Publications by authors named "Laia Calvo-Perxas"
Caregiving has negative effects on the health of informal caregivers. The current aging of the population predicts an increase in the number of informal caregivers worldwide. The effect of available public policies that support informal caregivers in their self-perceived health is an understudied topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Dementia care is associated with physical, emotional, and monetary impact on the informal carers providing unpaid care. Differences in the personal characteristics of caregivers may help explain the variations in the costs of dementia care.
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of caregivers' sense of coherence (SOC) on direct and indirect costs in dementia care.
Biomarkers of aging are urgently needed to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated disease or disability. Growing evidence from population-based studies points to whole-body magnetic resonance imaging's (MRI) enormous potential for quantifying subclinical disease burden and for assessing changes that occur with aging in all organ systems. The Aging Imageomics Study aims to identify biomarkers of human aging by analyzing imaging, biopsychosocial, cardiovascular, metabolomic, lipidomic, and microbiome variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine mortality rates and to rank the causes and predictors of mortality using a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Materials And Methods: It is a prospective population-based cohort study of adults living in the community, 2013-15 N = 48,691, age ≥50; deceased = 1,944. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe SHARE: Age, Gender, Marital Status, Years of Schooling, Income, Loneliness, Cognition, Self-Rated Health, Diseases, Activities of daily living ADL, and Frailty.
Introduction: The multifactorial origin of violent behaviors generates the need to use prediction tools adapted to different contexts, patient profiles and types of aggression. The main objective of this work was to design an instrument to detect the risk of violence and aggression quickly and effectively in patients with mental disorder in psychiatric intensive care units.
Material And Methods: The sample consisted of 722 admissions of 629 patients from the psychiatric intensive care units.
Taking care of people with dementia (PWD) has been associated with some degree of burden. The variability of the carer's burden can be partially explained by their personal characteristics. Antonovsky's model of health defined the resistance resources (RRs) as essential mechanisms to cope with stressors, and to shape the personal sense of coherence (SOC).
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- The study analyzed data from 7,357 newly diagnosed individuals with uncommon dementia subtypes to assess incidence rates based on age and sex.
- Uncommon dementia subtypes had a total incidence rate of 27.8 cases per 100,000 person-years, with significantly higher rates in older individuals (110.9 cases per 100,000 for those aged 65 and older).
- Differences were noted in demographic and clinical characteristics among uncommon dementia subtypes, influenced by factors such as age, sex, dementia severity, and existing medical conditions.
Background: The epidemiology of depressive disorders presents notable differences among European countries. The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence, incidence, persistence and remission rates of depressive symptoms and to identify risk factors and differences between four European regions.
Method: Prospective cohort design using data from waves 5 and 6 (2013-15) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.
Article Synopsis
- * This study analyzed data from over 13,000 caregivers across 12 European countries, focusing on how financial vs. non-financial support influences caregivers' health.
- * Findings revealed that non-financial support (like emotional help and skills training) has a stronger positive effect on caregivers' health than financial assistance, highlighting the importance of providing free time and emotional support for better caregiving experiences.
Objective: To describe the prevalence and concordance of anticholinergic exposure according to 9 published scales, to quantify the relative weight of the drug subtypes included in each scale, and to identify clinical variables related to anticholinergic exposure.
Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study using 5323 cases of dementia diagnosed in the 7 hospitals of the public health care system of the Health Region of Girona (Spain) between 2007 and 2014 and registered by the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi). We used the Pharmacy database that includes all the drugs prescribed by specialist and primary care physicians and dispensed in pharmacies.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to analyze the EURO-D depression scale, assess variables linked to depressive symptoms, and compare these factors across 15 European countries.
- The research involved 62,182 participants from the 2013 Wave 5 of the SHARE study and employed multiple analytical methods.
- Results showed that poorer physical health and economic difficulties were linked to higher depressive symptoms, with variations by gender, age, and country, notably indicating a dominance of the Motivation factor in southern European countries.
Background: There are several position statements and clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for diagnosing dementia.
Objective: Our aims were to evaluate the adherence to CPG among specialists in the 7 memory clinics included in the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi), and to compare the results between 2007-2011 and 2012-2015. We also determined the time and number of visits required to achieve a diagnosis, the supplementary tests ordered, and the drugs prescribed according to dementia subtypes.
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative dementia of old age, and the leading chronic disease contributor to disability and dependence among older people worldwide. Clinically, AD is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline that interferes with the ability to perform the activities of daily living. Handwriting and drawing are complex human activities that entail an intricate blend of cognitive, kinesthetic, and perceptual-motor features.
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- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and memantine are commonly prescribed for treating symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and this study aimed to analyze how these medications are used among patients over time.
- A cohort of 2,992 Alzheimer’s patients from a registry was examined to identify characteristics associated with the prescription of these drugs and to track usage trends from 2007 to 2014.
- Results indicated that a significant majority of patients (70.4%) received antidementia medication at diagnosis, with AChEIs prescribed more frequently than memantine, but the use of AChEIs decreased while memantine use increased as the severity of dementia progressed.
A Path Analysis of Dependence and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease.
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen
March 2017
Objective: To determine the direct and indirect relationships of cognitive, functional, and behavioral factors and other medical comorbidities with the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to the theoretical model of dependence.
Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study. Cognitive and functional status, behavior, dependence, medical comorbidities, and QoL were assessed by using standardized instruments.
Depression and associated variables in people over 50 years in Spain.
Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment (Engl Ed)
February 2019
Introduction: Depression is a common and disabling psychiatric disorder in adulthood and is associated with higher mortality and functional disability.
Objectives: To determine the association between clinical and sociodemographic variables with depression in a sample of people over 50 years old living in Spain, and compare the prevalence of depression with the other Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE) countries.
Material And Methods: There were 5,830 participants in the Spanish sample of the Wave 5, 2013, of SHARE.
Objective: To describe the demographic, health and socio-economic characteristics of the participants in the Study on Maturity and Satisfactory Ageing in Girona (MESGI50 study).
Methods: Population-based Study linked to the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The reference population was the inhabitants of the province of Girona (Spain) aged 50 and over.
Background: Anosognosia is common in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it is frequently related to an increase in time of care demand.
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of anosognosia on the total costs of informal care in patients with AD.
Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study with community-dwelling AD patients.
The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of dementia diagnoses from two dementia registries in Europe. Patients registered between 2007 and 2013 in the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem; Sweden) and in the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi; North-East of Spain) were selected. We compared sociodemographic data, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, dementia subtype, and medication consumption of 22,384 cases from SveDem and 5,032 cases from ReDeGi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnosognosia in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been associated with greater cognitive impairment and more behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). This study examines the incidence, persistence, and remission rates of anosognosia over a 12-month period, as well as the related risk factors. This was an observational 12-month prospective study.
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- - The study examined the relationship between depression and pain across genders in a sample of over 22,000 people aged 50 and above from 13 European countries, utilizing data from a two-year interval of interviews.
- - Findings showed that women had higher rates of depression and pain than men, with both treated and untreated pain linked to the onset of depression, particularly showing a stronger association in men.
- - The researchers concluded that addressing pain can help reduce the risk of developing depression for both genders, while treating depression may prevent the development and persistence of pain, especially in women.
Article Synopsis
- - The Trail Making Test (TMT) assesses skills like visual scanning and executive function, and the study aimed to explore its links with various neuropsychological tests in Spanish-speaking participants aged 55 and older.
- - A sample of 2,564 individuals was analyzed, with 1,923 completing the tests; results highlighted differences in performance based on factors like age, education, and sex.
- - Findings revealed that TMT-A performance was mostly connected to visual skills and speed, while TMT-B was linked to working memory and inhibitory control, leading to the creation of normative data tables.