Prevalence and Correlates of Pain in People Aged 60 Years and above in Singapore: Results from the WiSE Study

Background. Although pain is experienced among people of all ages, there is a need to study its risk factors and impact among older adults.Aims. The study sought to determine the prevalence, sociodemographics, and clinical correlates of pain along with association of pain with disability among older adults in Singapore.Methods. The WiSE study was a comprehensive cross-sectional, single phase, epidemiological survey conducted among the elderly aged 60 years and above and used a nationally representative sample of three main ethnic groups in Singapore: Chinese, Malays, and Indians. The survey administered 10/66 protocol pain questionnaire, sociodemographic questionnaire, health status questionnaire, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS 2.0), and Geriatric Mental State (GMS) examination.Results. A total of 2565 respondents completed the study giving a response rate of 65.5%. The prevalence of pain among the elderly aged 60 years and above is 19.5 %. Females, incomplete primary education Indians, and those diagnosed with any chronic health condition were associated with risk of pain and disability.Conclusion. Study findings showed that disability related to pain among the elderly is considerable making it a priority to reduce the morbidity and disability among the elderly with pain.

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A Postcard From Italy: Challenges and Psychosocial Resources of Partners Living With and Without a Chronic Disease During COVID-19 Epidemic

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567522 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giada Rapelli ◽

Giulia Lopez ◽

Silvia Donato ◽

Ariela Francesca Pagani ◽

Miriam Parise ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Disease ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

Well Being ◽

Chronic Health Condition ◽

Protective Role ◽

Health Condition ◽

World Health ◽

Italian Population ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Well Being

The new Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The sudden outbreak of this new virus and the measure of lockdown adopted to contain the epidemic have profoundly changed the lifestyles of the Italian population, with an impact on people’s quality of life and on their social relationships. In particular, due to forced and prolonged cohabitation, couples may be subject to specific stressors during the epidemic. In addition, living with a chronic health condition may add specific challenges to the ones posed by the epidemic itself. The present cross-sectional study aimed to provide a picture of the challenges as well as the resources for both individual and relational well-being of Italian individuals in a couple relationship (N = 1921), with a specific attention to the comparison between individuals living with and without a chronic disease. Results showed that people with a chronic disease had lower psychological well-being and more fears and worries about the COVID-19. People with a chronic disease perceived fewer resources than healthy people. Moreover, the challenges are shown to be associated with less psychological well-being and high pessimism about the future. Instead individual, relational, and social resources play a protective role during the pandemic for both healthy and chronically ill people.

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Monitoring and Support for Elderly People Using LoRa Communication Technologies: IoT Concepts and Applications

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi12110206 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 206

Author(s):

José Paulo Lousado ◽

Sandra Antunes

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Low Cost ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

The Elderly ◽

Health Condition ◽

World Health ◽

Security Forces ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Health Organization

The pandemic declared by the World Health Organization due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) awakened us to a reality that most of us were previously unaware of—isolation, confinement and the massive use of information and communication technologies, as well as increased knowledge of the difficulties and limitations of their use. This article focuses on the rapid implementation of low-cost technologies, which allow us to answer a fundamental question: how can near real-time monitoring and follow-up of the elderly and their health conditions, as well as their homes, especially for those living in isolated and remote areas, be provided within their care and protect them from risky events? The system proposed here as a proof of concept uses low-cost devices for communication and data processing, supported by Long-Range (LoRa) technology and connection to The Things Network, incorporating various sensors, both personal and in the residence, allowing family members, neighbors and authorized entities, including security forces, to have access to the health condition of system users and the habitability of their homes, as well as their urgent needs, thus evidencing that it is possible, using low-cost systems, to implement sensor networks for monitoring the elderly using the LoRa gateway and other support infrastructures.

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Oncologists’ perspectives on medical marijuana for the elderly.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.31_suppl.78 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽

pp. 78-78

Author(s):

Desiree Rachel Azizoddin ◽

Andrea Catherine Enzinger ◽

Alexi A. Wright ◽

Miryam Yusufov ◽

Fangxin Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Medical Marijuana ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Elderly Cancer Patients ◽

Treatment Side Effects ◽

Nationally Representative

78 Background: Cancer patients are increasingly using medical marijuana (MM) to manage symptoms and treatment side effects. Although cancer disproportionately affects the elderly, little is known about oncologists’ attitudes toward MM in this population. We surveyed US oncologists’ beliefs about the benefits of MM for older adults, and examined their associations with oncologists’ perceptions of MM efficacy and safety. Methods: 232 out of 400 randomly selected U.S. oncologists (63% response rate) completed a cross-sectional survey about their beliefs and recommendations regarding MM for cancer patients. Using Chi-square tests, we examined associations between oncologists’ demographics, their perceptions of geriatric MM use, as well as beliefs about comparative effectiveness of MM for cancer related symptoms, and comparative risks of MM to prescription opioids. Results: Among 232 oncologists included in this cohort, 109 (47.0%) reported that MM had at least some benefit for elderly cancer patients, 66 (28.4%) responded it was rarely or never beneficial, and 57 (24.6%) reported not knowing. There were no significant associations between oncologists’ beliefs about MM’s benefit for older adults and their sociodemographic characteristics. Those who believed MM was beneficial for the elderly were significantly more likely to report that MM was at least as effective as standard treatments for the following indications: coping (58.3% vs. 26.6%), appetite (83.3% vs 58.5%), depression (46.3% vs 25.0%), and nausea (66.7% vs 33.9%), respectively ( p < 0.001). In contrast, oncologists’ beliefs about MM for the elderly were not significantly associated with perceptions of the comparative risks of MM ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: In this nationally-representative sample of US oncologists, about half thought MM was beneficial for older adults with cancer. Oncologists’ support of MM for older adults was associated with perceptions of MM’s efficacy but was not associated with perceptions of MM’s risks. More research is needed regarding the safety and efficacy of MM to guide oncologists’ recommendations about its use in older adults.

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Oral Mucosal Lesions among Prisoners in Central Prison, Chennai, India

International Journal of Experimental Dental Science ◽

10.5005/jp-journals-10029-1101 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 77-79

Author(s):

Minimol K Johny ◽

T Aby Mathew

Keyword(s):

Oral Health ◽

Prison Population ◽

Epidemiological Survey ◽

Oral Health Status ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Oral Mucosal Lesions ◽

Mucosal Lesions ◽

Health Organization

ABSTRACT Background Oral health status of prisoners has been an area of concern worldwide. The prison population is unique in nature because of the complexities of their psychological, social and behavioral aspects. Limited oral healthcare facilities in prison settings have resulted in neglect of oral health among prisoners. Aim The present study aims to assess oral mucosal lesions among prisoners in Central Prison, Chennai. Materials and methods A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted in Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai. The study population consisted of 1060 prisoners from three divisions of the Central Prison. Oral mucosal lesions among the prisoners were assessed by a single investigator according to World Health Organization (WHO) specifications. Results The present study shows that among the study subjects, 37.7% of males and 17.1% of females developed oral mucosal lesions. The prevalence of smokers melanosis was 27.6% among males and 8.6% among females. The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was found to be highest in study subjects of 55 years and above. Conclusion A large proportion of the study subjects had oral mucosal lesions. Oral mucosal lesions like oral submucosis fibrosis, smokers palate and smokers melanosis was found to be common among males than females. Oral healthcare facilities should be incorporated in prison settings which would intercept the progress of oral mucosal lesions. How to cite this article George B, Johny MK, Mathew TA. Oral Mucosal Lesions among Prisoners in Central Prison, Chennai, India. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2015;4(2):77-79.

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The Relations between Disability and Environmental Factors: A Pilot Study in Iranian Older Adults

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v8n12p87 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 87 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammadreza Shahbazi ◽

Mahshid Foroughan ◽

Mahdi Rahgozar ◽

Reza Salmanroghani

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

World Health ◽

Structural Barriers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Services ◽

Health Organization

OBJECTIVE: This study explored disability and its correlations with the environmental factors in a group of Iranian older adults.MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed. One hundred participants receiving adult day care services in Kahrizak center in Iran were selected by using the complete enumeration method. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2 (WHODAS II) and the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) questionnaires were used to collect data.RESULTS: The mean score of disability was 20.61±13.66, and the scores were higher in women compared to men (P=0.001). Among the CHIEF-25 items‚ the most frequently perceived barrier by the participants was transportation followed by home design and unavailability of health care services. There was a significant association between the disability scores and the environmental factors (P<0.001). Also, significant relationships were found between the disability and all the subscales investigated in the study (polices‚ physical/structural‚ attitude/support‚ services/assistance) (P<0.001).CONCLUSION: Appropriate transportation‚ availability to health care services and removing physical/structural barriers should be taken in consideration.

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Epidemiological Aspects of the Initial Evolution of COVID-19 in Microregion of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5245

Author(s):

Deborah Araujo Policarpo ◽

Eduarda Cristina Alves Lourenzatto ◽

Talita Costa e Silva Brito ◽

Daise Aparecida Rossi ◽

Roberta Torres de Melo

Keyword(s):

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

World Health ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Initial Evolution ◽

Epidemiological Profile ◽

Health Organization ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics

COVID-19 is considered by the World Health Organization to be a global public health emergency, which presents regional divergences that affect the epidemiological profile of the disease and are associated with political, economic, social and behavioral aspects. We aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the disease in the microregion of Uberlândia, Brazil, in order to determine risk factors that contributed to progression of SARS-CoV-2 virus. A cross-sectional study was conducted about micro- and macro-determinants combined with the significance analysis of suspected and confirmed cases in 18 municipalities during the epidemiological weeks (EW) 9 to 26. There were 34,046 notifications, of which 4935 (14.49%) people were diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 282 (5.71%) required hospital care and 40 (0.81%) died. Age and presence of associated comorbidities were decisive in the variations of incidence and lethality rates. In general, young people were the most affected and the elderly people, the most exposed to the serious and lethal form (p < 0.0001). Comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiopathies increased 33.5 times the death risk. The dispersion of the virus was centrifugal, in the inter as well as in the intra-municipal level. The disorderly implementation of municipal decrees applied in a decentralized manner in the municipalities seems to have contributed for the incidence rates increasing in the EW 25 and 26.

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Is there a syndrome of bullying?

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh.2012.013 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jorge Srabstein ◽

Thomas Piazza

Keyword(s):

Health And Safety ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

World Health ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Psychosomatic Disorder ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Usa ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Objective: We investigated the existence of a psychosomatic disorder associated with bullying by delineating its health and safety and correlates, and defining the demographic characteristics of the USA adolescents affected by this condition. Methods: This study was based on an analysis of USA data from the 1996 World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey. The survey provides nationally-representative, cross-sectional survey information on 9938 USA students in Grades 6–10. We examined those students who were involved in bullying as a victim and/or as a bully, with or without a self-reported cluster of depression, “bad mood”, “feeling low”, “feeling nervous” and sleeping difficulties, and one or more physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, back aches, dizziness). Results: A cluster of physical and emotional symptoms linked to their participation in bullying as bullies and/or victims was reported by 9.5% of adolescents, with a higher frequency of 8th Grade students and a predominance of females. These students were 8.14 times more likely to hurt themselves on purpose and 4.20 times more likely to hurt others purposely than their peers who were not involved in bullying and did not suffer from a cluster of physical and emotional symptoms. Conclusions: This study may elicit further examination and debate about the existence of a nosological entity linked to bullying. Pending further research, the present results should support the need to ascertain participation in bullying, as a bully and/or as a victim, in all pediatric visits. Furthermore, there is a need to enquire about symptoms and risks related to this form of abuse.

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Prevalence and correlates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults: results from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s104161021700134x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (11) ◽

pp. 1899-1907 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laxman Cetty ◽

Edimansyah Abdin ◽

Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar ◽

Anitha Jeyagurunathan ◽

Boon Yiang Chua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Adult Population ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Organization

ABSTRACTBackground:Older adults are among the most susceptible to sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study aimed to determine the (1) prevalence of TBI among older adults in Singapore, and (2) socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical correlates of TBI.Methods:Data were extracted from the cross-sectional, Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study. The study included 2,565 participants aged 60 years and above (Mean = 72.75, SD = 9.54). Information on TBI, socio-demographic, and lifestyle factors were collected using participant self-report and verified with the informant report where necessary. Disability was measured using the World Health Organization – Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO-DAS 2.0). Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.Results:The prevalence of TBI was 3.6%. Being female (vs. male) was found to be associated with decreased odds of having TBI. Having completed secondary education or lower (vs. tertiary education) was found to be associated with increased odds of having TBI. A history of fainting and diabetes were associated with the presence of TBI. Those with TBI were associated with higher disability scores on the WHO-DAS 2.0 than those without TBI.Conclusions:The current study provides information on the prevalence and associated factors of TBI in the older adult population in Singapore. Since TBI was associated with older adults with diabetes, they must be cautioned about fall risk. Also, given the association with disability, older adults with TBI are likely to require support and rehabilitative care to ensure good quality of life.

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Prevalence of abuse among the elderly population of Syangja, Nepal

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11417-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shiva Raj Acharya ◽

B. K. Suman ◽

Sandip Pahari ◽

Yong Chul Shin ◽

Deog Hwan Moon

Keyword(s):

Elderly Population ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

Psychological Abuse ◽

The Elderly ◽

World Health ◽

Health Concern ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Face To Face ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Background Elder abuse is recognized as a serious public health concern and top priority aging issues. World Health Organization reported that around 1 out of 6 old people in the world experienced some form of abuse. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of different forms of abuse among elderly Nepalese people. Methods The cross-sectional, quantitative analytical study was carried out among 373 elders of the Syangja district of Nepal. The study population was selected through simple, proportionate, and systematic sampling methods. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results The majority of participants were female (54.5%). The prevalence of elderly abuse was found to be 54.5%. The most common form of abuse among the elderly population was neglect (23.1%), psychological abuse (20.6%), physical abuse (6.5%), financial abuse (2.4%), and sexual abuse (1.9%). Elderly females were significantly more likely to experience physical and psychological abuse. Conclusion More than half of the elderly experienced at least one form of abuse. Neglect was found to be the most common form of abuse. The abuse was prevalent among elderly who were ill and with the habit of tobacco and alcohol consumption.

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Does multimorbitdity interfere with the fundtionality of the physically active elderly?

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/1980-5918.033.ao52 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Vicentini de Oliveira ◽

Caio Rosas Moreira ◽

Gabriel Lucas Morais Freire ◽

Rogério Soares de Melo ◽

Maura Fernandes Franco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

World Health ◽

Functional Domain ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Introduction: Multimorbidity is currently considered as a relevant clinical condition due to its severity and the high prevalence among the elderly. Objective: Assessing whether multimorbidity is an intervening factor in the functionality of the physically active elderly. Method: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 70 older people of both sexes who practice exercises at the Fitness zones (FZ) in the municipality of Maringá, state of Paraná. A sociodemographic questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHO-DAS 2.0) were used as instruments. Data analysis was performed by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s rank correlation, in addition to the Path Analysis (p <0.05). Results: the elderly who have more than two diseases showed worse functionality than the ones with none or from 1 to 2 diseases (p <0.05). The number of diseases showed a significant association (p <0.05) with a reduction in functional domain scores, which explains from 15% to 31% of the variable’s variability. Specifically, the number of diseases was positively associated with the strong effect on the domains referred to as self-care (β = 0.56) and cognition (β = 0.55), besides a moderate effect on interpersonal relationships (β = 0.39) and social participation domains (β = 0.39). Conclusion: it was concluded that multimorbidity can be considered as an intervening factor in the functionality of elderly people who practice physical activity.

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