[General trend of hip fractures].

Osteoporosis constitutes a major public health problem and hip fractures are a major cause of burden associated with osteoporosis in terms of mortality, disability, and costs. Since around 1990, a trend for a decrease of the age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures has been observed in western countries, particularly in women. In Geneva, with a confirmation at the Swiss level, a similar secular trend was observed.

Socioeconomic gradients in mortality in the oldest old: a review.

This review aims at identifying gaps in knowledge on socioeconomic gradients in mortality in the oldest old. The authors review literature on oldest old population with a focus on unanswered questions: do socioeconomic status (SES) gradients in mortality persist after 80; does the magnitude of the gradient change as compared with younger populations; which socioeconomic/socio-demographic determinants should be used in this population with specific characteristics (e.g.

Social status and mortality with activity of daily living disability in later life.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess which social status factors predispose a person to dying with activity of daily living (ADL) disability in later life.

Methods: We followed 243 deceased members of the Swiss Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on the Oldest Old annually up to 8 years before their deaths. Using a multilevel regression, we analyzed age at death, gender, occupational category, and geographic area as potential factors predisposing a person to ending life with ADL disability.

[Incidence of hip fracture: reversal of a secular trend].

Hip fractures are a major cause of burden associated with osteoporosis in terms of mortality, disability, and costs. Many studies reveal an increase of the age-adjusted hip fracture incidence but long-term data on secular changes in women and men within a well-defined community are still rare. From 1991 to 2000, 4115 hip fractures were recorded in Geneva in 2981 women and 822 men 50 years and older.

Association between social relationships and survival of Swiss octogenarians. A five-year prospective, population-based study.

Background And Aims: Data from the literature reveal the contrasting influences of family members and friends on the survival of old adults. On one hand, numerous studies have reported a positive association between social relationships and survival. On the other, ties with children may be associated with an increased risk of disability, whereas ties with friends or other relatives tend to improve survival.