Subclinical hypothyroidism in a biethnic, urban community.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between hypothyroidism, and the health status of older Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) men and women. To accomplish this, we determined the prevalences of the treated and untreated conditions and examined the associations between an elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and cognitive and affective (mood) functions and the prevalences of symptoms and comorbidity, specifically coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study of equal numbers of Hispanic and NHW men and women selected randomly from the Health Care Financing Administration (Medicare) rolls and recruited for a home interview followed by a 4-hour interview/examination in a senior health clinic. PARTICIPANTS: 883 volunteers, mean age 74.1 years, participated in interviews/examinations MEASUREMENTS: Serum TSH was determined in 825 participants responding to questions about thyroid replacement therapy. Serum free thyroxine (free T4) concentrations were determined in 139 participants with elevated TSH concentrations (>4.6 microU/mL). Symptoms, cognitive tests, a screen for depression, comorbidities (e.g., CHD), and risk factors (e.g., lipid abnormalities, diabetes, and hypertension) were compared in participants with high versus normal TSH values. RESULTS: Subclinical hypothyroidism is more common in women than in men and in non-Hispanic white women compared with Hispanic women. No differences were observed between participants with TSH elevations from 4.7 to 10 microU/mL and those with normal TSH concentrations, and only a few differences were observed in those with TSH concentrations above 10. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical hypothyroidism is a common condition in community-living older people, especially women. However, it appeared to have no effect on any of the measures of health status utilized until serum TSH concentrations exceeded 10 microU/mL, and even then the effects were rarely significant.     

Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in an elderly urban Korean population

Research on the epidemiology of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is limited in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of MGUS in an elderly urban Korean population. A random sample of 1118 Korean elders was selected from residents aged 65 years or older living in Seongnam, Korea 1 year from August 2005. We obtained plasma samples remaining after scheduled tests for the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging. The mean age of the study population was 72 years (range, 65-97 years). To screen for MGUS, immunofixation and free light-chain (FLC) assays were performed. Age-adjusted and gender-adjusted MGUS prevalence rates in 680 responders were estimated as 3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.0-4.6%], and the estimated age-adjusted prevalence of MGUS was 4.3% in men (95% CI = 1.9-6.6%) and 2.6% in women (95% CI = 1.0-4.2%). Abnormal FLC ratios were detected in 10% of MGUS cases. Multivariate analysis of 945 participants revealed that significant risk factors for MGUS included advanced age, male sex, hyperproteinemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and abnormal FLC ratio. MGUS is less prevalent among elderly Koreans (3.3%) than other races. This is the first study to estimate the prevalence of MGUS in the Korean elderly population. Our findings should be confirmed with additional studies analyzing follow-up samples from 2010.     

Obesity in women in an urban Trinidadian community. Prevalence and associated characteristics

Triceps skinfold, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose concentration and serum lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 590 (80 percent) of 738 women aged 35-69 years resident within a defined area of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. A triceps skinfold of 32 mm or more (the 70th percentile of overall distribution) was found in 36 percent of women of African descent and 28 percent of women of other ethnic origin. Respective figures for a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or more were 32 percent and 27 percent at ages 40 to 64 years. Obesity was associated with an increase in blood pressure, increased fasting blood glucose, LDL cholesterol and VLDL triglyceride concentrations, and a reduction in HDL cholesterol concentration. Obese women had an increased tendency to a history of early menarche, multiparity and children of high birthweight. These findings suggested that, irrespective of ethnic origins, the effects of obesity on health in this female population resembled those in white N. American women.     

Detection and treatment of hypercholesterolemia in a biethnic community, 1979–1985

Although hypercholesterolemia has been recognized as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) for decades, only in recent years have clinical trials definitively shown the efficacy of lowering serum cholesterol to prevent the occurrence or worsening of CHD. In 1985, an NIH consensus conference published guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Prior to 1985, physicians and lay people alike were not yet convinced of the necessity to know one’s cholesterol level, nor did they know what levels should be treated. In a community-based survey of cardiovascular risk factors, known as the San Antonio Heart Study, in which 1,932 Mexican-Americans (MAs) and 1,133 non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) were examined between 1979 and 1985, the authors found that only 36/501 MAs (7%) and 54/312 NHWs (17%) in the moderate- or high-risk categories were aware that their cholesterols were high. Of the total number aware, including those whose cholesterol levels were in the low-risk range, only 23/97 MAs (24%) and 29/108 NHWs (27%) were receiving dietary or drug treatment. Of those being treated, only 9/23 MAs (39%) and 12/29 NHWs (41%) were effectively controlled. Mexican-Americans were less likely to be aware of their hypercholesterolemia than non-Hispanic whites, but both ethnic groups had low levels of treatment. Received from the Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. Supported by Grant HL-24799 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Dr. Pugh’s salary was supported by Grant HL-07466 from the same institute.     

社区老年人群清晨高血压患病现况调查

目的了解老年人群清晨高血压患病现况。方法入选宁波市某社区年龄≥60岁的老年健康体检人群5569例,将有高血压的2572例分为:男性60~69岁组451例,70~79岁组364例,≥80岁组192例;女性60~69岁组946例,70~79岁组431例,≥80岁组188例。将非高血压2997例按上述方法分为:男性60~69岁组578例,70~79岁组448例,≥80岁组241例;女性60~69岁组773例,70~79岁组601例,≥80岁组356例。分析清晨高血压患病情况。结果 5569例老年人群清晨高血压患病率为33.0%。女性收缩压/舒张压≥140/90mm Hg(1mm Hg=0.133kPa)者明显高于男性(28.3%vs 17.6%,P<0.01);男性单纯收缩压≥140mm Hg比例高于女性(70.6%vs 57.6%,P<0.01)。无高血压患者中,女性清晨高血压总患病率明显高于男性(22.5%vs 16.9%,P=0.000),60~69岁组女性清晨高血压患病率高于男性(P=0.000),而≥80岁组中男性患病率高于女性(P=0.001)。结论上午健康体检常规测量血压是发现清晨高血压最有效、简便的方法,老年女性更应关注清晨血压。     

社区老年人轻度认知功能障碍患病调查

目的了解社区老年人轻度认知功能障碍（MCI）的患病率及危险因素。方法采用整群随机抽样的方法对上海市黄浦区年龄≥60岁的老年人进行现况问卷调查及临床医师评定。调查问卷包括一般人口学资料、简易精神状况量表（MMSE）、蒙特利尔认知评估表（MoCA）;临床医师评定包括照料者询问、现病史、既往史、体检、日常生活量表（ADL）、总体退化量表（GDS）、临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）、Hachinski缺血指数量表测评,并由精神科医师进行最后诊断。结果调查300人,确诊为MCI者67例,患病率为22．3％;不同性别、年龄段、文化程度、职业及运动与否、有无业余爱好、饮茶与否的老年人,其MCI患病率差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论女性、高龄、低文化水平、不运动等患MCI的危险性增加。     

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections in an impoverished urban community in Dhaka,Bangladesh

Background  

Viral hepatitis is a serious global public health problem affecting billions of people globally, and both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are rapidly spreading in the developing countries including Bangladesh due to the lack of health education, poverty, illiteracy and lack of hepatitis B vaccination. Also there is lack of information on their prevalence among the general population. So, a population-based serological survey was conducted in Dhaka to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HBV and HCV infections.     

Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in an elderly population

BACKGROUND: Currently, total hyperhomocysteinemia (tHHcy) is a well-known condition linked to a higher risk of vascular disease. Prevalence of HHcy increases in elderly persons as the risk associated with it persists. Because factors can be potentially reduced in the elderly, it is important to carry out epidemiologic studies of HHcy. PROCEDURE: Previously we described the prevalence of hypertension control in an elder population; now, in an observational cross-sectional simple blind study, total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration was determined in 196 of 400 patients from the original cohort. RESULTS: Mean Hcy concentration was 13.2 ,amol/L (95% confidence interval 12.4-14.0; range, 5.0 to 48.9); 15.0 ,imol/L for men and 12.3 pAmol/L for women. Mean serum folic acid levels were 4.9 + 3.1 ng/mL (range, 2.0 to 20.0 ng/mL), and vitamin B12 levels were 384.8 314.1 pg/mL (range, 48.0 to 1500.0 pg/mL). Taking into account the reference values established by the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III study, HHcy was detected in 69.8% of all the subjects evaluated. The study showed that 76.2% of the men and 66.4% of the women had high Hcy levels. CONCLUSIONS: The very high prevalence of tHHcy in the elderly population, and the consequent risks associated with it suggest that although there are no trials that effectively prove the benefit of tHcy decrease, nutritional intervention is still justified.     

Prevalence and outcome of low ADL and incontinence among the elderly: five years follow-up in a Japanese urban community

Activities of daily living (ADL) and state of incontinence in 2,567 elderly community residents aged 65 years and over, living in Koganei City (a suburb of Tokyo) were longitudinally investigated through two mail surveys at the beginning and end of a five-year period. At the entry, only 6% of total subjects were classified as low ADL, 3% as incontinent. 30% of the low ADL were classified as incontinent. While the majority of the high ADL and the non-incontinent subjects maintained their conditions during the 5-year period, 66% of the low ADL, 70% of the incontinent, and 81% of the low ADL accompanied by incontinence died during the 5-year period. These mortality rates in low ADL and/or incontinent subjects were 2 times higher than the age-sex standardized mortality rate in the population investigated.     

Prevalence and risk factors of depression among community dwelling elderly

Depression in the elderly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of depression among community-dwelling older population in an urban setting in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 482 elderly individuals 65 years and over in an urban area. Cluster sampling method was used for sample size. Depression in the elderly had been diagnosed by a clinical interview and Geriatric Depression Scale. Data were collected by door-to-door survey. Chi square test was used for statistical analysis. P value, which was calculated by the results of chi square test and coefficient of phi (φ), below 0.05 was included in the analysis of logistic regression. Depression was significantly associated with female gender, being single or divorced, lower educational status, low income, unemployment, and lack of health insurance. However, logistic regression analysis revealed higher depression rates in the elderly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, psychiatric disease, cerebrovascular disease, low income and being dependent. Depression is common among community-dwelling older people in an urban area of Izmir, Turkey. Older adults living in community should be cautiously screened to prevent or manage depression.     

Subjective well-being and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly people living in an urban Japanese community

AIM: We examined the relationship between subjective well-being and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly people, using a population-based prospective approach (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology-Longitudinal Interdisciplinary Study on Aging). METHODS: The participants were 1,034 men and 1,413 women aged 52 to 77 years, living in an urban Japanese community. The baseline data on age, gender, number of years of education, hospitalization, lifestyle-related illness, subjective health status, living alone and subjective well-being (measured by Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale) were collected in 1993. RESULTS: Mean subjective well-being scores for men and women were 12.3 +/- 3.2 and 11.9 +/- 3.5, respectively. Analysis of covariance controlling for age, the number of years of education, hospitalization, lifestyle-related illness and living alone, revealed no inter-gender difference in subjective well-being. Multiple regression analysis to explore factors related to subjective well-being showed that age in men, and the number of years of education in both genders were significantly, independently and positively associated with subjective well-being, and that hospitalization, lifestyle-related illness and living alone in both genders were significantly, independently and negatively related to subjective well-being. From 1993 to 2000, there were 183 deaths and 258 dropouts. In Cox's multivariate hazard model adjusted for age, the number of years of education, hospitalization, lifestyle-related illness and living alone, there was a significant and independent association between a low level of subjective well-being and the risk for all-cause mortality in both genders. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction with life is an important factor affecting longevity among middle-aged and elderly people.