. LM, ALM, and ALM/h2 remained stable until age 50, after which these parameters started to decline in both sexes. Compared with age 50, median percentiles of LM, ALM, and ALM/h2 declined by -5.9 kg, -3.7 kg, and -0.86 kg/m2 in men and by -2.5 kg, -1.8 kg, and -0.10 kg/m2 in women at age 70, respectively. Adjusting ALM for BMI (rather than height squared) resulted in different trends, with ALM/BMI decreasing from as early as age 20. Compared with age 20, median percentiles of ALM/BMI at age 40 declined by -0.10 kg/kg/m2 in men and by -0.06 kg/kg/m2 in women; and at age 70, ALM/BMI declined by -0.25 kg/kg/m2 in men and by -0.20 kg/kg/m2 in women. Cutpoints equivalent to T-scores of -1, -2, and -2.5 standard deviations for ALM/BMI were 1.01, 0.86, and 0.77 kg/kg/m2 in men and 0.70, 0.59, and 0.53 kg/kg/m2 in women, respectively. All FM parameters progressively increased from age 20 and continued up until age 70. CONCLUSIONS: We developed reference ranges for LM and FM parameters from Hologic DXA machines in a large cohort of Australian adults, which will assist researchers and clinicians in identifying soft tissue disorders such as obesity, sarcopenia, and cachexia.
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ItemIn eHealth in India today, the nature of work, the challenges and the finances: an interview-based study(BMC, 2014-01-06)BACKGROUND: Care pathways are generally paper-based and can cause communication failures between multidisciplinary teams, potentially compromising the safety of the patient. Computerized care pathways may facilitate better communication between clinical teams. This study aimed to investigate whether an electronic care pathway (e-pathway) reduces delays in surgery and hospital length of stay compared to a traditional paper-based care pathway (control) in hip fracture patients. METHODS: A single-centre evaluation with a retrospective control group was conducted in the Orthogeriatric Ward, Nepean Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. We enrolled patients aged > 65 years that were hospitalized for a hip fracture in 2008 (control group) and 2012 (e-pathway group). The e-pathway provided the essential steps in the care of patients with hip fracture, including examinations and treatment to be carried out. Main outcome measures were delay in surgery and hospital length of stay; secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and discharge location. RESULTS: A total of 181 patients were enrolled in the study (129 control; 54 e-pathway group). There was a significant reduction in delay to surgery in the e-pathway group compared to control group in unadjusted (OR = 0.19; CI 0.09-0.39; p < 0.001) and adjusted (OR = 0.22; CI 0.10-0.49; p < 0.001) models. There were no significant differences between groups for length of stay (median 11 vs 12 days; p = 0.567), in-hospital mortality (1 vs 7 participants; p = 0.206) or discharge location (p = 0.206). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that, compared to a paper-based care pathway, implementation of an e-pathway for hip fracture patients results in a reduction in total number of delays to surgery, but not hospital length of stay. Further evaluation is warranted using a larger cohort investigating both clinical and patient-reported outcome measures.
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ItemEffects of the falls and fractures clinic as an integrated multidisciplinary model of care in Australia: a pre-post study(BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2019-08)OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, the approach to fracture prevention has focused on increasing bone mineral density while typically lacking a combined clinical approach to falls prevention and vice versa. To resolve this gap, we implemented and evaluated a novel combined model of care to the assessment and prevention of osteoporosis and falls in the outpatients setting. SETTING: Falls and Fractures Clinic (FFC) at Nepean Hospital (Penrith, NSW, Australia). PARTICIPANTS: Pre-effects and posteffects assessment of 106 community-dwelling older patients referred from the community. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Previous falls and fractures were recorded. Clinical, functional and paraclinical evaluations were performed. A comprehensive multidisciplinary care plan was then tailored based on the presence of risk factors. Six-month follow-ups were performed assessing the incidence of falls and fractures, change in risk factors for falls and level of risk, with the recommended plan. RESULTS: We report that 97% of patients had a fall in the preceding 6 months, 47.6% of whom experienced a fracture from the fall. Furthermore, 64% of patients had a marked risk for falling by Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), 90% had intermediate-high 10-year probability of fracture according to FRAX and 78% had sarcopenia. At 6-month follow-up, we observed more than an 80% reduction in falls and recurrent falls, and 50% reduction in fractures. In addition, 65% of patients had reduced PPA and a 57% reduction in 10-year fracture probability. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we suggest that a multidisciplinary FFC can provide substantial reductions in falls and fractures for high-risk older people, even over a relatively short 6-month time period. The current model of service provision via traditional falls clinics could be significantly improved by encompassing fracture prevention within the multifactorial approach to interventions.
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ItemTherapeutic approaches to osteosarcopenia: insights for the clinician(SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019-08)Osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia are both age-related conditions. Given the well-defined bone and muscle interaction, when osteopenia and sarcopenia occur simultaneously, this geriatric syndrome is defined as 'osteosarcopenia'. Evidence exists about therapeutic interventions common to both bone and muscle, which could thereby be effective in treating osteosarcopenia. In addition, there are roles for common nonpharmacological strategies such as nutritional intervention and physical exercise prescription in the management of this condition. In this review we summarize the evidence on current and upcoming therapeutic approaches to osteosarcopenia.
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ItemGeographic region, socioeconomic position and the utilisation of primary total joint replacement for hip or knee osteoarthritis across western Victoria: a cross-sectional multilevel study of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry(SPRINGER LONDON LTD, 2017-11-06)UNLABELLED: Compared to urban residents, those in rural/regional areas often experience inequitable healthcare from specialist service providers. Independent of small between-area differences in utilisation, socially advantaged groups had the greatest uptake of joint replacement. These data suggest low correlation between 'need' vs. 'uptake' of surgery in rural/regional areas. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared to urban residents, those in rural and regional areas often experience inequitable healthcare from specialist service providers, often due to geographical issues. We investigated associations between socioeconomic position (SEP), region of residence and utilisation of primary total knee replacement (TKR) and/or total hip replacement (THR) for osteoarthritis. DESIGN AND METHODS: As part of the Ageing, Chronic Disease and Injury study, we extracted data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (2011-2013) for adults that utilised primary TKR (n = 4179; 56% female) and/or THR (n = 3120; 54% female). Residential addresses were matched with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2011 census data: region of residence was defined according to local government areas (LGAs), and area-level SEP (quintiles) defined using an ABS-derived composite index. The ABS-determined control population (n = 591,265; 51% female) excluded individuals identified as cases. We performed multilevel logistic regression modelling using a stratified two-stage cluster design. RESULTS: TKR was higher for those aged 70-79 years (AOR 1.4 95%CI 1.3-1.5; referent = 60-69 years) and in the most advantaged SEP quintile (AOR 2.1, 95%CI 1.8-2.3; referent = SEP quintile 3); results were similar for THR (70-79 years = AOR 1.7, 95%CI 1.5-1.8; SEP quintile 5 = AOR 2.5, 95%CI 2.2-2.8). Total variances contributed by the variance in LGAs were 2% (SD random effects ± 0.28) and 3% (SD ± 0.32), respectively. CONCLUSION: Independent of small between-LGA differences in utilisation, and in contrast to the expected greater prevalence of osteoarthritis in disadvantaged populations, we report greater TKR and THR in more advantaged groups. Further research should investigate whether more advantaged populations may be over-serviced.
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ItemArthritis diagnosis and symptoms are positively associated with specific physical job exposures in lower- and middle-income countries: cross-sectional results from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)(BMC, 2018-06-08)BACKGROUND: In higher income countries, work-related squatting and heavy lifting have been associated with increased arthritis risk. Here, we address the paucity of data regarding associations between arthritis and work-related physical stressors in lower- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 (2007-10) for adults (aged ≥50 years) from Ghana, India, Russia and South Africa for whom detailed occupation data was available (n = 21,389; 49.2% women). Arthritis cases were identified using a symptom-defined algorithm (current) and self-reported doctor-diagnosis (lifetime). A sex-specific Job Exposure Matrix was used to classify work-related stressors: heavy physical work, kneeling/squatting, heavy lifting, arm elevation and awkward trunk posture. Using the International Standard Classification of Occupations, we linked SAGE and the Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between arthritis and work-related stressors, adjusting for age (10 year age groupings), potential socioeconomic-related confounders, and body mass index. Excess exposure risk due to two-way interactions with other risk factors were explored. RESULTS: Doctor-diagnosed arthritis was associated with heavy physical work (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 1.12, 95%CI 1.01-1.23), awkward trunk posture (adjusted OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.12-1.36), kneeling or squatting (adjusted OR 1.25, 95%CI 1.12-1.38), and arm elevation (adjusted OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.37-2.00). Symptom-based arthritis was associated with kneeling or squatting (adjusted OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.08-1.50), heavy lifting (adjusted OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.11-1.58), and arm elevation (adjusted OR 2.16, 95%CI 1.63-2.86). Two-way interactions suggested excess arthritis risk existed for higher body mass index, and higher income or education. CONCLUSIONS: Minimization of occupational health risk factors is common practice in higher income countries: attention should now be directed toward reducing work-related arthritis burden in lower- and middle-income countries.
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ItemAssociations between socioeconomic factors and proinflammatory cytokines in children, adolescents and young adults: a systematic review protocol(BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2018-05)INTRODUCTION: There is now substantial evidence of a social gradient in bone health. Social stressors, related to socioeconomic status, are suggested to produce an inflammatory response marked by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Here we focus on the particular role in the years before the achievement of peak bone mass, encompassing childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. An examination of such associations will help explain how social factors such as occupation, level of education and income may affect later-life bone disorders. This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review of existing literature regarding associations between socioeconomic factors and proinflammatory cytokines in those aged 6-30 years. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic search of PubMed, OVID and CINAHL databases to identify articles that examine associations between socioeconomic factors and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, known to influence bone health, during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. The findings of this review have implications for the equitable development of peak bone mass regardless of socioeconomic factors. Two independent reviewers will determine the eligibility of studies according to predetermined criteria, and studies will be assessed for methodological quality using a published scoring system. Should statistical heterogeneity be non-significant, we will conduct a meta-analysis; however, if heterogeneity prevent numerical syntheses, we will undertake a best-evidence analysis to determine whether socioeconomic differences exist in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines from childhood through to young adulthood. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will be a systematic review of published data, and thus ethics approval is not required. In addition to peer-reviewed publication, these findings will be presented at professional conferences in national and international arenas.