Leader: Klara Komici (UNIMOL); Other collaborator(s):
This Task has focused on the combination of frailty assessments tools with laboratory test and or clinical and diagnostic elements of deficits related to aging itself as diagnostic imaging of muscle loss and sensory loss. Application of these models would reduce the gap in the correct identification of frailty and pre-frailty status and interventional strategies would be more helpful if applied in the conditions of vulnerability or pre-clinical frailty.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
For this task, currently we are proceeding with recruitment, measurement of physical capacity, execution of multidimensional assessment scales, and echographic and echocardiographic evaluation as planned and described in the project. Following the literature review, a narrative review paper has been submitted, which results under review: Komici K., Pansini A., Bencivenga L., Rengo G., Pagano G., Guerra G. "Frailty and Parkinson's Disease: the role of Diabetes Mellitus." Frontiers in Medicine, Geriatric Medicine Section, under review.
From an analysis of the current data, we have observed a significant and independent correlation between epicardial fat assessed by echocardiography and muscle strength measured by handgrip. These data were presented as an oral presentation at the congress: ""AHL NAPOLI 2023, Scaling Up Digital Solutions for Healthy Living: Implementing Across Scientific Disciplines, Industrial Sectors and Scenarios,"" Naples, November 13-14, 2023: ""The relationship between handgrip strength and epicardial fat in healthy adults."" Additionally, an original research article has been submitted: Komici K., Bencivenga L., Arganese C., Rengo G., Guerra G. ""The relationship between muscle strength and epicardial fat in healthy adults."" Experimental Gerontology, under review.
From a preliminary analysis of the current data, it appears that the evaluation of muscle thicknesses is able to predict age-related physical decline. This result has been accepted as an abstract for the Age It GM Congress in Venice, May 2024. Komici K., Brunese MC., Merolla F., Guerra G. ""The usefulness of imaging domain to identify elderly subjects with physical decline."
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
The evaluation with echocardiography and muscle ultrasound can have a clinical utility in predicting frailty and its outcomes. The use of imaging techniques can allow clinicians to identify frail patients or patients at risk for frailty development. Furthermore, by monitoring imaging changes over time it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy and interventions aimed at reducing frailty and improving clinical outcomes.
We worked on the following topics:
Results have been published in two artices (see outputs)
We worked on the following topics:
Submitted:
Database construction and analysis of variables which reflect multi-dimentional characteristics of vulnerability and frailty are proceeding as planned. Our data indicate imaging domains and new respiratory features may be useful in the early detection of physical decline associated to ageing and vulnerability status.
Santulli G, Bencivenga L, Rengo G, Guerra G, Mone P, Komici K. Integrating epicardial fat and heart rate recovery in adults with metabolic risk factors. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2024 Nov 21:zwae380. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae380.
Conferences:
Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana della Medicina interna (SIMI) october 11-13 2024: THE IMPACT OF GFR ON SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION. (Delli Carpini G., Di Bartolomeo C., Dazzetti T., Martella L., Pedicino A., Giordano G., Rinaldi L, Mone P.; Komici K. ).
69 Congresso Nazionale della Societa Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria Firenze 11-14 Dicembre 2024 : L’UTILITÀ DELL’IMAGING DOMAIN PER IDENTIFICARE SOGGETTI ANZIANI CON DECLINO FISICO (K. Komici, M.C. Brunese, L. Bencivenga, G. Rengo, G. Guerra)