scholarly journals Prevalence and Determinants of Falls among Older Adults in Ecuador: An Analysis of the SABE I Survey

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos H. Orces

The present study based on a nationally representative sample of older adults living in the Andes mountains and coastal region of the country indicates that 34.7% of older adults had fallen in the previous year in Ecuador. Among fallers, 30.6% reported a fall-related injury. The prevalence of falls was higher in women and among older adults residing in the rural Andes mountains. In the multivariate model, women, subjects with cognitive impairment, those reporting urinary incontinence, and those being physically active during the previous year were variables found independently associated with increased risk of falling among older adults in Ecuador. Moreover, a gradual and linear increase in the prevalence of falls was seen as the number of risk factors increased. Falls represent a major public health problem among older adults in Ecuador. The present findings may assist public health authorities to implement programs of awareness and fall prevention among older adults at higher risk of falls.

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Seymour ◽  
Tony B. Benning

SummaryDepression is an illness that kills. The links between depression and medical illness are well established and bi-directional, but evidence is mounting that depression increases mortality as well as morbidity in adults, particularly older adults. We examine the evidence that the increase in mortality in depression applies to all-cause mortality as well as cardiac mortality, and describe plausible physiological theories for the association. We conclude that excess mortality arising from depression is a major public health problem that is largely unrecognised and needs to be addressed by a range of clinicians.


Author(s):  
Élvio Rúbio Gouveia ◽  
Bruna R. Gouveia ◽  
Adilson Marques ◽  
Miguel Peralta ◽  
Cíntia França ◽  
...  

Metabolic syndrome has been considered a factor of vulnerability and a major public health problem because it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The present study from Amazonas, Brazil aimed to estimate the prevalence of the individual and general components of metabolic syndrome in adults and older adults and identify the independent predictors of metabolic syndrome. The sample of the present cross-sectional study comprised 942 participants (590 women), with a mean age of 59.8 ± 19.7 (range: 17.5 to 91.8). Blood pressure in men (62.5%), abdominal obesity in women (67.3%), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in both (52.2% in men and 65.0% in women) were the most prevalent individual risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Women had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (p < 0.001), low HDL-C (p < 0.001), and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001) than men; however, opposite results were seen in men for blood pressure (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 47.5%. Advanced age, being female, having a higher body mass index, and a having lower educational level independently increased the odds of metabolic syndrome. Due to the association of metabolic syndrome with deterioration of health status and increased vulnerability, this study sustains the need for early public health interventions in the Amazonas region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1162-1167
Author(s):  
Shanti R Nair ◽  
Suwarna Meshram ◽  
Prasanth R Krishnan

Scorpion stings are major public health problem especially in rural parts of India. Envenomation from Scorpions if estimating on yearly basis it is about 12 lakh people per year and is responsible for nearly about 3250 deaths. There are about 1400 species of scorpions identified worldwide out of this only 53 are reported to be dangerous to humans, In India we have identified around 86 species. Poison due to insect bite is common and can be accompanied with a variety of symptoms ranging from simple itching to life threatening situations. Many may go through minor problems like swelling, tingling or numbness due to the sting. Scorpion sting usually results in severe symptoms, as its venom is more potent. Young children and older adults may require immediate treatment. Vrischikadamsha is such a specific envenomation that requires medical attention. There are ample references treatment modalities and medicines in Keraleeyavisha chikitsa granthas and ayurvedic classics which are described for managing vrischikavisha. Many of the keraliyavishagrantha are written in Malayalam hence there is a need to explore and bring out the remedies. So in this article a humble effort is made to bring out the different vrischika and treatment modalities described in keraleeyagrandhas along with the specific symptoms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Goya Wannamethee ◽  
Janice L. Atkins

This paper reviews the health implications of obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity on CVD and mortality in older adults and discusses the obesity paradox seen in patients with CVD. Obesity is a major public health problem with increasing prevalence worldwide. It is an established risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adult populations. However, there is controversy surrounding the effects of obesity as measured by BMI in older people, and overweight and obesity (BMI ⩾ 25 kg/m2) are apparently associated with increased survival in those with CVD (obesity paradox). Ageing is associated with an increase in visceral fat and a progressive loss of muscle mass which have opposing effects on mortality. Thus BMI is not a good indicator of obesity in older adults. Sarcopenia, the age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass, is a major concern in ageing populations and has been associated with metabolic impairment, CVD risk factors, physical disability and mortality. Sarcopenia often coexists with obesity. Sarcopenic obesity is a new category of obesity in older adults who have high adiposity coupled with low muscle mass. To fully understand the effect of obesity on mortality in the elderly it is important to take muscle mass into account. The evidence suggests that sarcopenia with obesity may be associated with higher levels of metabolic disorders and an increased risk of mortality than obesity or sarcopenia alone. Efforts to promote healthy ageing should focus on both preventing obesity and maintaining or increasing muscle mass.


Anemia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Alvarez-Uria ◽  
Praveen K. Naik ◽  
Manoranjan Midde ◽  
Pradeep S. Yalla ◽  
Raghavakalyan Pakam

Anaemia is a major public health problem in India. Although nearly three quarters of the Indian population live in rural areas, the epidemiology of anaemia in rural settings is not well known. We performed a retrospective observational study using routine clinical data from patients attending the out-patient clinics of a rural hospital in India from June 2011 to August 2014. The study included 73,795 determinations of haemoglobin. 49.5% of patients were female. The median haemoglobin concentration was 11.3 g/dL (interquartile range (IQR), 9.8–12.4) in females and 12.5 g/dL (IQR, 10.6–14.2) in males. Anaemia was present in the majority of children <10 years, women after puberty, and older adults. Children <5 years had the highest prevalence of anaemia, especially children aged 1-2 years. The high proportion of microcytic anaemia and the fact that gender differences were only seen after the menarche period in women suggest that iron deficiency was the main cause of anaemia. However, the prevalence of normocytic anaemia increased with age. The results of this study can be used by public health programmes to design target interventions aimed at reducing the huge burden of anaemia in India. Further studies are needed to clarify the aetiology of anaemia among older adults.


e-CliniC ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 360
Author(s):  
Rangga Rawung ◽  
Raynald G. Bagy

Abstrak: Osteoporosis merupakan penyakit tulang yang paling sering dijumpai dan memiliki hubungan erat dengan risiko fraktur sehingga merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan masyarakat yang besar. Penyakit ini lebih sering ditemukan pada perempuan usia lanjut dan dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor. Tulisan ini merupakan suatu kajian pustaka dengan tujuan untuk menyampaikan konsep dasar dan pemahaman yang lebih baik yang dibutuhkan dalam pengelolaan penyakit ini. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa pengelolaan penyakit ini membutuhkan strategi tatalaksana yang harus disesuaikan pada setiap pasien, yang meliputi modifikasi gaya hidup, pengelolaan faktor risiko dan terapi farmakologis agar dapat menurunkan morbiditas dan mortalitas serta komplikasi yang ditimbulkan oleh penyakit ini. Dibutuhkan penelitian lanjut untuk memberikan bukti dan memberikan pedoman agar pengelolaan penyakit dapat menjadi lebih baik.Kata kunci: osteoporosis, risiko fraktur, densitas mineral tulang Abstract: Osteoporosis is the most commonly bone disease and is highly associated with an increased risk of future fracture furthermore makes it a major public health problem. The disease is most prevalent in older females with multifactorial etiology. This was a literature review using relevant articles. The aim of this study was to provide basic concept and better understanding which is needed to manage the disease. This review showed that individualized treatment strategy is needed. Lifestyle modification, risk factor management, and pharmacological treatment are required to deal with the condition as well as reduced morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and its complication. Further study of this disease needs to be conducted to provide more evidences and guidelines to achieve better management of the disease.Keywords: osteoporosis, fracture risk, bone mineral density


Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Mino ◽  
Arnaud Bousquet ◽  
Barbara Broers

The high mortality rate among drug users, which is partly due to the HIV epidemic and partly due to drug-related accidental deaths and suicides, presents a major public health problem. Knowing more about prevalence, incidence, and risk factors is important for the development of rational preventive and therapeutic programs. This article attempts to give an overview of studies of the relations between substance abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, and drug-related death. Research in this field is hampered by the absence of clear definitions, and results of studies are rarely comparable. There is, however, consensus about suicidal ideation being a risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide. Suicidal ideation is also a predictor of suicide, especially among drug users. It is correlated with an absence of family support, with the severity of the psychosocial dysfunctioning, and with multi-drug abuse, but also with requests for treatment. Every clinical examination of a drug user, not only of those who are depressed, should address the possible presence of suicidal ideation, as well as its intensity and duration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 967-971
Author(s):  
Poonam Thakre ◽  
Waqar M. Naqvi ◽  
Trupti Deshmukh ◽  
Nikhil Ingole ◽  
Sourabh Deshmukh

The emergence in China of 2019 of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) previously provisionally names 2019-nCoV disease (COVID19) caused major global outbreak and is a major public health problem. On 30 January 2020, the WHO declared COVID19 to be the sixth international public health emergency. This present pandemic has engrossed the globe with a high rate of mortality. As a front line practitioner, physiotherapists are expected to be getting in direct contact with patients infected with the virus. That’s why it is necessary for understanding the many aspects of their role in the identification, contains, reduces and treats the symptoms of this disease. The main presentation is the involvement of respiratory system with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, sneezing and characteristics of pneumonia leads to ARDS(Acute respiratory distress syndrome) also land up in multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. This text describes and suggests physiotherapy management of acute COVID-19 patients. It also includes recommendations and guidelines for physiotherapy planning and management. It also covers the guidelines regarding personal care and equipment used for treatment which can be used in the treatment of acute adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Eric Emerson ◽  
Allison Milner ◽  
Zoe Aitken ◽  
Lauren Krnjacki ◽  
Cathy Vaughan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exposure to discrimination can have a negative impact on health. There is little robust evidence on the prevalence of exposure of people with disabilities to discrimination, the sources and nature of discrimination they face, and the personal and contextual factors associated with increased risk of exposure. Methods Secondary analysis of de-identified cross-sectional data from the three waves of the UK’s ‘Life Opportunities Survey’. Results In the UK (i) adults with disabilities were over three times more likely than their peers to be exposed to discrimination, (ii) the two most common sources of discrimination were strangers in the street and health staff and (iii) discrimination was more likely to be reported by participants who were younger, more highly educated, who were unemployed or economically inactive, who reported financial stress or material hardship and who had impairments associated with hearing, memory/speaking, dexterity, behavioural/mental health, intellectual/learning difficulties and breathing. Conclusions Discrimination faced by people with disabilities is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing programs that reduce discrimination experienced by people with disabilities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document