scholarly journals Health- and Age-Related Workplace Factors as Predictors of Preferred, Expected, and Actual Retirement Timing: Findings from a Swedish Cohort Study

Author(s):  
Marta Sousa-Ribeiro ◽  
Claudia Bernhard-Oettel ◽  
Magnus Sverke ◽  
Hugo Westerlund

To address the challenges of demographic aging, governments and organizations encourage extended working lives. This study investigates how individual health- and age-related workplace factors contribute to preferred, expected and actual retirement timing, as well as to the congruency between preferences vs. expectations, and preferences vs. actual retirement. We used data from a representative Swedish longitudinal sample comprising 4058 workers aged 50–64, with follow-up data regarding actual retirement timing available for 1164 respondents. Multinomial logistic regression analyses suggest that later preferred, expected, and actual retirement timing were, to different extent, influenced by better health, an age-friendly workplace and feeling positive regarding the future at work. Emotional exhaustion, age-related inequalities at work and experiencing aging as an obstacle increased the likelihood of preferring to retire earlier than one expected to, over retiring at the time one expected to. Those with better health and positive work prospects were less likely to prefer retiring earlier than they expected to, and more likely to being “pulled toward working until 65 and beyond”, compared to being “pulled toward early retirement”. Experiencing aging as an obstacle decreased the chances of being “pulled toward working until 65 and beyond”. The results provide insights on how to facilitate extended working lives.

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110057
Author(s):  
Pierre Gascon ◽  
Prithvi Ramtohul ◽  
Charles Delaporte ◽  
Sébastien Kerever ◽  
Danièle Denis ◽  
...  

Purpose: To report the visual and anatomic outcomes in treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients treated with aflibercept under a standardized Treat and Extend (T&E) protocol for up to 3 years of follow-up in “real-life” practice. Methods: This retrospective, observational, multicenter study included patients with treatment-naïve nAMD and at least 12 months of follow-up. T&E regimen adjustment was initiated after loading phase. At each visit best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography parameters were performed. Results: One hundred and thirty-six eyes of 115patients had at least 1 year of follow-up with 114 and 82 eyes completing at least 2 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively (mean follow-up duration: 2.7 ± 1.3 years). Mean age was 78.6 ± 8.6 years old and 52% were women. Mean BCVA increased from 60.6 ± 18.7 letters at diagnosis to 66.9 ± 16.2 letters at 1 year (+6.3 letters, p = 0.003) and remained stable throughout the follow-up period (63.1 ± 20.3 letters (+2.5, p = 0.1) and 64.0 ± 20.1 letters (+3.4, p = 0.27) at 2 and 3 years, respectively). The mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly from 358.2 ± 87.9 µm at baseline to 302 ± 71.7 µm at 12 months and maintained stable after 36 months of follow-up (297.1 ± 76 µm, p < 0.0001). Mean number of injections was 6.6 ± 2.2, 4.8 ± 1.9, and 5.6 ± 1.7 at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Mean cumulative number of 16.4 ± 5.6 injections after 3 years. Mean treatment interval was 6.8 ± 2.5 weeks at 1 year. Eight-week and 12-week treatment interval were achieved in 59.5% and 19.1%, 65.8%, and 36.8% and 69.5% and 41.5% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that intravitreal injections of aflibercept initiated under a standardized T&E for patients with treatment-naïve nAMD allow for significant visual improvement at 12 months, which was maintained over a 3-year follow-up period.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M De Carlo ◽  
R Liga ◽  
G.M Migaleddu ◽  
M Scatturin ◽  
C Spaccarotella ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Most patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) develop silent cerebral ischemic lesions (SCIL) detectable at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The natural history and clinical relevance of SCIL are not well established. We aimed to assess the characteristics, predictors, evolution, and neurocognitive effects of SCIL. Methods Cerebral MRI was performed within 7 days before TAVI to assess baseline status and age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) score. MRI was repeated postoperatively to assess the occurrence, location, number and dimensions of SCIL. Patients developing SCIL underwent a third MRI at 3–5 months follow-up. A neurocognitive evaluation was performed before TAVI, at discharge and at 3-month follow-up. Results Of the 117 patients enrolled, 96 underwent a postprocedural MRI; SCIL were observed in 76% of patients, distributed in all vascular territories, with a median number of 2 lesions, median diameter 4.5 mm, and median total volume 140 mm3. Independent predictors of SCIL occurrence were a higher baseline ARWMC score and the use of self-expanding or mechanically-expanded bioprostheses. Among 47 patients who underwent follow-up MRI, only 26.7% of postprocedural SCIL evolved into a gliotic scar. SCIL occurrence was associated with a more pronounced transient neurocognitive decline early after TAVI and with a lower recovery at follow-up. Conclusions SCIL occur in the vast majority of patients undergoing TAVR and are predicted by a more diffuse white matter damage at baseline and by the use of non-balloon-expandable prostheses. Although most SCIL disappear within months, their occurrence has a limited but significant impact on neurocognitive function. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): unrestricted grants from Edwards Lifesciences SA, Nyon, Switzerland, and from Medtronic Italia SpA, Milan, Italy


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Querques ◽  
Riccardo Sacconi ◽  
Francesco Gelormini ◽  
Enrico Borrelli ◽  
Francesco Prascina ◽  
...  

AbstractThere is a lack of treatment aimed at the regression of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The aim of this prospective, pilot study is to evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of subthreshold laser treatment (SLT) in patients affected by RPD secondary to dry AMD (dAMD). Twenty eyes of 20 patients (mean age 78.4 ± 6.8 years) with RPD secondary to dAMD were prospectively enrolled. All patients were treated in an extrafoveal area of 1.27 mm2 using end-point management yellow subthreshold laser and followed for 3 months. Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.140 ± 0.09 LogMAR at the baseline and no changes were observed during the follow-up (p = 0.232). No significant worsening was disclosed before and after the treatment analyzing the macular sensitivity of the treated area (p = 0.152). No topical and/or systemic side effects were disclosed during the 3-month follow-up. The distribution among the RPD stages changed after the treatment (p < 0.001). In detail, in the treated area, we observed a significant increase in the number of Stage 1 RPD during the follow-up (p = 0.002), associated with a significant decrease of Stage 3 RPD (p = 0.020). Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness analysis showed a significant increase after the treatment associated with RPD regression (p = 0.001). End-point management SLT appears a safe treatment for RPD secondary to dAMD, showing short-term safety outcomes. Our results suggest that SLT could be effective in inducing a RPD regression in terms of RPD stage and ONL thickening.


Author(s):  
Dorothee Jürgens ◽  
Benjamin Schüz

Abstract Background There are substantial socioeconomic status (SES) differences in sports activity (SA) during the transition to retirement. In line with social-ecological models, the aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association of perceptions of social and physical neighborhood factors with changes in SA across the retirement transition and to examine potential interactions with SES factors. Methods Data from 6 waves of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) provided 710 participants (at baseline: mean age 61.1, 52.9% of men) who retired between baseline (1996, 2002, 2008, 2011) and their 6-year follow-up assessment. Associations between changes in SA (increases and decreases compared to retaining) and individual SES and neighborhood factors were estimated using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results Increases were observed in 18.45% of participants, decreases in 10%. Occupational prestige was a risk factor for decreases, education a resource for increases in SA. Interactions between household income and several neighborhood factors were observed. Conclusions In line with social-ecological models, individual, neighborhood factors and interacting associations were found. In particular safety perceptions could be a resource for promotion SA in older adults who experience disadvantage.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2047
Author(s):  
Bénédicte M. J. Merle ◽  
Audrey Cougnard-Grégoire ◽  
Jean-François Korobelnik ◽  
Wolfgang Schalch ◽  
Stéphane Etheve ◽  
...  

Lutein and zeaxanthin may lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We evaluated the associations of plasma lutein and zeaxanthin with the incidence of advanced AMD in the Alienor study (Antioxydants Lipides Essentiels Nutrition et Maladies Oculaires). Alienor study is a prospective population-based cohort of 963 residents of Bordeaux, France, who were 73 years or older at baseline (2006–2008). The present study included 609 participants with complete ophthalmologic and plasma carotenoids data. Examinations were performed every two years over an eight-year period (2006 to 2017). Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin were determined at baseline from fasting blood samples using high-performance liquid chromatography. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, and their (total cholesterol (TC) + triglycerides (TG)) ratios with AMD. Among the 609 included participants, 54 developed advanced incident AMD during a median follow-up time of 7.6 years (range 0.7 to 10.4). Participants with higher plasma lutein had a reduced risk for incident advanced AMD in the fully adjusted model (HR = 0.63 per 1-SD increase (95% CI, 0.41–0.97), p = 0.03). A similar association was observed using the lutein/(TC + TG) ratio (HR = 0.59 (95% CI, 0.39–0.90), p = 0.01). No associations were evidenced for other carotenoids. Higher plasma lutein was associated with a 37% reduced risk of incident advanced AMD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Arrigo ◽  
Emanuela Aragona ◽  
Ottavia Battaglia ◽  
Andrea Saladino ◽  
Alessia Amato ◽  
...  

AbstractOuter retinal tubulations (ORT) are a relatively new finding characterizing outer retinal atrophy. The main aim of the present study was to describe ORT development in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to assess its relationship with disease’s severity. Patients with advanced AMD characterized either by macular neovascularization or geographic atrophy, showing signs of outer retinal disruption or retinal pigment epithelium atrophy on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the inclusion examination were prospectively recruited. All the patients underwent complete ophthalmologic evaluation, structural OCT scans and fundus autofluorescence imaging. The planned follow-up was of 3-years. Main outcome measures were ORT prevalence, mechanism of ORT formation, mean time needed for complete ORT formation, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), definitely decreased autofluorescence (DDAF) area, questionably decreased autofluorescence (QDAF) area, retinal layer thickness, foveal sparing, number of intravitreal injections. We also assessed the possible role of external limiting membrane (ELM) and Müller cells in ORT pathogenesis. Seventy eyes (70 patients) were included; 43 showed dry AMD evolving to geographic atrophy, while 27 displayed the features of wet AMD. Baseline BCVA was 0.5 ± 0.5 LogMAR, decreasing to 0.9 ± 0.5 LogMAR at the 3-year follow-up (p < 0.01). We detected completely formed ORT in 26/70 eyes (37%), subdivided as follows: 20 eyes (77%) wet AMD and 6 eyes (23%) dry AMD (p < 0.01). ORT took 18 ± 8 months (range 3–35 months) to develop fully. We described the steps leading to ORT development, characterized by progressive involvement of, and damage to the photoreceptors, the ELM and the RPE. Eyes displaying ORT were associated with a smaller QDAF area, less retinal layers damage and lower rate of foveal sparing than eyes free of ORT (p < 0.01). We also described pigment accumulations simulating ORT, which were detected in 16/70 eyes (23%), associated with a greater loss of foveal sparing, increased DDAF area and smaller QDAF area at the 3-year follow-up (p < 0.01). In conclusion, this study provided a description of the steps leading to ORT development in AMD. ELM and Müller cells showed a role in ORT pathogenesis. Furthermore, we described a subtype of pigment hypertrophy mimicking ORT, evaluating its clinical utility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
ES Eystein Skjolsvik ◽  
OL Oyvind Haugen Lie ◽  
MC Monica Chivulescu ◽  
MR Margareth Ribe ◽  
AIC Anna Isotta Castrini ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council [203489/030] onbehalf Department of Cardiology, Research group for genetic cardiac diseases and sudden cardiac death, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norwa Background Lamin A/C disease is an inheritable cardiomyopathy characterized by conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias and end stage heart failure with complete age-related penetrance. Purpose To assess left ventricular structural and functional progression in patients with lamin A/C cardiomyopathy. Methods We included and followed consecutive lamin A/C genotype positive patients with clinical examination and echocardiography at every visit. We evaluated progression of left- ventricular size and function by mixed model statistics. Results We included 101 consecutive lamin A/C genotype positive patients (age 44 [29-54] years, 39% probands, 51%female) with 576 echocardiographic exams during 4.9 (IQR 2.5-8.1) years of follow-up. LV ejection fraction (LVEF) declined from 50 ± 12% to 47 ± 13%, p &lt; 0.001 (rate -0.5%/year). LV end diastolic volumes (LVEDV) remained stationary with no significant dilatation in the total population (136 ± 45ml to 138 ± 43ml, p = 0.60), (Figure). In the subgroup of patients &gt;58 years, we observed a decline in LV volumes 148, SE 9 ml to 140, SE 9 ml p &lt; 0.001 (rate -2.7 ml/year) towards end stage heart failure. Conclusions LVEF deteriorated, while LV size remained unchanged during 4.9 years of follow-up in patients with lamin A/C cardiomyopathy. In patients &lt;58 years, we observed a reduction in LV volumes. These findings represent loss of LV function without the necessary compensatory dilation to preserve stroke volume indicating high risk of decompensated end stage heart failure in lamin A/C. Abstract Figure.


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