scholarly journals Protecting older adults of Sri Lanka amid COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshini Madara Marasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Aging Populations ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
Low And Middle Income

<p>Older adults over 60 are at a higher risk of getting severely sick and dying from COVID–19. Sri Lanka has one of the fastest aging populations in South and South–East Asia. In addition to having a rapidly aging population, Sri Lanka is a developing country with limited resources to accommodate the older population that can be significantly affected by COVID–19. Statistics up to date shows that older adults are at a much higher risk of dying from COVID–19. Older adults being at a much higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID–19 has important implications for the way in which public health and clinical responses should be developed. These implications have been largely overlooked in both high and low and middle–income countries when providing guidance and implementing regulations, which can have a greater impact in low and middle–income countries. Preparedness of the healthcare systems to respond to the pandemic with a lack of facilities, resources (i.e., ventilators) and staff in the healthcare system, specifically in hospitals, intensive care units and long–term care homes is a concern that should be taken into consideration when clinical responses are developed. Challenges around protecting community–dwelling older adults who are caregivers to grandchildren, receiving informal care from children in the same household, living in living in remote areas, or living alone or dependent on others need to be taken into consideration when developing public health responses.</p>

scholarly journals Protecting older adults of Sri Lanka amid COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshini Madara Marasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Aging Populations ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
Low And Middle Income

<p>Older adults over 60 are at a higher risk of getting severely sick and dying from COVID–19. Sri Lanka has one of the fastest aging populations in South and South–East Asia. In addition to having a rapidly aging population, Sri Lanka is a developing country with limited resources to accommodate the older population that can be significantly affected by COVID–19. Statistics up to date shows that older adults are at a much higher risk of dying from COVID–19. Older adults being at a much higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID–19 has important implications for the way in which public health and clinical responses should be developed. These implications have been largely overlooked in both high and low and middle–income countries when providing guidance and implementing regulations, which can have a greater impact in low and middle–income countries. Preparedness of the healthcare systems to respond to the pandemic with a lack of facilities, resources (i.e., ventilators) and staff in the healthcare system, specifically in hospitals, intensive care units and long–term care homes is a concern that should be taken into consideration when clinical responses are developed. Challenges around protecting community–dwelling older adults who are caregivers to grandchildren, receiving informal care from children in the same household, living in living in remote areas, or living alone or dependent on others need to be taken into consideration when developing public health responses.</p>

scholarly journals Protecting older adults of Sri Lanka amid COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshini Madara Marasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Clinical Responses

Older adults are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 and the risk is much higher in low and middle-income countries. Lloyd-Sherlock, P. et al raise four concerns that needs to be considered when developing public health and clinical responses to COVID-19 to protect older adults in LMICs and this paper applies these concerns to the context of Sri Lanka and provides simple and immediate measures to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 among older adults in Sri Lanka. These measures include but does not limit to: 1) considering the difficulties health care system may face in the case of a COVID-19 surge and taking immediate preventative measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the country; 2) implementing measures in LTCs to prevent the spread among LTC residents and staff; 3) proactively including older adults especially those who are dependent and from remote areas in government responses; and 4) taking into considerations family dynamics unique to Sri Lanka and providing supportive measures to reduce exposure through government and other available resources. Sri Lanka being a LMIC and therefore more vulnerable, must take immediate actions to minimize the impacts COVID-19 could potentially have on the country, while there is still time.

scholarly journals Sarcopenia and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults from Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Louis Jacob ◽  
Karel Kostev ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Hans Oh ◽  
Guillermo F. López-Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Skeletal Mass ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Little is known about the relationship between sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: This study aimed to investigate this association among community-dwelling adults aged≥65 years from six LMICs. Methods: Cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) were analyzed. These data were obtained in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa in 2007–2010. Participants were considered to have sarcopenia if they had low skeletal muscle mass (i.e., lower skeletal mass index) and a weak handgrip strength. MCI was defined using the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association criteria. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess associations. Results: The final analytical sample consisted of 12,912 individuals aged≥65 years with preservation in functional abilities without stroke (mean [standard deviation] age 72.2 [10.8] years; 45.2% males). The overall prevalence of sarcopenia and MCI were 11.3% and 18.1%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was a positive association between sarcopenia and MCI in all countries (i.e., odds ratio [OR] >  1) with the exception of South Africa, and the overall estimate was OR = 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.32–1.93) with a low level of between-country heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%). Conclusion: There was a positive association between sarcopenia and MCI in this sample of older adults living in LMICs. Causality should be assessed in future longitudinal research, while the utility of sarcopenia as a marker of MCI should also be investigated.

scholarly journals Sarcopenia and fall-related injury among older adults in five low- and middle-income countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 111262
Author(s):  
Nicola Veronese ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
Mario Barbagallo ◽  
Lin Yang ◽  
Liye Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on the care of people living with noncommunicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: an online survey of physicians and pharmacists in nine countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Bullen ◽  
Jessica McCormack ◽  
Amanda Calder ◽  
Varsha Parag ◽  
Kannan Subramaniam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
World Health ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where people may have limited access to affordable quality care, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a particularly adverse impact on the health and healthcare of individuals with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A World Health Organization survey found that disruption of delivery of healthcare for NCDs was more significant in LMICs than in high-income countries. However, the study did not elicit insights into the day-to-day impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare by front-line healthcare workers (FLHCWs). Aim: To gain insights directly from FLHCWs working in countries with a high NCD burden, and thereby identify opportunities to improve the provision of healthcare during the current pandemic and in future healthcare emergencies. Methods: We recruited selected frontline healthcare workers (general practitioners, pharmacists, and other medical specialists) from nine countries to complete an online survey (n = 1347). Survey questions focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and NCDs; barriers to clinical care during the pandemic; and innovative responses to the many challenges presented by the pandemic. Findings: The majority of FLHCWs responding to our survey reported that their care of patients had been impacted both adversely and positively by the public health measures imposed. Most FLHCs (95%) reported a deterioration in the mental health of their patients. Conclusions: Continuity of care for NCDs as part of pandemic preparedness is needed so that chronic conditions are not exacerbated by public health measures and the direct impacts of the pandemic.

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