Challenges and Opportunities for Academic Journals to Serve the Older Population in Western Pacific Region

Hee-Won Jung,Wee Shiong Lim,Matteo Cesari,Tung Wai Auyeung,Taro Kojima,Ga Hyuk,Ian D. Cameron,임재영 대한노인병학회 2021 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.25 No.4

Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research held its inaugural international editorial board virtual meeting on September 16, 2021, to brainstorm ideas for sustainable growth. This special article summarizes the key concepts obtained from the webinar proceedings, with further development of ideas from ensuing discussions occurring after the meeting. From the initial discussion points provided by eight editorial board members, including six presenters, email discussions further enriched these ideas to construct the current special article. The key points discussed were: impactful research and impact factors, international and Asian perspectives, and challenges to sustainable growth. The editors noted the existing gap between the impact factor and research impact as a challenge for the growth paths of regional journals. However, they agreed that persevering with impactful research would ultimately translate into parallel and gradual gains in impact, which is, therefore, consistent with the organic growth of the journal. Acknowledging challenges in navigating between unique Asian perspectives and international outlooks, the editors encouraged academic journals to serve as bridges linking international evidence with the richness of local perspectives. For sustainable growth, the editors suggested that journals may be forged into the academic ecosystems of the region, diversify value streams, and establish themselves as reputable brands in disciplines. By combining these discussions, we proposed the “IMPACT” strategy for journals on the growth path in the region, which stands for IMmersive user experience encompassing authors, reviewers, and readers; Pasteur’s quadrant use-inspired research; Asia-Pacific context; Collaborative; and Translation to practice and policy.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease on Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers: An Audit Study

Zi Ying Koh,Felicia Law,Justin Chew,Noorhazlina Ali,Wee Shiong Lim 대한노인병학회 2020 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.24 No.4

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Calf Circumference Measurement Protocols for Sarcopenia Screening: Differences in Agreement, Convergent Validity and Diagnostic Performance

Melissa Rose Berlin Piodena-Aportadera,Sabrina Lau,Justin Chew,Jun Pei Lim,Noor Hafizah Ismail,Yew Yoong Ding,Wee Shiong Lim 대한노인병학회 2022 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.26 No.3

Background: Although recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus (AWGS’19) as a screening tool for sarcopenia, there remains no consensus regarding the position (sitting, standing) or laterality (right, left) for the measurement of calf circumference (CC). This study aimed to determine the agreement between CC measurements, correlations with muscle mass and function, and diagnostic performance for sarcopenia screening. Methods: We studied 176 healthy community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 66.8±7.1 years) from the GERILABS-2 study. CC was measured using non-elastic tape in four ways: left and right sides in the sitting and standing positions. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the AWGS’19 criteria. We produced Bland-Altman plots to assess the agreement, partial correlations for muscle mass and function to compare convergent validity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to compare diagnostic performance. Results: The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was 17.4%. Sitting CC was larger than standing regardless of laterality (right 35.31±2.95 cm vs. 34.61±2.74 cm; left 35.37±2.96 cm vs. 34.70±2.83 cm; both p<0.001), consistent with the systematic bias on Bland-Altman plots showing the overestimation of sitting over standing measurements (right bias=0.70 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.48–1.88; left bias=0.67 cm, 95% CI, -0.35–1.68). After adjusting for age and sex, CC was significantly correlated with appendicular skeletal mass, hand grip strength, knee extension, gait speed, chair stand, and short physical performance battery. Although right-sided CC measurements had better diagnostic performance (AUC=0.817), the difference was not statistically significant compared to the other positions (p>0.05). The optimal cutoff was <34 cm for all measurements, except for the left standing position (cutoff <35 cm). Conclusion: Standing CC measurements are recommended for sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling older adults because of their good agreement without systematic bias, convergent validity, and diagnostic performance.

Bounce Forward Better: Geriatric and Gerontological Research in the Post-pandemic Future

Jee Hyun Noh,Hidenori Arai,Tung Wai Auyeung,Matteo Cesari,Walter R. Frontera,Hyuk Ga,Hee-Won Jung,Wee Shiong Lim,Jae Young Lim 대한노인병학회 2022 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.26 No.4

In recent years, we have faced challenges in managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in older adults. The pandemic has precipitated a global health crisis that impeded older adults from maintaining their health. Disruption of the routine management of chronic diseases, physical inactivity deteriorating physical function and quality of life, malnutrition, and mental disorders have been suggested as major threats to the health of older adults. To address these problems and facilitate reactivation of normal care activities, this article summarizes the contents of a webinar held by the Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research (AGMR) regarding the future directions of geriatric medicine and research in the post-COVID-19 era.

Combined Impact of Positive Screen for Sarcopenia and Frailty on Physical Function, Cognition and Nutrition in the Community Dwelling Older Adult

Hsien Xiong Lee,Audrey Yeo,Cai Ning Tan,Suzanne Yew,Laura Tay,Yew Yoong Ding,Wee Shiong Lim 대한노인병학회 2021 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.25 No.3

Background: While sarcopenia and frailty independently contribute to functional impairment and disability, the combined impact resulting from their interplay is unclear. We investigated if functional, physical, cognitive, and nutritional measures were more adversely affected in community-dwelling older adults who were screened positive for both frailty and sarcopenia. Methods: Using the FRAIL (≥1) and SARC-F (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falls) (≥1) scales for screening, we categorized 200 participants (age, 67.9±7.9 years) as combined (both positive, 12.5%), intermediate (either positive, 25.5%), or robust (both negative, 62%). Results: Comparisons of the three groups showed that the combined group had significantly worse functional ability (Frenchay Activities Index and Modified Barthel Index), physical performance (knee extension, gait speed, and Short Physical Performance Battery score), cognition/mood (Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination [CMMSE] score and Geriatric Depression Scale), and nutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] score) (p<0.05, one-way analysis of variance). Post-hoc comparisons revealed similar findings between the combined and robust groups, except for knee extension and CMMSE scores. Only MNA scores were significantly lower between the intermediate and robust groups. Conclusion: Functional ability, physical performance, and nutrition were more adversely affected in our study population of community-dwelling older adults who screened positive for both frailty and sarcopenia than in those who screened positive for either or neither, supporting the use of community screening for early detection and intervention for both frailty and sarcopenia as opposed to either alone.

Short Physical Performance Battery Cutoff Points Using Clinical Outcomes for At-Risk Older Adults in Singapore: An Exploratory Study

Herb Howard C. Hernandez,Daphne Zihui Yang,Cai Ning Tan,Joanne Kua,Noor Hafizah Ismail,Wee Shiong Lim 대한노인병학회 2023 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.27 No.4

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Validation of a Multi-Sensor-Based Kiosk in the Use of the Short Physical Performance Battery in Older Adults Attending a Fall and Balance Clinic

Herb Howard C. Hernandez,Eng Hui Ong,Louise Heyzer,Cai Ning Tan,Faezah Ghazali,Daphne Zihui Yang,Hee-Won Jung,Noor Hafizah Ismail,Wee Shiong Lim 대한노인병학회 2022 Annals of geriatric medicine and research Vol.26 No.2

Background: The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a well-established functional assessment tool used for the screening and assessment of frailty and sarcopenia. However, the SPPB requires trained staff experienced in conducting the standardized protocol, which may limit its widespread use in clinical settings. The automated SPPB (eSPPB) was developed to address this potential barrier; however, its validity among frail older adults remains to be established. Therefore, this exploratory study compared the eSPPB and manual SPPB in patients attending a tertiary fall clinic in relation to their construct validity, reliability, and agreement.Methods: We studied 37 community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 78.5±6.8 years; mean FRAIL score, 1.2±1.0; 65% pre-frail) attending a tertiary falls clinic. The participants used the mSPPB and eSPPB simultaneously. We evaluated the convergent validity, discriminatory ability, reliability, and agreement using partial correlation adjusted for age and sex, an SPPB cutoff of ≤8 to denote sarcopenia, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots, respectively.Results: The eSPPB showed strong correlations with the mSPPB (r=0.933, p<0.01) and Berg Balance Scale (r=0.869, p<0.01), good discriminatory ability for frailty and balance, and good to excellent reliability (ICC=0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–0.97). The Bland-Altman plots indicated good agreement with the mSPPB (mean difference, -0.2; 95% confidence interval, -3.2–2.9) without evidence of systematic or proportional biases.Conclusion: The results of our exploratory study corroborated the construct validity, reliability, and agreement of the eSPPB with the mSPPB in a small sample of predominantly pre-frail older adults with increased fall risk. Future studies should examine the scalability and feasibility of the widespread use of the eSPPB for frailty and sarcopenia assessment.