scholarly journals Prevalence of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Its Relation to Socioeconomic Deprivation in the Elderly: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 4809-4816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Wilson ◽  
James V. Parle ◽  
Lesley M. Roberts ◽  
Andrea K. Roalfe ◽  
F. D. Richard Hobbs ◽  
...  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Ju Seo ◽  
Dong Young Lee ◽  
Mi Ra Sung

ABSTRACTBackground:The highest increase in the prevalence of dementia in the elderly population is expected in South Korea than in any other country in the world. However, there is no assessment of the community-based general populations’ understanding of dementia in South Korea, in spite of the increasing burden of dementia. Thus, this study assessed the public knowledge about dementia.Methods:This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of 2,189 participants, aged 10 years or older, and living in Seoul, South Korea. A 12-item questionnaire with true/false responses was used to assess the knowledge about dementia from June to November 2011. The data obtained were analyzed using quantitative methods.Results:The mean score for the knowledge about dementia was 9.0 ± 2.1 points out of 12 points. More than half of the respondents (52.7%) reported that dementia is not treatable, and one-third of the participants did not know that Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The level of dementia knowledge was negatively associated with increasing age, and positively associated with higher education level.Conclusions:Our results suggest that although laypersons had a fair knowledge about dementia, further educational programs and campaigns are needed to improve knowledge about dementia, more focusing on elderly adults as the target audience and emphasizing the causes and treatments of dementia as educational contents.


Author(s):  
Gandhari Basu ◽  
Poulomi Mondal ◽  
Suman K. Roy

Background: Reported literatures suggested that health of elderly, mainly tribes, still remains unsatisfactory. They are the most neglected and highly vulnerable to diseases with high degree of morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to measure the overall health status and awareness of any beneficial scheme and also associated factors among the elderly tribes. Methods: A community based, cross sectional survey was conducted among 120 elderly tribes, for three months. Data on socio-demographic attributes, self-reported morbidities and mental health parameters was collected by direct interview with a predesigned, structured proforma. Clinical examination was done to find out any systematic morbidity. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure were recorded by standardized instruments. Prevalence of stress was assessed by general health questionnaire (GHQ-12). Data was analysed by licensed SPSS 20.0. Results: Out of 120 elderly tribes, majorities were female (61.7%), aged between 60 to 69 years. The mean (SE) age was 64.50 (0.421) years. Ninety nine subjects were illiterate. Tobacco addiction was noted in 84.3% elderly. Common cold (80.0), low back pain and joint pain (73.3%), alcohol addiction (63.3), smoking (56.0), problems of vision (50.0) were also common. Overweight, hypertension and pallor was noted in nearly half. Women were more affected. One in every four felt unhappy or depressed. Severe distress was found among one in every five respondents. Distress was more in persons aged more than 70 years, illiterate and in lower social class (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of social problems like illiteracy, unemployment, financial dependence, morbidities and stress among the elderly tribes. 


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euson Yeung ◽  
Robert Balogh ◽  
Donald Cole ◽  
Djenana Jalovcic ◽  
Michel D. Landry

Vaccine ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (32) ◽  
pp. 3670-3675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harapan Harapan ◽  
Samsul Anwar ◽  
Abdul Malik Setiawan ◽  
R. Tedjo Sasmono

1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rou-Yee Chen Hsu ◽  
Min-Shung Lin ◽  
Mei-Huei Chou ◽  
Ming-Fang Lin

Objective To compare prescribing patterns between the elderly and nonelderly in 1994, to disclose prescribing trends in the elderly between 1992 and 1994, to explore whether drug utilization is in agreement with disease prevalence, and to identify suboptimal prescribing by drug category for ambulatory elderly patients. Design Cross-sectional survey at two separate time intervals. Setting All public group practice centers (GPCs) in Taiwan. Patients Ambulatory adults who visited GPCs during 1 random week. Those 65 years or over were classified as the elderly group, and those 20-64 years were the nonelderly group. Main Outcome Measures Mean diagnosis, drug use, and expenditure; frequency of diagnosis; and prescribing by therapeutic category. Results Data on 30 777 elderly and 38 184 nonelderly patients were collected in 1994. There was widespread use of antacids. Compared with nonelderly adults, the elderly were diagnosed with more diseases (1.3 vs. 1.2, respectively; p < 0.01), received more medications (4.7 vs. 4.1, respectively; p < 0.01), and had higher drug expenditures (5.4 vs. 4.6, respectively; p < 0.01). Chronic illness was more prevalent in the elderly, which accounted for the extensive use of cardiovascular drugs (32.1%), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (25.9%), and anxiolytics (15.9%). The upward trend in the elderly from 1992 to 1994 with hypertension (18.6% vs. 20.0%) or diabetes (9.2% vs. 10.9%) did not result in more cases of cerebrovascular disease (7.1% vs. 4.9%). There was a substantial increase in use of antispasmodic and gastroprokinetic agents (4.5% to 10.7%); the use of antacids decreased (73.6% to 63.4%) in the elderly. Conclusions Compared with the prevalence of disease, there was extensive nonspecific use of anxiolytics and antacids. However, lessened use of antidepressants and postmenopausal hormone replacement may have an impact on morbidity and mortality and deserves particular attention.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pileggi ◽  
Valentina Mascaro ◽  
Aida Bianco ◽  
Maria Pavia

The use of nonprescription medicines (NPDs) for children illnesses without a doctor’s suggestion can lead to unnecessary medication use and is not free of risks. The aim of our study was to examine attitudes and practice of parents towards NPDs use for their children. We also investigated the conditions that may predict NPDs use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents of children attending Community Based Pediatrician (CBP) consultation and data were collected through structured interviews. Positive attitude on NPDs use was reported by 71.4% of parents, and 61.5% of them had administered NPDs in the previous 6 months. Antipyretic drugs were the most frequently used medication class without the supervision of the CBP. A positive attitude towards NPDs was significantly more frequent in parents who did not use the CBP as the sole source of information about drugs. The study demonstrated a widespread use of NPDs in children in our context, supported by a substantial positive attitude towards their safety. However, considering potential harms related to some NPDs and the finding that most parents rely on CBP advice, role of CBP on appropriate use of NPDs by parents should be emphasized.


Author(s):  
Vijayan Neena ◽  
Neelakandhan Asokan ◽  
Rajany Jose ◽  
A. Sarin

Background: There are very few population-based studies on the prevalence of eczema among older persons Aims: To estimate the prevalence and types of eczema in those aged 65 years or more in the community and to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based interventions for case finding. Methods: In the first stage of this cross-sectional survey, trained health workers of a non-governmental organization surveyed the eligible population and identified persons likely to have eczema. In the second stage, dermatologists examined such persons to ascertain the diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done using Epi Info software version 7. Prevalence of eczema was expressed in percentages. Chi-square test was used for comparing the difference in prevalence of eczema in various age groups and sex. Results: Health workers identified 98 persons as possible cases of eczema after interviewing 385 older persons in the community. Among them 95 persons were examined by dermatologists and 44 were confirmed to have eczema (diagnostic accuracy of health workers = 46.3%).Point prevalence of eczema was 11.4% (44/385). Prevalence was similar in males and females. It was greater (18.2 %) among persons aged 81 years or more. Asteatotic eczema, gravitational eczema and lichen simplex chronicus were the more common types of eczema. Limitations: Possible underestimation of the prevalence rates due to limited medical knowledge of health workers; limited facilities for examination and investigations at the medical camps and home visits. Conclusion: There appears to be a considerable burden of eczema among older persons in the community. A community-based approach involving non-governmental organizations has the potential to identify cases and offer care close to their homes.


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