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Social detachment includes the subjective aspect "loneliness" and the objective aspect "social isolation," but tools to assess both dimensions are limited. This study aims to develop a questionnaire, the Social Detachment Questionnaire for Older Population (SDQO), that considers multiple dimensions of social detachment simultaneously. The study collected 600 valid samples from individuals aged 55 and above to examine the psychometric properties of the developed SDQO. Item analysis was conducted to assess the performance of each item, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to analyze its initial structure and eliminate less ideal items. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the model fit of the suggested structure by EFA, using different subsamples. Internal consistency, concurrent validity, and other analyses were also performed. The original 27-item SDQO was reduced to 17 items after removing 4 questions in item analysis and 6 questions in EFA. The Cronbach's alpha for the 17-item version of SDQO was 0.80. Both EFA and CFA supported its 6-factor structure, with factors identified as community activities, loneliness, personal resources, leisure activities, friendship, and family resources. SDQO also demonstrated expected performance in concurrent validity. The 17-item version of SDQO exhibited good reliability and validity, measuring various aspects of social detachment behavior, feelings, and resources. It holds value for future research applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This epidemiological research investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and lower limb function and community well-being among the older population (≥65 years old) in South Korea. Using the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans (N = 10 097; Mage = 73.6 ± 6.63; MBMI = 23.6 ± 2.61), the study identified underweight (2.3%), normal (72.8%), and obese (24.9%) groups. Findings revealed significant associations between BMI and lower limb function, with underweight individuals facing greater physical challenges (P <.05–.01). Underweight participants were also found to live farther from key community locations, possibly reflecting social and environmental factors (P <.01) and expressed higher dissatisfaction with community environments (P s <.05–.01). The study emphasizes the need for tailored community planning and health care strategies, focusing on the unique needs of the underweight older adults, considering South Korea's rapidly increasing older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was designed to assess the association of age and frailty with clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute kidney injury (AKI), according to accelerated and standard renal-replacement therapy (RRT) initiation strategies in the STARRT-AKI trial. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of an international randomized trial. Older age was defined as ≥65 years. Frailty was assessed using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) score and defined as a score ≥5. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included RRT dependence and RRT-free days at 90 days. We used logistic and linear regression and interaction testing to explore the impact of age and frailty on clinical outcomes. Results: Of 2,927 patients randomized in the STARRT-AKI trial, 1,616 (55.2%) were aged ≥65 years (median [interquartile range] 73.9 [69.4–78.9]). Older patients had greater comorbid cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, were more likely to be surgical admissions and to receive vasopressors at baseline. Older patients had higher 90-day mortality (50.4% vs. 35.6%, adjusted-odds ratio (OR), 1.81 [1.53–2.13], p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in RRT dependence at 90 days between older and younger patients (8.7% vs. 7.8%, adjusted-OR, 1.21 [0.82–1.79], p = 0.325). Patients with frailty had higher mortality; but no difference in RRT dependence at 90 days. There was no significant interaction between age and CFS score in relation to mortality, RRT dependence at 90 days, and other secondary outcomes. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients who received RRT in the standard-strategy stratified by age groups (adjusted-OR, 0.85 [0.67–1.08], p = 0.180). Conclusion: In this secondary analysis of the STARRT-AKI trial, older and frail patients had higher mortality at 90 days; however, there was no difference in RRT dependence. Mortality and RRT dependence were not modified by RRT initiation strategy in older or frail patients. Plain Language Summary: This study was designed to assess the association of age and frailty with clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute kidney failure using the data from an international randomized trial called the STARRT-AKI trial that examined the effect of timing of dialysis initiation on mortality in patients with acute kidney failure. In this study, older age was defined as ≥65 years, accounting for more than a half of the study population. This study demonstrated that older and frail patients carried higher mortality rates. However, age and frailty did not appear to have a significant impact on kidney recovery. Furthermore, in older or frail patients, timing of initiation of dialysis therapy did not affect mortality and kidney recovery. These findings will assist with triaging, prognostication, and management of older and frail patients with severe acute kidney failure in intensive care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social detachment includes the subjective aspect “loneliness” and the objective aspect “social isolation,” but tools to assess both dimensions are limited. This study aims to develop a questionnaire, the Social Detachment Questionnaire for Older Population (SDQO), that considers multiple dimensions of social detachment simultaneously. Methods: The study collected 600 valid samples from individuals aged 55 and above to examine the psychometric properties of the developed SDQO. Item analysis was conducted to assess the performance of each item, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to analyze its initial structure and eliminate less ideal items. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the model fit of the suggested structure by EFA, using different subsamples. Internal consistency, concurrent validity, and other analyses were also performed. Results: The original 27-item SDQO was reduced to 17 items after removing 4 questions in item analysis and 6 questions in EFA. The Cronbach's alpha for the 17-item version of SDQO was 0.80. Both EFA and CFA supported its 6-factor structure, with factors identified as community activities, loneliness, personal resources, leisure activities, friendship, and family resources. SDQO also demonstrated expected performance in concurrent validity. Conclusion: The 17-item version of SDQO exhibited good reliability and validity, measuring various aspects of social detachment behavior, feelings, and resources. It holds value for future research applications.

Autchariya Poungkaew,1 Thitipong Tankumpuan,2 Chontira Riangkam,1 Junporn Kongwatcharapong,3 Tassanee Daekunthod,4 Khachol Sriyayang,4 Rungroj Krittayaphong,5 Binu Koirala6 1Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 2Department of Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 3Department of Pharmacy, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 4Sakonnakorn Hospital, Sakonnakorn, Thailand; 5Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 6Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USACorrespondence: Thitipong Tankumpuan, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Tel +6624197466, Email thitipong.tan@mahidol.eduIntroduction: Older people mostly found unable to adhere with warfarin treatment guidelines. The health service system is challenged in order to improve medication adherence in older population under limited health resources. The purpose of this study was to explore health systems factors on warfarin adherence in older population, particularly in resources constraint setting.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional predictive study that enrolled older people who experienced atrial fibrillation (AF) and treated by warfarin, aged 60 years and over, and followed up at the warfarin clinic.Results: A total of 197 participants with the mean age of 72.03 years (SD = 8.84) was recruited. Almost of them (85.8%) reported adhered to warfarin prescription. More than a half (60.5%) were able to report their targeted INR. Participants who stayed with the family had 5.54 times (95% CI 1.79– 19.33), took regular daily dose warfarin had 5.07 times (95% CI 1.05– 24.49), perceived targeted INR had 2.94 times (95% CI 1.04– 8.29), and received family support had 1.33 times (95% CI 1.11– 1.60) increased odds of warfarin adherence than those who did not. Participants who perceived a barrier to taking medication had 0.93 times decreased odds of warfarin adherence than those who did not (95% CI 0.86– 0.99).Conclusion: Healthcare system should encourage family to support the older population with AF in order to increase warfarin adherence. Future research should develop intervention combining family support to promote warfarin adherence.Keywords: adherence, atrial fibrillation, INR, older population, warfarin

Abstract Background Central obesity was considered as a risk factor for falls among the older population. Waist circumference (WC), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) are considered as surrogate markers for abdominal fat deposition in increasing studies. Nevertheless, the longitudinal relationship between these indices and falls among the older population remains indistinct. This study aimed to explore the association between abdominal obesity indices and falls among older community-dwellers. Methods Our study included 3501 individuals aged ≥ 65 years from the Guangzhou Falls and Health Status Tracking Cohort at baseline in 2021 and then prospectively followed up in 2022. The outcome of interest was the occurrence of falls. The Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to explore the associations between abdominal obesity indices and falls. Moreover, the restricted cubic spline analysis (RCS) was conducted to test the non-linear relationships between abdominal obesity indices and hazards of falls incident. Results After a median follow-up period of 551 days, a total of 1022 participants experienced falls. The cumulative incidence rate of falls was observed to be higher among individuals with central obesity and those falling within the fourth quartile (Q4) of LAP, VAI, and CVAI. Participants with central obesity and those in Q4 of LAP, VAI, and CVAI were associated with higher risk of falls, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.422 (HR 95%CI: 1.255–1.611), 1.346 (1.176–1.541), 1.270 (1.108–1.457), 1.322 (1.154–1.514), respectively. Each 1-SD increment in WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI was a significant increased risk of falls among participants. Subgroup analysis further revealed these results were basically stable and appeared to be significantly stronger among those females, aged 65–69 years, and with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m2. Additionally, RCS curves showed an overall upward trend in the risk of falls as the abdominal indices increased. Conclusions Abdominal obesity indices, as WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI were significantly associated with falls among older community-dwellers. Reduction of abdominal obesity indices might be suggested as the strategy of falls prevention.

Abstract Background Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (D. desulfuricans), a commensal anaerobic gram-negative rod endemic to the soil environment and human gastrointestinal tract, rarely causes bloodstream infections. We report two rare cases of bacteremia caused by D. desulfuricans in which the intestinal tract was the portal of entry. In addition, we summarize findings on D. desulfuricans. Case presentation Case 1: A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with the chief complaints of fever and right lower abdominal pain. He was admitted to the hospital with ascending colonic diverticulitis and received empirical antibacterial therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam. Blood culture revealed D. desulfuricans. The patient was discharged after 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy. Case 2: A 95-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of fever. Owing to an elevated inflammatory response and pyuria, the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and treated with ceftriaxone. Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in her urine culture, while D. desulfuricans was detected in her blood culture. The patient was then treated with ampicillin/sulbactam for 14 days. The fecal occult blood test result was positive, suggesting a colonic mucosal lesion, such as a malignant tumor, may have been the portal of entry for D. desulfuricans bacteremia. Previous literature reviews indicate that D. desulfuricans bacteremia often results from liver or renal abscesses, intestinal lesions, among others, serving as the portal of entry. Although no specific underlying disease has been reported, it is more common in the older population. We encountered two cases of D. desulfuricans bacteremia and combined them with 15 cases from previous studies to explore the characteristics of the disease. The proportion of patients aged $$\:\ge\:$$ 60 years was 73.7%; overall, 73.7% had gastrointestinal complications, and 63.2% had abdominal symptoms at the time of presentation. Conclusions We encountered two rare cases of D. desulfurican bacteremia. This type of bacteremia is more common in elderly people over 60 years of age and is often associated with hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal diseases.

Introduction: Prior research on the impact of social isolation on the mental health of older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic has yielded contradictory results. This study explores the relationship between perceived Covid-19 susceptibility and depression by assessing whether loneliness mediates this relationship. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analysis was done to compare mental health conditions between older adults (N=55, mean age=63.76±3.86) and the young-middle aged population (N=1884, mean age=29.55±8.10) during the pandemic. Regression analyses were employed to investigate the relationship between perceived Covid-19 susceptibility and depressive symptoms, and whether loneliness mediates these associations. To estimate the indirect and proportion of mediating effects, mediation analyses applying nonparametric bootstrapping techniques were conducted. Results: During the Malaysian outbreak, older adults (M = 36.56, SD = 3.75) reported higher perceived Covid-19 susceptibility than the young-middle aged population (M = 29.86, SD = 23.90, p = 0.41), albeit without a significant difference. Despite this, older adults (M = 9.45, SD = 5.86) had lower depressive symptoms than the young-middle aged population (M = 11.29, SD = 6.15, p = 0.03). Mediation analyses revealed that perceived Covid-19 susceptibility was significantly associated with loneliness, which was consequently related with depressive symptoms only in the young-middle aged population (ß = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.20 - 0.44, p<.001). Conclusion: Therefore, older individuals may be more resilient when confronted with unique circumstances such as the pandemic. Nevertheless, given its significant association with more severe depressive symptoms, research focusing on the impact of loneliness warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Epidemiology showed that the falling incidences increased with advanced age, and recent findings found link between nutritional intake and risk of falls. Nevertheless, the relationship between different plant-based diets and the risk of falls in older adults remains unclear. Our investigation aimed to evaluate the correlation between various plant-based diet indices and the occurrence of falls. Design: This study is a cross-sectional and post-hoc analysis from a national cohort study. Setting and participants: We included individuals over 65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) recruited in 2018 with information on falls and dietary assessments, finally 11,044 participants were eligible. Measurements: Using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), we calculated plant-based index scores categorized as unhealthy plant-based index (uPDI) and healthy plant-based index (hPDI). The primary outcome was falls obtained from questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing logistic regression model to investigate the relationship between the plant-based diet indices and falls. We also used the subgroup analysis to investigate the interaction of falls and plant-based diet index (PDI) among different status and used the restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves to investigate the connection between the PDI scores and falls risk. Results: Among 11,044 participants included in our study, a total of 2493 fall cases were observed. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the plant-based index related to falls. In the adjusted model, per 10-unit increment of hPDI has a significant decreased risk of falls (odd ratio [OR]: 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79–0.91, P for trend < 0.001) and per 10-unit increment in uPDI increased the risk of falls (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.13–1.30, P for trend < 0.001). We also revealed an interaction between smoking status and falls among the uPDI group (Pinteraction = 0.012). Finally, we found that with plant-based index scores increased, the odds of falls among hPDI decreased (P for overall < 0.001, P nonlinear = 0.0239), and the odds of falls among uPDI increased (P for overall < 0.001, P nonlinear = 0.0332). Conclusion and implications: We found significant association between the Plant-based diet index and the risk of falls, highlighting the key role of the consumption of nutritious plant-based foods on the risk of falls, which needed take into account in developing intervention and prevention strategies to decrease falls among older Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central obesity was considered as a risk factor for falls among the older population. Waist circumference (WC), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) are considered as surrogate markers for abdominal fat deposition in increasing studies. Nevertheless, the longitudinal relationship between these indices and falls among the older population remains indistinct. This study aimed to explore the association between abdominal obesity indices and falls among older community-dwellers. Methods: Our study included 3501 individuals aged ≥ 65 years from the Guangzhou Falls and Health Status Tracking Cohort at baseline in 2021 and then prospectively followed up in 2022. The outcome of interest was the occurrence of falls. The Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to explore the associations between abdominal obesity indices and falls. Moreover, the restricted cubic spline analysis (RCS) was conducted to test the non-linear relationships between abdominal obesity indices and hazards of falls incident. Results: After a median follow-up period of 551 days, a total of 1022 participants experienced falls. The cumulative incidence rate of falls was observed to be higher among individuals with central obesity and those falling within the fourth quartile (Q4) of LAP, VAI, and CVAI. Participants with central obesity and those in Q4 of LAP, VAI, and CVAI were associated with higher risk of falls, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.422 (HR 95%CI: 1.255–1.611), 1.346 (1.176–1.541), 1.270 (1.108–1.457), 1.322 (1.154–1.514), respectively. Each 1-SD increment in WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI was a significant increased risk of falls among participants. Subgroup analysis further revealed these results were basically stable and appeared to be significantly stronger among those females, aged 65–69 years, and with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m2. Additionally, RCS curves showed an overall upward trend in the risk of falls as the abdominal indices increased. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity indices, as WC, LAP, VAI, and CVAI were significantly associated with falls among older community-dwellers. Reduction of abdominal obesity indices might be suggested as the strategy of falls prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay between accessibility and population change is a relatively new subject in Italian academic research. Along with social and economic factors such as regional economic prosperity, the ease of movement inside and outside an area can play a pivotal role in shaping population dynamics. This study seeks to explore the spatial distribution and spatial relationships of three indicators, including one related to real accessibility (RAI) and two others related, respectively, to the shares of the older population (SOP) and of the foreign population (SFP). An exploratory spatial data analysis is, therefore, conducted at the local level using Italian municipalities as the statistical units for the empirical analysis. Local univariate spatial autocorrelation analysis is used together with a regression analysis based on ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results provide valuable insights into the local heterogeneity that characterizes the distribution of each indicator and the local relationship between them, highlighting the importance of thinking locally in quantitative social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety in older individuals is understudied despite its prevalence. Investigating its occurrence can be challenging, yet understanding the factors influencing its recurrence is important. Gaining insights into these factors through an explainable, probabilistic approach can enhance improved management. A Bayesian network (BN) is well-suited for this purpose. This study aimed to model the recurrence of anxiety symptomatology in an older population within a five-month timeframe. Data included baseline socio-demographic and general health information for older adults aged 60 years or older with at least mild depressive symptoms. A BN model explored the relationship between baseline data and recurrent anxiety symptomatology. Model evaluation employed the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC). The BN model was also compared to four machine learning models. The model achieved an AUC of 0.821 on the test data, using a threshold of 0.367. The model demonstrated generalisation abilities while being less complex and more explainable than other machine learning models. Key factors associated with recurrence of anxiety symptomatology were: "Not being able to stop or control worrying"; "Becoming easily annoyed or irritable"; "Trouble relaxing"; and "depressive symptomatology severity". These findings indicate a prioritised sequence of predictors to identify individuals most likely to experience recurrent anxiety symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In Chile and worldwide, life expectancy has consistently increased over the past six decades. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify, measure, and estimate the population mortality ratios in Chile, mortality estimates are used to calculate life expectancy when constructing life tables. The Bayesian approach, specifically through Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is employed to optimize parameter selection for these calculations. ABC corresponds to a class of computational methods rooted in Bayesian statistics that could be used to estimate the posterior distributions of the model parameters. For this research, ABC was applied to estimate the mortality ratios in Chile, using information available from 2004 to 2021. The results showed heterogeneity in the results when selecting the best model. Additionally, it was possible to generate projections for the next 10 years for the series analysed in the research. Finally, the main contribution of this research is that we measured and estimated the population mortality rates in Chile, defining the optimal selection of parameters, in order to contribute to creating a link between social and technical sciences for the advancement and implementation of current knowledge in the field of social structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionsClinical implicationsThe questionnaire Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self (AES-S) has been widely adopted globally, demonstrating high reliability and validity. However, direct translation of the AES into Chinese does not fit well into the Chinese cultural setting, so a structured and comprehensive revision is needed to obtain a high reliability and validity version of the scale.In this study, 436 adults aged ≥ 60 years from two communities in Beijing were assessed using a modified AES-S. The methodology included item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The scale’s validity was tested using the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Reliability assessment included retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, and split-half reliability.The modified Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self-Assessment (AES-S-C) presented a first-order four-factor structure with higher reliability and validity than the original version within the Chinese older adult community.The revised AES-S-C is more suitable for the Chinese older adults in community settings.This self-rated scale is suitable for screening apathy among older adults in community or nursing facilities, aiding in the identification of cognitive impairment and promoting mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (D. desulfuricans), a commensal anaerobic gram-negative rod endemic to the soil environment and human gastrointestinal tract, rarely causes bloodstream infections. We report two rare cases of bacteremia caused by D. desulfuricans in which the intestinal tract was the portal of entry. In addition, we summarize findings on D. desulfuricans. Case presentation: Case 1: A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with the chief complaints of fever and right lower abdominal pain. He was admitted to the hospital with ascending colonic diverticulitis and received empirical antibacterial therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam. Blood culture revealed D. desulfuricans. The patient was discharged after 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy. Case 2: A 95-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of fever. Owing to an elevated inflammatory response and pyuria, the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and treated with ceftriaxone. Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in her urine culture, while D. desulfuricans was detected in her blood culture. The patient was then treated with ampicillin/sulbactam for 14 days. The fecal occult blood test result was positive, suggesting a colonic mucosal lesion, such as a malignant tumor, may have been the portal of entry for D. desulfuricans bacteremia. Previous literature reviews indicate that D. desulfuricans bacteremia often results from liver or renal abscesses, intestinal lesions, among others, serving as the portal of entry. Although no specific underlying disease has been reported, it is more common in the older population. We encountered two cases of D. desulfuricans bacteremia and combined them with 15 cases from previous studies to explore the characteristics of the disease. The proportion of patients aged 60 years was 73.7%; overall, 73.7% had gastrointestinal complications, and 63.2% had abdominal symptoms at the time of presentation. Conclusions: We encountered two rare cases of D. desulfurican bacteremia. This type of bacteremia is more common in elderly people over 60 years of age and is often associated with hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on the association between garden work and risk of incident dementia in the older Chinese population is limited. This study aimed to explore the association between the frequency of garden work and risk of incident dementia in an older population in China. This was a national cohort study. This study analysed data from 8676 participants (median age: 86 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between the frequency of garden work and risk of incident dementia using hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiplicative and additive interaction effects were calculated between the frequency of garden work and age, sex or residence on incident dementia; subgroup analyses of the association were also conducted by age, sex and residence. In addition, sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. During 4.31 years (median) of follow-up, 633 participants developed dementia. Compared with participants who did not engage in garden work, the adjusted risk of incident dementia for those who regularly or almost daily engaged in garden work decreased by 28% (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57−0.93). An additive interaction effect between frequency of garden work and age on incident dementia was observed, with subgroup analyses demonstrating similar statistically significant associations among participants aged ≥85 years, women and city or town residents. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary analysis in the present study. Frequent engagement in garden work may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia and may be an effective measure to prevent incident dementia in the older population in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the dedication to unpaid domestic work among men and women aged 55 to 71 in eighteen European countries. The 2019-2020 SHARE survey is used, which, for the first time included a specific 'time use' module to determine the time women and men dedicate to unpaid domestic work. The initial results confirm that more time is allocated to this work in Mediterranean and Eastern European countries, while in the central-north and east, the time allocation between women and men for unpaid domestic work is more equitable. To explain these differences, countries have been classified into four groups, and a gender pattern is found based on variables such as labour market participation, level of education, and income. This permits us to conclude that dedication to unpaid domestic labour is gender based and linked to regional contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating out of home (EOH), with its diverse food options, can benefit those with difficulty preparing their meals, especially older adults. Oral health status may be a determinant of EOH, as food accessibility is influenced by oral health, but this association remains unclear. This cross-sectional study used merged data from two national statistical surveys conducted in 2019. Participants were individuals aged ≥ 65 years who responded to both surveys. The frequency of EOH (

The associations among cognitive function, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in older adults are controversial. Therefore, we investigated the associations among cognitive decline, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and their combination in community-dwelling older people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s in the long-term observational Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, Investigation with Centenarians (SONIC) study. We administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Japanese version (MoCA-J) by trained geriatricians and psychologists, and conducted blood testing and blood pressure (BP) measuring by medical staff involving 1186 participants. We performed multiple regression analysis to assess the relationships among hypertension, dyslipidemia, their combination, and lipid and BP levels with cognitive function at the 3-year follow-up after adjusting for covariate factors. At the baseline, the percentage of the combination of hypertension and dyslipidemia was 46.6% (n = 553), hypertension was 25.6% (n = 304), dyslipidemia was 15.0% (n = 178), and that without hypertension or dyslipidemia was 12.7% (n = 151). Conducting multiple regression analysis, no significant correlation was found between the combination of hypertension and dyslipidemia and MoCA-J score. In the group with the combination, high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels resulted in higher MoCA-J scores at the follow-up (β = 0.06; P

Abstract Background Falls among older individuals contribute significantly to the rise in ambulance transport use. To recognize the importance of future countermeasures, we estimated the projected number and percentage of fall-related emergency medical service (EMS) calls. Methods We examined the sex, age group, and location of falls among patients aged ≥ 65 years who contacted emergency services in Sapporo City from 2013 to 2021. Annual fall-related calls per population subgroup were calculated, and trends were analyzed. Four models were used to estimate the future number of fall-related calls from the 2025–2060 projected population: (1) based on the 2022 data, estimates from the 2013–2022 data using (2) Poisson progression, (3) neural network, (4) estimates from the 2013–2019 data using neural network. The number of all EMS calls was also determined using the same method to obtain the ratio of all EMS calls. Results During 2013–2022, 70,262 fall-related calls were made for those aged ≥ 65 years. The rate was higher indoors among females and outdoor among males in most age groups and generally increased with age. After adjusting for age, the rate increased by year. Future estimates of the number of fall calls are approximately double the number in 2022 in 2040 and three times in 2060, with falls accounting for approximately 11% and 13% of all EMS calls in 2040 and 2060, respectively. Conclusion The number of fall-related EMS calls among older people is expected to increase in the future, and the percentage of EMS calls will also increase; therefore, countermeasures are urgently needed.

Abstract Background Although the metabolic equivalents (METs) system is a common procedure to quantify the intensity of physical activity in older adults, it remains unclear whether the conventional METs intensity thresholds (CTs) used for this purpose are appropriate in this population. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to derive overall and fitness-specific METs intensity thresholds in older adults ≥ 60 years old (OATs) expressed both in standard METs (VO2/3.5 mL O2·kg−1·min−1) and older adults METs60+ (VO2/2.7 mL O2·kg−1·min−1), and (ii) to compare them with the CTs. Methods A total of 93 subjects were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness. Graded exercise test protocols using indirect calorimetry were performed to calculate individual VO2max and categorize subjects as "very poor/fair" or "good/superior" fitness. Overall and fitness-specific OATs expressed in standard METs (OATsstandard) and METs60+ (OATs60+) were derived based on the %VO2max and the ventilatory thresholds (VTs) physical intensity categories. Results Significantly higher VO2max, VO2 at VT1 and VO2 at VT2 (p

Background: Falls among older individuals contribute significantly to the rise in ambulance transport use. To recognize the importance of future countermeasures, we estimated the projected number and percentage of fall-related emergency medical service (EMS) calls. Methods: We examined the sex, age group, and location of falls among patients aged ≥ 65 years who contacted emergency services in Sapporo City from 2013 to 2021. Annual fall-related calls per population subgroup were calculated, and trends were analyzed. Four models were used to estimate the future number of fall-related calls from the 2025–2060 projected population: (1) based on the 2022 data, estimates from the 2013–2022 data using (2) Poisson progression, (3) neural network, (4) estimates from the 2013–2019 data using neural network. The number of all EMS calls was also determined using the same method to obtain the ratio of all EMS calls. Results: During 2013–2022, 70,262 fall-related calls were made for those aged ≥ 65 years. The rate was higher indoors among females and outdoor among males in most age groups and generally increased with age. After adjusting for age, the rate increased by year. Future estimates of the number of fall calls are approximately double the number in 2022 in 2040 and three times in 2060, with falls accounting for approximately 11% and 13% of all EMS calls in 2040 and 2060, respectively. Conclusion: The number of fall-related EMS calls among older people is expected to increase in the future, and the percentage of EMS calls will also increase; therefore, countermeasures are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The older population is growing exponentially causing greater demands on healthcare. Malnutrition, dysphagia, sarcopenia and weakness are highly prevalent diseases in the older population. Previous research (Byun et al. in BMC Geriatr 19(356):1–7, 2019; Fujishima et al. in Geriatr Gerontol Int 19:91–97, 2019; Hernandez et al. in Nutr Hosp 32(4):1830–1836, 2015; Nagano et al. in J Nutr Health Aging 23(3):256–265.5, 2019; Nishioka et al. in Clin Nutr 36(4):1089–1096, 2017; Robinson et al. in Clin Nutr 37(4):1121–1132, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2017.08.016) has shown that these disorders are frequently associated, in many cases, preventable using screenings and intervention. This study utilized the National Hospital Discharge Survey of 2008 from the National Center of Health Statistics as secondary data to examine the associations amongst these four variables as well as possible correlations with age, days of care in the acute care hospital setting and frequency of rehabilitative and nutritional interventions received by these patients. Out of 165,630 cases, a sample size of 59,029 cases ages 65 and above were filtered by the researchers for desired diagnoses and procedure codes. After this, all neurological diagnoses were filtered and excluded by the researchers, resulting in 2458 cases. Using the Chi square test of independence, findings revealed significant associations between the variables of malnutrition and dysphagia (χ2 (1) = 1882.618, p = 0.001), dysphagia and weakness (χ2 (1) = 21.069, p = 0.001) and malnutrition weakness (χ2 (1) = 88.434, p = 0.001). The point biserial correlation coefficient was calculated to examine possible associations between these four conditions and age as well as days of care. A significant negative correlation was found between malnutrition and age (rpb (2456) = − 0.043, p = 0.05). In addition, days of care were significantly correlated with malnutrition (r(2456) = 0.138, p = 0.001) and inversely significantly correlated with dysphagia (r(2456) = − 110, p = 0.001), weakness (r(2456) = − 0.060, p = 0.001) and sarcopenia (r(2456) = − 0.041, p = 0.05). Lastly, the study found a large disparity between cases that received rehabilitative and nutritional intervention and those that didn't. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the metabolic equivalents (METs) system is a common procedure to quantify the intensity of physical activity in older adults, it remains unclear whether the conventional METs intensity thresholds (CTs) used for this purpose are appropriate in this population. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to derive overall and fitness-specific METs intensity thresholds in older adults ≥ 60 years old (OATs) expressed both in standard METs (VO2/3.5 mL O2·kg−1·min−1) and older adults METs60+ (VO2/2.7 mL O2·kg−1·min−1), and (ii) to compare them with the CTs. Methods: A total of 93 subjects were assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness. Graded exercise test protocols using indirect calorimetry were performed to calculate individual VO2max and categorize subjects as "very poor/fair" or "good/superior" fitness. Overall and fitness-specific OATs expressed in standard METs (OATsstandard) and METs60+ (OATs60+) were derived based on the %VO2max and the ventilatory thresholds (VTs) physical intensity categories. Results: Significantly higher VO2max, VO2 at VT1 and VO2 at VT2 (p < 0.001) were obtained in the "good/superior" subgroup compared to the "very poor/fair" fitness subgroup. Accordingly, OATs were approximately 69% higher in individuals with a "good/superior" fitness compared to those with a "very poor/fair" fitness. Furthermore, this study showed that OATsstandard were approximately 21–24% lower than OATs60+, and 10–22% higher OATs were observed when following the VTs intensity categories (heavy-intensity physical activity [HPA] and severe-intensity physical activity [SPA]) compared to the %VO2max categories (moderate-intensity physical activity [MPA] and vigorous-intensity physical activity [VPA]). When compared with the CTs, similar or higher OATsstandard and OATs60+ for MPA, and HPA were obtained compared to the conventional MPA threshold (3.0 METs). Conversely, for VPA and SPA, lower, similar, or higher OATs were obtained depending on the METs derivation approach (OATsstandard or OATs60+) or the intensity categories (VO2max or VTs), compared to the conventional VPA threshold (6.0 METs). Conclusions: None of the derived OATs were concurrently similar to the CTs, suggesting that fitness-specific METs intensity thresholds adapted to the METs derivation approach should be used in older adults. Trial registration: FenotipAGING (Non-health-care intervention study), PRO-Training (NCT05619250). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populational aging is marked by chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). IL-10 and IL-1β are pleiotropic cytokines with multiple biological effects linked to metabolic disorders. This cross-sectional study assessed 193 participants' IL-10 and IL-1β serum levels regarding their role in developing MetS, clinical characteristics, and their IL1B rs1143627 and IL10 rs1800890 variants' genotype frequencies in a population over 60. IL-10 levels correlated weakly with HDL levels and fat mass and inversely with triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and estimated average blood glucose levels. IL-10 levels were also indirectly influenced by the patient's T2DM duration, lean mass amount, and bone mineral content. Participants with altered HDL, elevated serum glucose, raised HbA1c levels, or those over 80 had reduced serum IL-10 levels compared to those with normal levels or other age groups, respectively. Women also had higher serum IL-10 levels than men. Dissimilarly, IL-1β levels correlated directly only with the number of total leukocytes and segmented neutrophils, showing only significant variations with self-reported alcohol consumption. Our study also found that those with the IL10 AA genotype (lower IL-10 levels) had a significantly higher risk of developing MetS. These findings may help direct future research and more targeted therapeutic approaches in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dizziness or vertigo in older population frequently presents in clinical settings, yet its etiology remains elusive. The objective of this study was to delineate global trends and identify frontiers in research concerning dizziness or vertigo among older population. Methods: We searched the research literature published from 2003 to 2022 on older population with dizziness or vertigo using two databases from the Web of Science Core Collection. A bibliometric and visualization analysis was conducted. Bibliometric tools facilitated co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses, encompassing countries or regions, institutions, authors, journals, and references. Results: The analysis included 1322 publications authored by 6524 individuals from 2244 institutions across 67 countries or regions, spanning 92 subject categories. A steady increase in publications was noted from 2003 to 2022. The University of Munich, Harvard University, and the University of California System emerged as leading institutions with the highest publication outputs. The United States, Germany, and China were predominant in publication counts. Eva Grill was identified as the most prolific author. Otology & Neurotology and Geriatrics & Gerontology emerged as the most prolific journal and subject category, respectively. The most prevalent keywords were “dizziness”, “vertigo”, “falls”, and “geriatric”, with “management”, “gait”, and “association” recognized as the principal research hotspots. Conclusion: This study provides a systematic analysis of global scientific research on older population dizziness/vertigo, revealing significant advancements in understanding over the past two decades. Management, gait, and association have emerged as the primary research focuses on recent years. These findings offer valuable insights for directing current research efforts to capture prevailing trends and explore new frontiers in this field.

Chaoqun Wang,1,&ast; Meng Yang,2,&ast; Guanglin Zhu,3,&ast; Yanyan Hu,1,&ast; Le Shen,1 Jiaona Qiu,1 Yi Huang,2 Libing Wang4 1Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Libing Wang; Yi Huang, Email doctorwanglibing@126.com; huangliur@163.comPurpose: To explore the influencing factors to predict the negative nucleic acid conversion time and ORF1ab gene CT value changes in patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19.Patients and Methods: A total of 73,456 patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 admitted to the Mobile Cabin Hospital in Shanghai from April 3 to April 23, 2022 were selected as the research objects. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Correlation analysis was performed.Results: In patients < 18 years old and ≥ 65 years old, COVID-19 vaccine can shorten the negative nucleic acid conversion time, which is reflected in the lower median or 75% quantile (P< 0.001, P< 0.05). In patients with underlying diseases, the negative nucleic acid conversion time of booster vaccination and complete vaccination was lower than that of non-vaccinated group (P< 0.001, P< 0.05). In patients ≤ 18 years of age or > 65 years of age, patients with comorbidity and patients with symptoms, compared with patients 18– 65 years of age, patients without comorbidity and patients without symptoms, there was a greater difference in the rate of rise of CT values between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients (P< 0.05).Conclusion: The time of nucleic acid conversion to negative in patients with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 is affected by age, comorbidity, and first nucleic acid CT value. Vaccination could shorten the negative nucleic acid conversion time of the older population, those with complications or symptoms. The vaccination of older patients does not increase the risk of symptoms.Keywords: COVID-19, nucleic acid detection, CT value, vaccine, older population

Abstract Background Evidence on the association between multimorbidity and cognitive impairment in Chinese older population is limited. In addition, whether a healthy lifestyle can protect cognitive function in multimorbid older population remains unknown. Methods A total of 6116 participants aged ≥ 65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were followed up repeatedly. The number of coexisting chronic diseases was used for assessing multimorbidity and cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Three lifestyle statuses (unhealthy, intermediate, and healthy) were defined based on a lifestyle score covering smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, outdoor activities, and dietary pattern. Cognitive impairment was defined as the Mini-Mental State Examination score

Abstract Background In ageing societies such as the United States, evaluating the incidence and survival rates of cancer in older adults is essential. This study aimed to analyse the incidence and survival rates of cancer in individuals aged 55 years or older in the United States. Methods This retrospective study (1975–2019) was conducted using combined registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Data from the 9, 12, and 17 Registries (Nov 2021 Sub) datasets were used. Results In 2019, the incidence of cancer in individuals older than 55 years and the overall population was 1322.8 and 382.1 per 100,000 population, respectively. From 2000 to 2019, the incidence of cancer in individuals older than 55 years showed a decreasing trend, whereas their five-year survival rates showed an increasing trend. The incidence of cancer in the 75–79 and 80–84 year age groups was the highest among all age groups. Conclusions The incidence of colon cancer declined significantly, whereas that of intrahepatic bile duct cancer increased considerably. These trends may be due to increased screening for cancers with high incidence rates and improved control of the risk factors for cancer. Rapid development of targeted therapy and immunotherapy combined with early tumour detection may be an important reason for the improved survival rates.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 control policies might negatively impact older adults’ participation in volunteer work, instrumental support provision, and the likelihood of receiving instrumental support. Studies that quantify changes in these activities and the related factors are limited. The current study aimed to examine the level of volunteering, instrumental support provision and receipt before and during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and to determine whether older adults’ volunteering, instrumental support provision and receipt were associated with individual exposure to COVID-19 and the stringency of country’s COVID-19 control policy during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional survey using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Corona Survey 1 was designed to focus on community-dwelling Europeans aged ≥50 years. History of participation in volunteering work and instrumental support provision or receipt was assessed from the previous SHARE Wave data. The country’s COVID-19 control policy stringency index (S-Index) was from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker database. A total of 45,669 respondents from 26 European countries were included in the volunteering analysis. Seventeen European countries were included in the analyses of instrumental support provision (N = 36,518) and receipt (N = 36,526). The multilevel logistic regression model was fitted separately to analyse each activity. Results The level of volunteering and instrumental support provision was lower during the pandemic, but instrumental support receipt was higher. The country S-Index was positively associated with support provision (OR:1.13;95%CI:1.02–1.26) and negatively associated with support receipt (OR:0.69;95%CI:0.54–0.88). Exposure to COVID-19 was positively associated with support receipt (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.38–1.95). COVID-19 exposure on close ones positively associated with volunteering (OR:1.47;95%CI:1.32–1.65), support provision (OR:1.28;95%CI:1.19–1.39), and support receipt (OR:1.25;95%CI:1.15–1.35). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic impacted older Europeans’ volunteering, instrumental support provision, and instrumental support receipt from outside their household. When someone close to them was exposed to COVID-19, older Europeans were likely to receive instrumental support and to volunteer and provide instrumental support. A stricter country’s COVID-19 control policy might motivate older adults to provide instrumental support, but it prevents them from receiving instrumental support from outside their households.

We investigated the association between flavonoid intake and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in older adults. Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (age ≥ 70 years; 2007–2010 and 2017–2018; n = 2 417). The total flavonoid and flavonoid subclass intake was calculated using validated food frequency questionnaires. The association between flavonoid intake and CAD risk was examined using generalized linear models with restricted cubic spline models. After multivariate adjustment, anthocyanin intake was positively associated with CAD risk; no significant associations were observed between other flavonoid subcategories and endpoint outcomes. Anthocyanins exhibited a non-linear association with CAD risk, and threshold effect analysis showed an inflection point of 15.8 mg/day for anthocyanins. Per unit increase in anthocyanins, the odds of CAD on the left of the inflection point decreased by 2%, while the odds on the right increased by 35.8%. Excessive flavonoid intake may increase CAD risk in the older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Acute upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding may be a potentially life-threatening event that requires prompt recognition and an early effective management, being responsible for a considerable number of hospital admissions. Methods. We perform a clinical review to summarize the recent international guidelines, helping the physician in clinical practice. Older people are a vulnerable subgroup of patients more prone to developing GI bleeding because of several comorbidities and polypharmacy, especially related to an increased use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs. In addition, older patients may have higher peri-procedural risk that should be evaluated. The recent introduction of reversal strategies may help the management of GI bleeding in this subgroup of patients. In this review, we aimed to (1) summarize the epidemiology and risk factors for upper and lower GI bleeding, (2) describe treatment options with a focus on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of different proton pump inhibitors, and (3) provide an overview of the clinical management with flowcharts for risk stratification and treatment. In conclusion, GI is common in older patients and an early effective management may be helpful in the reduction of several complications.

ObjectiveHypertension is the most challenging public health problem worldwide and seriously affects human health. To date, there are no epidemiological studies on the prevalence of and risk factors for hypertension among older people in mainland China.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis of the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among the older population in mainland China. We searched Chinese and English databases for Chinese and English literature on hypertension epidemiology published between 2000 and 2022, and hypertension data among the older population were extracted from the included literature. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model (I2 > 50%) with 95% confidence intervals for the forest plots. Data were processed using RevMan 5.3. Forty-nine publications (with data from 84,429 samples) met the evaluation criteria and were included in this study.ResultsWe found that the total prevalence of hypertension was 47%. The total prevalence rate of the older population in China from 2000 to 2010 was 50%, and the prevalence rate from 2011 to 2021 was 45%, with no significant differences. The total prevalence in Central China was the highest (59%). There was no significant correlation between the prevalence rate of the older population, sex, and urban or rural areas.ConclusionHypertension is common among the older population in China, and its control rate is low. Therefore, effective prevention and treatment measures, as well as education, should be formulated to improve the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in the older population.

Objective Hip fractures are the most common fractures among older adults, with most patients undergoing surgery. The debate regarding the type of anesthetic technique for hip fracture surgery is still ongoing. This meta‐analysis aimed to compare the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of spinal and general anesthesia in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Methods Eligible studies that compared the effects of spinal and general anesthesia were systematically searched from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until May 27, 2022. The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of the two anesthesia techniques were compared. Quality assessment, heterogeneity analysis, and publication bias of the studies were also assessed. Results Nine articles of methodological quality were included in the meta‐analysis. The pooled results revealed that there were significant differences in hypotension (risk ratio [RR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 0.81 (0.68, 0.97), p = 0.02) and ephedrine dose (weighted mean difference [WMD] [95%CI] = −20.94 [−37.50, −4.37] mg, p = 0.01) between the spinal and general anesthesia groups. However, no significant differences were observed in the use of ephedrine (RR [95% CI] = 0.77 [0.19, 3.05]), blood loss (WMD [95%CI] = −34.38 [−89.56, 20.80) mL], myocardial infarction (RR [95% CI] = 0.78 [0.31, 1.94] mL), heart failure (RR [95% CI] = 0.87 [0.17, 4.36] mL), stroke (RR [95%CI) = 0.65 [0.22, 1.95] mL), postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR [95% CI] = 0.88 [0.17, 4.35] mL), delirium (RR [95% CI] = 1.08 [0.89, 1.31] mL), and mortality (RR [95% CI] = 1.10 [0.72, 1.68] mL) (all p

Abstract Laos has introduced various SHI schemes for multiple groups of the population, such as government officials and other population groups under the NHI schemes. There is no specific health insurance policy for this group of people who need special health services and may have a higher possibility of entering financial catastrophe. This study aims to assess the impact of SHI schemes on accessibility and financial catastrophe against catastrophic health expenditures for older people in Laos. A structured questionnaire has been used to retrieve information from 400 older people across 39 villages in Kaysone Phomvihane District, Savannakhet province, the largest province in Laos. In the analytical process, this study used a cross-sectional study design and binary logistic regression models to predict the likelihood of accessing health facilities and experiencing financial catastrophe. The study outcome shows that the increase in age, occupation, number of older people within a household, and presence of chronic conditions increase the likelihood of using health services. Despite the existence of various SHI schemes, this study found that 74 out of 165 households reported using health services experienced catastrophic health expenditure. Several characteristics are associated with catastrophic health expenditure: age, income level, and gender are prone to suffer from catastrophic health expenditure. The difficult problems stem from the absence of comprehensive legislation regarding the older population. Recommendations for policymakers in various timeframes have been made, which cover short- and long-term policy proposals, including providing a specialized lane or fast-track for an older population, building health facilities exclusively for older people, and providing transportation services for older individuals living alone.

Abstract Background There were a few studies that examined the longitudinal association between living alone and depressive symptoms, and the vast majority of them were conducted in patients with certain diseases, such as heart failure, cancer, and glaucoma. This study aimed to examine the association between living alone and depressive symptoms in a large representative older Chinese population. Methods The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data from 2015 to 2018 were used. Living alone was defined as participants who did not live with others ever or more than 11 months in the past year at baseline. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D10). The multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms. Results There were 5,311 and 2,696 participants ≥ 60 years old included in the cross-sectional and cohort analysis, respectively. The risk of depressive symptoms in participants who lived alone was significantly higher than those who lived with others in both cross-sectional (OR:1.33; 95%CI:1.14,1.54) and cohort analysis (OR:1.23; 95%CI:0.97,1.55). There was a significant interaction between financial support and living alone (P interaction = 0.008) on the risk of depressive symptoms. Stratified analyses showed that, compared to those who lived with others, the risk of depressive symptoms in participants who lived alone increased by 83% (OR:1.83; 95%CI:1.26,2.65) in participants receiving lower financial support. However, we did not find statistically significant associations in participants with medium (OR:1.10; 95%CI: 0.74,1.63) and higher financial support (OR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.53,1.41). Conclusion Living alone was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms in the Chinese older population, and this association was moderated by the receipt of financial support. Living alone may be an effective and easy predictor for early identification of high-risk populations of depression in the older population.

Abstract Background The gradual ageing of the population, and its effect on public spending, constitutes an urgent challenge for advanced economies. Through this study, we analyse the effect of older people, and their health and individual characteristics, on public health spending. Methods Using logistic regression methods, we have analysed the use of different health services and health technologies by older people in Spain, controlled for several health, socioeconomic, and other individual factors. Results The main factors that explain the consumption of both health services and health technology, above age, are related to the so‐called need factors: self‐reported health status, presence of chronic diseases, and disability. Conclusion Knowing the main factors that imply greater public health spending is a topic of special interest for designing efficient health policies, in a context of growth in public health spending. In this way, preventive attention on the so‐called need factors may be an important driver to improve the effectiveness of spending.

The interplay between accessibility and population change is a relatively new subject in Italian academic research. Along with social and economic factors such as regional economic prosperity, the ease of movement inside and outside an area can play a pivotal role in shaping population dynamics. This study seeks to explore the spatial distribution and spatial relationships of three indicators, including one related to real accessibility (RAI) and two others related, respectively, to the shares of the older population (SOP) and of the foreign population (SFP). An exploratory spatial data analysis is, therefore, conducted at the local level using Italian municipalities as the statistical units for the empirical analysis. Local univariate spatial autocorrelation analysis is used together with a regression analysis based on ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results provide valuable insights into the local heterogeneity that characterizes the distribution of each indicator and the local relationship between them, highlighting the importance of thinking locally in quantitative social sciences.

Anxiety in older individuals is understudied despite its prevalence. Investigating its occurrence can be challenging, yet understanding the factors influencing its recurrence is important. Gaining insights into these factors through an explainable, probabilistic approach can enhance improved management. A Bayesian network (BN) is well-suited for this purpose. This study aimed to model the recurrence of anxiety symptomatology in an older population within a five-month timeframe. Data included baseline socio-demographic and general health information for older adults aged 60 years or older with at least mild depressive symptoms. A BN model explored the relationship between baseline data and recurrent anxiety symptomatology. Model evaluation employed the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC). The BN model was also compared to four machine learning models. The model achieved an AUC of 0.821 on the test data, using a threshold of 0.367. The model demonstrated generalisation abilities while being less complex and more explainable than other machine learning models. Key factors associated with recurrence of anxiety symptomatology were: “Not being able to stop or control worrying”; “Becoming easily annoyed or irritable”; “Trouble relaxing”; and “depressive symptomatology severity”. These findings indicate a prioritised sequence of predictors to identify individuals most likely to experience recurrent anxiety symptomatology.

In Chile and worldwide, life expectancy has consistently increased over the past six decades. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify, measure, and estimate the population mortality ratios in Chile, mortality estimates are used to calculate life expectancy when constructing life tables. The Bayesian approach, specifically through Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is employed to optimize parameter selection for these calculations. ABC corresponds to a class of computational methods rooted in Bayesian statistics that could be used to estimate the posterior distributions of the model parameters. For this research, ABC was applied to estimate the mortality ratios in Chile, using information available from 2004 to 2021. The results showed heterogeneity in the results when selecting the best model. Additionally, it was possible to generate projections for the next 10 years for the series analysed in the research. Finally, the main contribution of this research is that we measured and estimated the population mortality rates in Chile, defining the optimal selection of parameters, in order to contribute to creating a link between social and technical sciences for the advancement and implementation of current knowledge in the field of social structures.

Abstract Background The assessment of a wide range of cognitive functions using video teleconference (VTC) systems cannot be applied in practice yet. We aimed to determine the feasibility and reliability of previously unvalidated remote cognitive function tests in Japan using common information and communication technology (ICT) devices, software, and VTC systems compared with face-to-face (FTF) assessment. Methods The sample consisted of 26 participants from senior citizens clubs and an employment service centre in Sapporo Japan, including 11 females and 15 males (age averaged 78.6 ± 6.8 years). Tests included the RCPM, Story recall, 10/36 spatial recall, selective reminding test, SDMT, PASAT, FAB, TMT-A, TMT-B, visual cancellation task, digit span, tapping span. The experimental design was a counterbalanced crossover randomised controlled trial. Intraclass correlations (ICCs), paired-samples t-tests, Cohen’s Kappa (κ) coefficients, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were calculated to compare the scores between VTC and FTF assessments. Results All ICCs were significant and ranged from 0.47 (RCPM time) to 0.92 (RCPM score and PASAT), with a mean ICC of 0.75. Digit span using Cohen’s Kappa (κ) coefficient was significant, but the tapping span was not. Paired samples t-test showed statistically significant differences in SDMT, RCPM time, and cancellation time. Conclusions The results suggest that remote video conference-based neuropsychological tests even using familiar devices and software may be able to assess a wide range of cognitive functions in the Japanese older population. As for the processing speed tasks, we need to create our own standards for the remote condition. For the tapping span, we should consider increasing the number of trials.