The Prevalence of Anemia In the Elderly: a Hospital-Based Analysis In a Middle-European Country

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 5143-5143
Author(s):  
Reinhard Stauder ◽  
Günter Schruckmayer ◽  
Ines Sam ◽  
Georg Kemmler ◽  
Gunther Gastl
Keyword(s):  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Macrocytic Anemia ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Normocytic Anemia ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Outpatient Basis ◽  
Severe Anemia ◽  
Lowered Serum

Abstract Abstract 5143 Anemia represents a relevant challenge among the elderly as anemia is associated with decreased functional capacities and an increased morbidity and mortality rate. Aim of this study was to provide demographic data in a representative Middle-European population and secondly to define the subtype and cause of anemia to form the basis for treatment algorithms. Laboratory values from 19758 patients older than 64 years treated at the Medical University Innsbruck, Austria from 1.10.2004 -29.9.2005 were analyzed. The cohort consisted of 10917 women and 8841 men. The median age was 75 yrs in women and 72 yrs in men (p <0.001). 10737 (54.3%) patients were treated on an outpatient basis, whereas 9.021 (45.7%) were inpatients. Women revealed in general lower hemoglobin (Hb) values than men (median 13.4 vs 14.3 g/dl; p<0.001). This phenomenon was not age-dependent as assessed by age-matched regression-analyses. Based on the WHO-criteria for the definition of anemia (Hb < 12 in female and < 13 g/dl in male), 19.3% of women and 23.4% of men suffered from anemia. The incidence of anemia was significantly correlated with advanced age as shown by correlation analysis (Hb vs age; r=0.21; p<0.001). In the age groups 75–79, 80–84, 85–89, older than 90yrs, women were anemic in 20, 25, 29 and 33%, whereas men were anemic in 25, 34, 40 and 47% of cases, respectively. Severe anemia (Hb <10 g/dl) was observed in 17.3 % of anemic cases and was more frequently in women (440 out of 2106 cases) than in men (282 out of 2017) (p<0.001). Severe anemia was more often detected in elderly persons: 2.13, 3.52, 3.98, 5.08, 7.83 and 8.24% in women, and 2.79, 2.38, 3.26, 4.93, 3.99 and 7.73% in men in the age groups 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, 85–89 and 90+yrs, respectively. Based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of red blood cells, anemia was defined as microcytic in 3.7%, normocytic in 78% and macrocytic in 18.4% of cases. Microcytic and normocytic anemia were more frequent in women (58.2% and 52.5% of cases), whereas macrocytic anemia revealed a male preponderance of 58%. An iron deficiency, as defined by lowered serum ferritin levels, was observed in 73% and in 63.4% of cases (male/female) in microcytic anemia. In macrocytic anemia lowered serum vitamin B-12 levels were detected in 1.36 % and decreased levels of folic acid in 7.5% of cases. In normocytic anemia C-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated in 64.7% and serum creatinine in 36.6% of cases. A decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as defined by the MDRD1 analysis, was detected in 11.5% of men and in 18.4% of women (p<0.001). Importantly, a decline in GFR was associated with decreased Hb-levels (Pearson correlation r=0.117; p<0.01). These data clearly demonstrate that late-life anemia is frequent in patients admitted to the hospital as well as in outpatients. Anemia increases dramatically with advanced age reaching a prevalence of nearly 50% in elderly men. A recognizable cause of anemia for which a specific treatment is available is found in a small but relevant proportion of patients. In the majority of elderly the pathogenesis of anemia is complex and comprises a mixture of different subtypes including the anemia of chronic inflammation and of renal insufficiency. Disclosures: Stauder: Celgene: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Psychometric evidence of the transcultural adaptation of the Vulnerability Abuse Screening Scale (VASS) for the detection of violence against the elderly

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 958-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo da Silva Maia ◽  
◽  
Eulália Maria Chaves Maia ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Measurement Equivalence ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Kappa Index ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Univariate Anova ◽  
Psychometric Evidence ◽  
Screening Scale

Abstract Objective: to present preliminary psychometric evidence of the cross-cultural adaptation of the Vulnerability to Abuse Screening Scale. Method: The steps of cultural adaptation verified conceptual, item, semantic and measurement equivalence. For measurement equivalence and verification of the psychometric data of the study samples of 30 and 66 elderly persons, respectively, were used. Descriptive and inferential statistics (KR-20, T-Student Test, Pearson correlation, univariate ANOVA and the Fleiss’ Kappa Index) were used for analysis of results. Results: It was found that the age of the participants ranged between 60 and 84 years, with a majority of older women participants (n=38). The KR-20 value for the overall score of the instrument was 0.688. The values for the four dimensions proposed by the authors of the instrument were 0.528, 0.289, 0.552 and 0.303, respectively. Only the values of the subscales Vulnerability and Coercion proved to be close to those of the original study (0.550 and 0.390). Conclusion: The internal consistency values found in the present study ranged from moderate to good, indicating that the results were satisfactory, despite being initial findings.

Still Feeling Better? Trends in Self-Rated Health of Older Adults in the U.S

2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752096365
Author(s):  
Esther O. Lamidi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Over Time

Previous analyses showed an overall pattern of improvement in self-rated health of U.S. older adults in the 1980s and the 1990s, but it was uncertain if the declining shares of elderly persons reporting fair or poor health would continue over the next decades. Using the 2000–2018 pooled data from the National Health Interview Survey, this study examined recent trends in self-rated health of adults aged 45 and older. The results showed important variations in self-rated health trends across age groups. Between 2000 and 2018, the shares of adults aged 60 and above reporting fair or poor health declined significantly while self-rated health trends for middle-aged adults worsened over time. Educational and racial/ethnic differentials in self-rated health persisted over time but there were important group variations. To further improve the health of the elderly population, it is important to consider changing health disparities in later life.

Nutritional supplements in the Ambulatory Elderly Population: Patterns of Use and Requirements

DICP ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 490-495 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Nutritional Supplements ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Healthy Elderly

Older persons are thought to be the most frequent consumers of vitamin and mineral supplements. In this review, the use of nutritional supplements by the elderly was found to be common but was not greatly different from other age groups. Elderly persons living in Dunedin, Florida, reported nutritional supplement use less frequently than a random sample of registered nurses. Neither the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council nor the World Health Organization has recognized the need for increasing the vitamin and mineral allowances for healthy elderly adults above those recommended for healthy young adults. It is important to recognize, however, that the elderly are at greater risk of developing nutritional deficiencies as a result of acute and chronic diseases, drug use, and social isolation, and they require careful monitoring.

Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Suicide in Elderly Populations in British Columbia: An 11-Year Review

1998 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 829-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Oluwafemi Agbayewa ◽  
Stephen A Marion ◽  
Sandi Wiggins
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Elderly Male ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
And Migration

Objective: The effects of socioeconomic factors on suicide rates in the general population are widely documented. Few of these reports have specifically studied the effects of socioeconomic variables on suicide rates in the elderly population. Elderly persons have the highest suicide rates of any age-group. This group is different from the rest of the population insofar as suicide is concerned. For example, since most elderly persons are no longer in the labour force, it would be expected that they would be affected differently by economic factors such as unemployment. We report the findings of an ecological study of old-age suicide in British Columbia over an 11-year period. Methods: We obtained information on all suicide counts (International Classification of Diseases [ICD-9] codes E590–959) recorded in the 21 health units of British Columbia over the 11-year period from October 1, 1981, to September 30, 1991, from the Division of Vital Statistics of the Province of British Columbia and Statistics Canada. Social, economic, and demographic information for the health units was obtained from census data and included the number of persons per household, proportion of the population that lived in 1-person households, immigration and migration rates for each region, proportion of the population with less than grade 9 education, proportion with less than grade 12 certification, marital status rates, unemployment rates by gender, average household income, average census family income, and labour-force participation rate by gender. We calculated overall and gender-specific suicide rates for elderly persons (65 years and older) and younger populations. Using Poisson regression analyses, we determined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relative risks associated with the socioeconomic variables for the units, and we also examined trends in suicide rates. Results: There were 4630 suicides in the 11-year period. The mean suicide rate (per 100 000 population) for those over age 9 years was 18.6 (between health unit SD 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 17.0–20.2). The elderly have a higher suicide rate in every region. The male suicide rates (mean = 26.9, SD 6.4, 95% CI = 24.0–30.0) are higher than female rates (mean = 7.5, SD 1.7, 95% CI = 6.8–8.3) in every region. The factors influencing suicides were different for elderly males and elderly females. In all analyses, suicide rates in elderly females remained essentially stable across age-groups and units and over the years. Elderly male suicide rates varied across units and age-groups and over the years. Conclusions: Suicide rates are highest in males over age 74 years. There are regional differences in elderly suicide rates and the factors that influence them. Longitudinal and cross-sectional risk factors differ, and there are gender differences in the risk factors. For both elderly males and females, suicide rates appear to be influenced by social factors in the population as a whole, not just in the elderly population. Male and female employment patterns are associated with elderly male suicide rates, even though the latter are not in the labour force. For suicide in elderly women the important factors are population education, income, and migration levels.

Physiognomic Cues to Age and the Activation of Stereotypes of the Elderly in Interaction

1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lee Hummert
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Elderly Age ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Elderly Individuals ◽  
Negative Results

This article reports the results of a study on the relationship between physiognomic cues to age and the activation of positive versus negative stereotypes of elderly individuals in interaction. Predictions were based upon a model of the role of elderly stereotypes in interaction. One group of undergraduates sorted photographs of elderly adults into four age categories, fifty-five to sixty-four, sixty-five to seventy-four, seventy-five and older, and other. Those photographs that were placed in the same age category by two-thirds or more of the students were used as a pool for the second phase of the study. This process produced a set of twenty-four photographs, eight (4 male and 4 female) from each of the three elderly age groups. A second group of students paired these photographs with sets of traits describing ten stereotypes of elderly persons, some positive and some negative. Results indicated that, as predicted by the stereotype-communication model, participants associated the positive stereotypes of elderly individuals with young-old physiognomic characteristics, whereas they associated the negative ones with old-old physiognomy. The results also suggested that gender may be a component of some stereotypes, and that some physiognomic characteristics may be considered prototypical of particular stereotypes. These results illustrate the importance of passive nonverbal elements of the communication situation in the activation of stereotypes of elderly individuals in interaction.

scholarly journals Calcium excretion, apparent calcium absorption and calcium balance in young and elderly subjects: influence of protein intake

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 721-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne L. E. Pannemans ◽  
Gertjan Schaafsma ◽  
Klaas R. Westerterp
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Calcium Excretion ◽  
Calcium Balance ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Young And Elderly Subjects

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein on urinary Ca excretion, apparent Ca absorption and Ca balance in young and elderly subjects. Young adults (n 29) and elderly persons (n 26) consumed diets containing 12% (diet A) and 21% (diet B) of total energy as protein for 3 weeks according to a randomized crossover design. Results showed no differences between the two age groups with respect to the interaction between protein intake and Ca excretion (both in urine and in faeces), apparent Ca absorption and Ca balance. Therefore analyses were done for both age groups separately and also for the whole group. In elderly persons and in the whole group the Ca excretion in faeces (as a percentage of Ca intake) was lower during the higher protein intake (elderly: diet A, 106 (SEM 7)% diet B, 86 (SEM 7) % P = 0·018; whole group: diet A, 99 (SEM 4) % diet B, 84 (SEM 4) % P = 0·003). In young adults faecal Ca excretion tended to be lower when they consumed diet B (diet A: 94 (SEM 5)% diet B: 83 (SEM 6)% P = 0·093). Relative urinary Ca excretion was greater during the higher protein intake in young adults and in the whole group while relative urinary Ca excretion was not different in the elderly (diet A: 15 (SEM 1) %, 14 (SEM 1) %, 15 (SEM 1) % diet B: 16 (SEM 1) %, 16 (SEM 1) % 17 (SEM 2) % for the whole group, the young and elderly subjects respectively, P = 0·019; P = 0·016; P = 0·243).The resulting Ca balance was not influenced by the amount of protein in the diet in young adults. Values for the elderly and for the whole group showed that the Ca balance during diet A was significantly more negative compared with Ca balance during diet B, despite the higher urinary Ca excretion during diet B. It can be concluded that increasing the protein intake from 12 to 21% of total energy ntake had no negative effect on Ca balance.

scholarly journals Is the BioNTech-Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination effective in elderly populations? Results from population data from Bavaria, Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphina Gomes ◽  
Andreas Beyerlein ◽  
Katharina Katz ◽  
Gabriele Hoelscher ◽  
Uta Nennstiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Data ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Age Group ◽  
German State ◽  
Elderly Populations

Background The effect of the BioNTech-Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination in the elderly (>=80 years) could not be fully assessed in the BioNTech-Pfizer trial due to low numbers in this age group. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the BioNTech-Pfizer (BNT162b2) vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes in octo- and novo-generians in a German state setting. Methods and Findings A prospective observational study of 708,187 persons aged >=80 years living in Bavaria, Germany, was conducted between Jan 9 to Apr 11, 2021. We assessed the vaccine efficacy (VE) for two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine with respect to SARS-CoV-2 infection and related hospitalisations and mortality. Additionally, differences in VE by age groups >=80 to <=89 years and >=90 years were studied. Analyses were adjusted by sex. By the end of follow-up, 63.8% of the Bavarian population ≥80 years had received one dose, and 52.7% two doses, of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine lowered the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections and related outcomes, resulting in VE estimates of 68.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 65.5%, 70.9%) for infection, 73.2% (95% CI 65.3%, 79.3%) for hospitalisation, and 80.1% (95% CI 80.0%, 89.0%) for mortality. Sex differences in the risk of COVID-19 outcomes observed among unvaccinated persons disappeared after two BNT162b2 vaccine doses. Overall, the BNT162b2 vaccine was equally efficacious in octo- and novo-genarians. Conclusions Two doses of BioNTech-Pfizers BNT162b2 vaccine is highly effective against COVID-19 outcomes in elderly persons.

scholarly journals Household interaction patterns and elderly persons caregivers’ psychological wellbeing in Makueni sub-county, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent M. Munywoki ◽  
Elizabeth Ngozi Okpalaenwe ◽  
Urbanus Ndolo
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Family Systems ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Family Systems Theory ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Psychosocial Needs

The psychosocial needs of the elderly are ever changing and this dynamism raises burden on caregivers of the elderly creating need for family support to balance their emotional disturbance. This study explored the relationship between household support systems and psychological wellbeing of elderly persons’ caregivers in Makueni Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya. The study adopted Bowen’s Family Systems theory and used mixed method embedded design that combined correlation survey and phenomenology. The target population was caregivers, elderly persons and family members in 339 household families of elderly people receiving care at home. The sample size was 40 households in which 40 caregivers and family members each as well as 10 elderly were all sampled using purposive sampling. The 40 caregivers and family members were identified by virtue of the households while the elderly persons were identified on the basis of ability to respond to the questions. Data was collected using the Ryff’s scale of psychological wellbeing (to measure wellbeing of caregivers) with reliability Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86 and McMaster family device to assess the family interaction patterns of household family members with 0.7 coefficient. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) - quantitative data was analyzed using univariate analyses and Pearson correlation. The findings of the study may be used in developing policies on care and protection of elderly people, but more importantly in enhancing counselling interventions for handling caregivers’ psychological issues, hence facilitate family systems that support mental wellness of caregivers.

scholarly journals Anxiety disorder in elderly persons with chronic pain: frequency and associations

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Kate Adriany da Silva Santos ◽  
Maysa Seabra Cendoroglo ◽  
Fania Cristina Santos
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Trait And State Anxiety ◽  
Pain Frequency ◽  
Geriatric Pain

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the frequency of anxiety disorders in older elderly persons with chronic pain and identify associated factors. Method: a descriptive, analytical and cross section study of the "Projeto Longevos" ("Long-Lived Elderly Persons Project") was carried out, featuring elderly persons living in the community who were aged 80 or over. Older elderly persons with chronic pain were selected, and data regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and factors related to pain was gathered, especially with regard to the multidimensional nature of pain, according to the "Geriatric Pain Measure-p" (GPM-p). Self-perception of health was also recorded and functionality assessments were carried out, along with the screenings for depression and anxiety disorders, according to the Geriatric Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Associations were analyzed by Pearson correlation, the ANOVA Test and Tukey multiple comparisons. Results: the sample was composed of 41 elderly persons with a mean age of 85.7 years, most of whom were female, white, widowed and had a low education. A high prevalence of anxiety disorders was observed, being 53.6% and 68.3%, respectively, for trait and state anxiety. A significant, but not high, correlation was found between the anxiety trait and chronic pain according to the GPM-p (r=31.5%; p=0.048), and there was a significant and high correlation between the same type of anxiety and depression (r=61.3%; p<0.001). Conclusion: anxiety disorders were very prevalent in older elderly persons with chronic pain, and these correlated significantly with pain and depression, which could justify the need for varied multidisciplinary therapeutic measures against the persistent pain conditions of the elderly.

scholarly journals The Importance of Knowing the Basic First Aid Measures During Social Isolation of the Elderly

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Dolenc ◽  
Damjan Slabe ◽  
Ivan Eržen ◽  
Uroš Kovačič
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Post Hoc

Abstract Background: The vulnerability of the elderly population increases with natural and other disasters. Consequent social isolation affects their health. Health problems, which can lead to emergencies, can be an even greater burden during times of social isolation. Early identification and action in terms of first aid for the most common emergencies that threaten an individual’s health or life affect these conditions. We aimed to examine the knowledge of first aid in the most common emergencies that threaten elderly people’s health and life among a Slovenian population, focusing on the elderly people’s knowledge. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted on 1079 respondents. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire. Statistically significant differences in average ratings among different age groups were determined with one-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc test. Significant differences between the categories of age groups were determined using the χ2 square test followed by appropriate post hoc testing for multiple comparisons. By regression analysis (Spearman’s rho and Pearson Correlation), we determined the correlations. Results: Our survey results indicated that Slovenes are aware of the importance of first aid knowledge and feel personally responsible for acquiring and developing this knowledge. The most surprising finding of our research is the high level of knowledge of recognising some of the most common conditions that occur in old age and taking action in response to them. Simultaneously, most of the knowledge tested does not depend on the person’s age or the time since that person was last educated in first aid. Nevertheless, out of all age groups, those older than 80 stand out. The respondents’ general opinion is that the elderly over 80 years of age need less first aid knowledge. Furthermore, their first aid knowledge is also somewhat worse, especially when recognising sudden illness. Conclusions: Older than 80 are the most vulnerable psycho physically and socially, especially in natural and other disasters such as a pandemic. In the same time, their disaster preparedness from a first aid perspective is poor. There is a need to raise awareness and provide guidance on emergency preparedness to older people.

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