Increase in potentially inappropriate medicines use seen in all older adults, study results suggest

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medicines ◽  
Medicines Use ◽  
Study Results

Variants of the Circle of Willis as seen on magnetic resonance angiography and carotid siphon calcifications in community-dwelling older adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 197140092110428
Author(s):  
Oscar H Del Brutto ◽  
Bettsy Y. Recalde ◽  
Robertino M Mera
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Circle Of Willis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Anatomical Variants ◽  
Study Results ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Independent Association ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background and purpose Information on the association between anatomical variants of the Circle of Willis (CoW) and intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is limited and results are controversial. In this population-based study, we aimed to assess whether an incomplete CoW is associated with high calcium content in carotid siphons (a reliable biomarker of ICAD) in community-dwelling older adults of Amerindian ancestry. Methods Individuals aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Three Villages Study received a head computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) of intracranial vessels. The CoW was classified in complete or incomplete according to the presence or absence of one A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery or one or both P1 segments of posterior cerebral arteries. Calcium content in carotid siphons was rated as low or high. A multivariate logistic model was fitted to assess the independent association between incompleteness of the CoW and high calcium content in carotid siphons, after adjusting for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. Results A total of 581 individuals were enrolled (mean age: 71 ± 8.4 years; 57% women). MRA revealed an incomplete CoW in 227 (39%) individuals, and high-resolution CT disclosed high calcium content in carotid siphons in 185 (32%). A risk factor logistic regression model showed no independent association between incompleteness of the CoW and high calcium content in carotid siphons (odds ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.62–1.34; p = 0.631). Conclusion Study results disclosed no association between anatomical variants of the CoW and the presence of high calcium content in carotid siphons.

scholarly journals Examining Rural and Racial Disparities in the Relationship Between Loneliness and Social Technology Use Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaileigh A. Byrne ◽  
Reza Ghaiumy Anaraky ◽  
Cheryl Dye ◽  
Lesley A. Ross ◽  
Kapil Chalil Madathil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Racial Disparities ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Social Technology ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Loneliness, the subjective negative experience derived from a lack of meaningful companionship, is associated with heightened vulnerability to adverse health outcomes among older adults. Social technology affords an opportunity to cultivate social connectedness and mitigate loneliness. However, research examining potential inequalities in loneliness is limited. This study investigates racial and rural-urban differences in the relationship between social technology use and loneliness in adults aged 50 and older using data from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,315). Social technology use was operationalized as the self-reported frequency of communication through Skype, Facebook, or other social media with family and friends. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness scale, and rural-urban differences were based on Beale rural-urban continuum codes. Examinations of race focused on differences between Black/African-American and White/Caucasian groups. A path model analysis was performed to assess whether race and rurality moderated the relationship between social technology use and loneliness, adjusting for living arrangements, age, general computer usage. Social engagement and frequency of social contact with family and friends were included as mediators. The primary study results demonstrated that the association between social technology use and loneliness differed by rurality, but not race. Rural older adults who use social technology less frequently experience greater loneliness than urban older adults. This relationship between social technology and loneliness was mediated by social engagement and frequency of social contact. Furthermore, racial and rural-urban differences in social technology use demonstrated that social technology use is less prevalent among rural older adults than urban and suburban-dwelling older adults; no such racial differences were observed. However, Black older adults report greater levels of perceived social negativity in their relationships compared to White older adults. Interventions seeking to address loneliness using social technology should consider rural and racial disparities.

scholarly journals Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110477
Author(s):  
Oscar H. Del Brutto ◽  
Robertino M. Mera ◽  
Denisse A. Rumbea ◽  
Pedro Pérez ◽  
Bettsy Y. Recalde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data. Results: Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates. Conclusions: Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

scholarly journals Frailty Indexed Classification of Bangladeshi Older Adults’ Physio-psychosocial Health and Associated Risk Factors- A Cross-sectional Survey Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Hamiduzzaman ◽  
Saleha Akter ◽  
Zaki Farhana ◽  
Mohammad Kamal Hossain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Abstract Background: Frailty is associated with healthy ageing, and it has been identified as a means of measuring older adults’ physio-psychosocial health. We know about the ageing trends and common diseases of older adults living in South Asia, but literature to date does not widely feature their health status based on frailty, especially in Bangladesh. This study aims to understand the prevalence of frailty in Bangladeshi older adults; classify their health status; and investigate associated risk factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the north-eastern region (i.e. Sylhet City Corporation) of Bangladesh. Four hundred participants aged 55 years and above were randomly selected, attended a health assessment session and completed a multi-indicator survey questionnaire. We developed a 30-indicator Frailty Index (FI30) to assess the participant’s health status and categorized: good health (no-frailty/Fit); slightly poor health (mild frailty); poor health (moderate frailty); and very poor health (severe frailty). Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted.Results: The participants’ mean age was 63.6 years, and 61.6% of them were assessed in poor to very poor health (moderate frailty/36.3% - severe frailty/25.3%). The eldest, female and participants from lower family income were found more frailty than their counterparts. Participants aged 70 years and above were more likely (adjusted OR: 4.23, 95 % CI: 2.26–7.92, p < 0.0001) to experience frailty (medical conditions) than the pre-elderly age group (55-59 years). Female participants were more vulnerable (adjusted OR=1.487, 95% CI: 0.84-2.64, p < 0.0174) to frailty (medical conditions) than male. Also, older adults who had higher family income (Income>$473.3) found a lower risk (adjusted OR: 0.294, 95% CI: 0.11-0.76, p<0.011) of frailty (poor health).Conclusion: Our study results confirm the prevalence of frailty-related disorders in Bangladeshi older adults and highlight the importance of targeted clinical and community-led preventive care programs.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Successful Aging among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Based on Ecological System Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye-Young Jang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
System Model ◽  
Healthcare Intervention ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Study Results

This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with successful aging in older adults based on the ecological system model. Data from the 2017 National Survey of the Living Conditions of Korean Elderly were used. Participants comprised 10,074 older adults. The three principal components in the successful aging model developed by Rowe and Kahn, “absence of disease and disease-related disability,” “maintenance of high mental and physical function,” and “continued engagement with life,” were used to determine successful aging. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, t-test, and logistic regression. The study results showed that the correlation factors were age, sex, educational level, economic status, heavy drinking, subjective health status, and health screening in the individual system; living arrangement, satisfaction with spouse, and frequency of contacting family, siblings, and relatives in the family system; and the frequency of contacting neighbors and friends, number of close neighbors and friends, and accessibility of neighborhood facilities in the community system. This study is significant because it confirms that individual characteristics and the environmental systems surrounding older adults should be considered for successful aging; it is necessary to develop and apply healthcare intervention programs that consider both of these aspects.

scholarly journals Exploring the Influencing Factors of Health Literacy among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Hsiao-Ting Chiu ◽  
Han-Wei Tsai ◽  
Ken N. Kuo ◽  
Angela Y.M. Leung ◽  
Yao-Mao Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Literacy Survey ◽  
European Health

Background and Objectives: To investigate the health literacy (HL) among older adults in Taiwan, we referenced an existing integrated model of HL to confirm the influencing factors of HL in older adults. We propose this study to examine the personal, situational, and socioenvironmental factors influencing HL among older adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a district hospital and affiliated community center in northern Taiwan from August 2016 to May 2017. This study used the Mandarin Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (EU-Q47). We designed three models based on the three domains of HL. Model 1 assesses personal factors. Model 2 incorporates situational factors. Model 3 adds the socioenvironmental factor. Results: We recruited 161 participants aged over 65 years. Most adults in this study had limited overall HL. The final regression model revealed that age >85 years, unknown insurance status, and dominant spoken dialect of Hakka or Taiwanese were significantly associated with higher scores of HL. Conclusions: Our study results may help clinicians with early identification of older adults at high risk for poor HL and help health administrators establish geriatric policies and health education plans.

scholarly journals Self-perceived health status in older adults: regional and sociodemographic inequalities in Spain

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fernandez-Martinez ◽  
Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores ◽  
Maria João Forjaz ◽  
Gloria Fernández-Mayoralas ◽  
Fermina Rojo-Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Perceived Health Status ◽  
The South ◽  
Socioeconomic Condition ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Euroqol Group ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Autonomous Regions

OBJECTIVE: To assess regional and sociodemographic differences in self-perceived health status among older adults. METHODS: A face-to-face quality of life survey was conducted in a representative sample of the Spanish population comprising 1,106 non-institutionalized elderly aged 60 or more in 2008. Logistic regression models were used to explain self-perceived health status according to the EuroQol Group Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Independent variables included sociodemographic and health characteristics as well as the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics level 1 (NUTS1: group of autonomous regions) and level 2 (NUTS 2: autonomous regions). RESULTS: Younger and better off respondents were more likely to have a positive self-perceived health status. Having no chronic conditions, independence in performing daily living activities and lower level of depression were also associated with positive self-perceived health status. People living in the south of Spain showed a more negative self-perceived health status than those living in other regions. CONCLUSION: The study results point to health inequality among Spanish older adults of lower socioeconomic condition and living in the south of Spain. The analysis by geographic units allows for international cross-regional comparisons.

scholarly journals PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND THE ONSET OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S114-S115
Author(s):  
Jiaan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Previous research has shown the beneficial effects of positive psychological assets on health, but more research is needed to confirm the prospective effects on cognitive function. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between psychological well-being and the earliest onset of cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults. Data came from 2000 to 2014 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Study sample consisted of 6,225 older adults who were free from cognitive impairment in 2000. Psychological well-being was measured based on seven items that assessed optimism, conscientiousness, self-determination, happiness, self-esteem, pessimism, and loneliness, with responses ranging from “always (1)” to never (5)”. Negative feelings items were reverse coded. Higher score indicated more positive psychological well-being. Cognitive impairment was measured by a Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Respondents scored at or above 24 were regarded as having no cognitive impairment. A multi-category time-varying variable was used to capture four potential outcomes: (1) persistently free of cognitive impairment between waves, (2) onset of cognitive impairment, (3) death between waves, and (4) attrition. Socio-demographics, chronical diseases conditions, functional health status were served as controls. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression models that account for clustering of observations within a subject over time were employed for the study. Results show that more positive psychological well-being is significantly associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment onset and death over time. Results suggest that developing more psychological resilience-based intervention programs among older adults may help them delay the onset of cognitive impairment.

Pharmacists’ and older adults’ perspectives on the benefits and barriers of Home Medicines Reviews – a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristie Rebecca Weir ◽  
Vasi Naganathan ◽  
Carissa Bonner ◽  
Kirsten McCaffery ◽  
Debbie Rigby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Medicines Use ◽  
Audio Recordings

Objectives Conducting a medication review is one way to optimize medications and support older people to reduce the burden of polypharmacy. In Australia, a service called a Home Medicines Review (HMR) is conducted by pharmacists as part of a nationally funded program. HMRs aim to identify and resolve problems associated with polypharmacy and improve collaboration between patient, pharmacist and general practitioner. The aim of this study was to explore the benefits of and barriers to HMRs from the perspective of older patients and pharmacists. Methods This qualitative study involved observations of HMRs ( n = 12) and telephone interviews with 32 participants including 11 accredited pharmacists, 17 older adults aged 65 years and above, with 4 of their companions, in Australia. The researcher observing took notes during the HMR and added more detail and reflections afterwards. Transcribed audio-recordings and observational notes were thematically coded using framework analysis. Results Older patients and their companions found the HMR useful and they appreciated the opportunity to learn more about their medicines. However, many did not understand the purpose of the HMR, had limited understanding about their medicines and some did not want to know more. Pharmacists found HMRs useful for identifying medication errors and improving adherence. They also reported barriers to effective HMRs relating to patients (resistance to the evaluation of their medicines, misunderstanding about the aim of the HMR) and GPs (limited information upon referral, and limited follow-up afterwards). Conclusions Older patients and pharmacists reported a range of benefits for HMRs in terms of optimizing medicines use. Barriers to effective HMR use need to be addressed, including gaps in inter-professional communication and factors related to patient involvement, such as limited medicines understanding and health literacy.

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