Is cancer a good way to die? A population-based survey among middle-aged and older adults in the United Kingdom

Background Atopic dermatitis is known to be common among children, but there are few studies examining the epidemiology across the life course. In particular, there is a paucity of data on atopic dermatitis among older adults. Objective To evaluate participant characteristics, patterns of disease activity and severity, and calendar trends in older adult atopic dermatitis in comparison to other age groups in a large population-based cohort. Methods This was a cohort study of 9,154,936 individuals aged 0–99 years registered in The Health Improvement Network, a database comprised of electronic health records from general practices in the United Kingdom between 1994 and 2013. Atopic dermatitis was defined by a previously validated algorithm using a combination of at least one recorded atopic dermatitis diagnostic code in primary care and two atopic dermatitis therapies recorded on separate days. Cross-sectional analyses of disease prevalence were conducted at each age. Logistic mixed effect regression models were used to identify predictors of prevalent disease over time among children (0–17 years), adults (18–74 years), and older adults (75–99 years). Results Physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis was identified in 894,454 individuals with the following proportions in each age group: 18.3% of children, 7.7% of adults, and 11.6% of older adults. Additionally, atopic dermatitis prevalence increased across the 2-decade period (beta from linear regression test for trend in the change in proportion per year = 0.005, p = 0.044). In older adults, atopic dermatitis was 27% less common among females (adjusted OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.70–0.76) and was more likely to be active (59.7%, 95% CI 59.5–59.9%) and of higher severity (mean annual percentage with moderate and severe disease: 31.8% and 3.0%, respectively) than in other age groups. Conclusion In a large population-based cohort, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis has increased throughout adulthood and was most common among males age 75 years and above. Compared to children ages 0–17 and adults ages 18–74, older adult atopic dermatitis was more active and severe. Because the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among older adults has increased over time, additional characterization of disease triggers and mechanisms and targeted treatment recommendations are needed for this population.

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Comorbidity network analysis related to obesity in middle-aged and older adults: Findings from the population-based survey data

Epidemiology and Health ◽

10.4178/epih.e2021018 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e2021018

Author(s):

Hye Ah Lee ◽

Hyesook Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Survey Data ◽

Population Based ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Population Based Survey

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Incidence, etiology, and outcome of bacterial meningitis in infants aged <90 days in the United kingdom and Republic of Ireland: prospective, enhanced, national population-based surveillance.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.718477959.793527182 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jason Newland

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Bacterial Meningitis ◽

Population Based ◽

Republic Of Ireland ◽

National Population ◽

The United Kingdom

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Epidemiology of scleritis in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2018: Population‐based analysis of 11 million patients and association between scleritis and infectious and immune‐mediated inflammatory disease

Arthritis & Rheumatology ◽

10.1002/art.41709 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tasanee Braithwaite ◽

Nicola J Adderley ◽

Anuradhaa Subramanian ◽

James Galloway ◽

John H Kempen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Inflammatory Disease ◽

Population Based ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Immune Mediated

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Factors associated with sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test among middle-aged and older adults: a population-based multisite cross-sectional survey in Japan

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10844-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Daiki Watanabe ◽

Tsukasa Yoshida ◽

Takashi Nakagata ◽

Naomi Sawada ◽

Yosuke Yamada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Population Based ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Mail Surveys ◽

Osaka Prefecture ◽

Middle Aged Adults

AbstractBackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40–91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test. The finger-circle test evaluated calf circumference by referring to an illustration printed on the survey form. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) was plotted to evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test for screening sarcopenia and compared to that evaluated by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using bioimpedance. We also conducted multisite population-based cross-sectional anonymous mail surveys of 9337 adults, who were aged 40–97 years and resided in Settsu and Hannan Cities, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling by sex and age in the elementary school zones of their respective cities. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore associations between characteristics and prevalence of sarcopenia.ResultsSarcopenia, defined by SMI, was moderately predicted by a finger-circle test response showing that the subject’s calf was smaller than their finger-circle (AUROC: 0.729, < 65 years; 0.653, ≥65 years); such subjects were considered to have sarcopenia. In mail surveys, prevalence of sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test was higher in older subjects (approximately 16%) than in middle-aged subjects (approximately 8–9%). In a multiple regression model, the factors associated with sarcopenia were age, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported health, and number of meals in all the participants.ConclusionsSarcopenia, screened by the finger-circle test, was present not only among older adults but also among middle-aged adults. These results may provide useful indications for developing public health programs, not only for the prevention, but especially for the management of sarcopenia.Trial registrationUMIN000036880, registered prospectively May 29, 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042027

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