Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly and very elderly members of the Polish population: results of a national cross‑sectional representative survey.

Introduction: Lipid disorders are the most common cardiovascular risk factor among the adult population in Poland. However, epidemiological data on the ever‑growing group of older adults remain insufficient.

Objectives: Our aim was to describe and analyze the epidemiology of lipid disorders among Polish seniors.

Inflammation in Older Poles with Localized and Widespread Chronic Pain-Results from a Population-Based PolSenior Study.

: Inflammation leads to a decrease in the excitation threshold and the sensitization of peripheral nociceptors. However, little is known about the effect of inflammation on the sensing of regional (CRegP) and widespread chronic pain (CWP) in older adults. This analysis aimed to characterize the prevalence and associates of both types of chronic pain in a population-based cohort.

Association between dietary variety and anthropometric parameters in community-dwelling older adults: results of a population-based PolSenior study.

Introduction And Objective: Dietary variety (DV) is recognized as a key indicator of diet quality. It is based on the premise that eating a wide variety of foods ensures an adequate intake of essential nutrients which, in turn, leads to better diet quality. The aim of the study is to examine the relationships between DV, diet quality and selected anthropometric parameters in older adults.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 inversely correlates with survival in elderly population - the results of the Polsenior2 study.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a liver-secreted hormone involved in the regulation of lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism. Its serum concentration increases with age but also is higher in numerous diseases. FGF21 is being investigated for biomarker properties and as a potential therapeutic target.

Whole-Exome Analysis for Polish Caucasian Patients with Retinal Dystrophies and the Creation of a Reference Genomic Database for the Polish Population.

We present the results of the first study of a large cohort of patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) performed for the Polish population using whole-exome sequencing (WES) in the years 2016-2019. Moreover, to facilitate such diagnostic analyses and enable future application of gene therapy and genome editing for IRD patients, a Polish genomic reference database (POLGENOM) was created based on whole-genome sequences of healthy Polish Caucasian nonagenarians and centenarians. The newly constructed database served as a control, providing a comparison for variant frequencies in the Polish population.

Sex-specific relationships of inflammatory biomarkers with blood pressure in older adults.

Emerging evidence indicates an association between blood pressure and inflammation, yet this relationship remains unclear in older adults, despite the elevated prevalence of hypertension. We investigated the association between blood pressure, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and white blood cell (WBC) count in a cohort of 3571 older adults aged 65 and above, and 587 middle-aged participants (55-59 years old). In women aged 65 and above, the relationship between inflammatory markers and blood pressure was consistent, with hs-CRP and WBC emerging as predictors of high blood pressure.

Frailty and Survivability of Polish Caucasian Nonagenarians and Centenarians.

Frailty is a major geriatric problem leading to an increased risk of disability and death. Prevention, identification, and treatment of frailty are important challenges in gerontology and public health. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the frailty phenotype (FP) among the oldest-old Polish Caucasians and investigate the relationship between the FP and mortality.

Significant improvements in cataract treatment and persistent inequalities in access to cataract surgery among older Poles from 2009 to 2019: results of the PolSenior and PolSenior2 surveys.

Background And Aims: Cataract is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness among older adults worldwide, that can be corrected through surgical interventions. However, diagnosis and treatment bias can be observed, and it is a major issue for improving health policies. Therefore, we assessed a declared prevalence of cataract and the frequency of surgical treatment of this condition in the Polish population in the years 2009-2019.

The national burden of frailty and disproportionate distribution of its components-the predominance of slow gait speed: a 2018-19 face-to-face epidemiologic assessment representative of population of older Poles.

Background: The prevalence of frailty and its components may be affected by age, diseases and geriatric deficits. However, the current operational definition of frailty assigns equal weight to the five components of frailty.

Aims: To perform a population-based assessment of physical frailty, its prevalence, and distribution of its components across different age, disease and deficit spectrum.

Out-of-pocket expenses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a comparison of patient-reported outcomes across 12 European countries.

Background: There is a high variability of out-of-packet patient costs of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), but the issue is not widely recognised. Therefore, we compared patient costs of IBDs between 12 European countries.

Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among adult patients with IBD.

Mortality of older persons with and without abnormalities in the physical examination of arterial system.

Background: Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a screening tool for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, persons with normal ABI may still exhibit abnormalities in the physical examination of arterial system (PHEA).

Objective: In older persons from the PolSenior study, we aimed to assess the risk of total mortality associated with abnormalities in PHEA in the context of dichotomised ABI.

Prevalence and risk factors of untreated thyroid dysfunctions in the older Caucasian adults: Results of PolSenior 2 survey.

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of treated and untreated thyroid dysfunction and to identify factors associated with increased risk of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction in older adults.

Methods: The population of 5987 community-dwelling Polish Caucasian seniors aged 60 years and above who participated in the PolSenior 2 study (2018-2019). Population-based cross-sectional multidisciplinary study in design.

Indirect Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes Across 12 European Countries.

Background: National studies report a high variability of indirect costs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, selected aspects of the societal burden of IBDs were compared between 12 European countries.

Methods: A questionnaire-based study among adult patients with IBD was performed.

Polypharmacy in Polish Older Adult Population-A Cross-Sectional Study: Results of the PolSenior Project.

Polypharmacy is a challenging issue in geriatrics. The aim of the study was to characterize correlates of polypharmacy in the PolSenior project. The PolSenior project, was a comprehensive survey in a large and longitudinal representative sample of thePolish older population.

Socioeconomic Risk Factors of Poor Nutritional Status in Polish Elderly Population: The Results of PolSenior2 Study.

Poor nutritional status (PNS) threatens successful aging. Identifying potentially modifiable predictors of PNS is essential for elaborating a preventive strategy for the population at risk. To assess the prevalence of PNS in the Polish elderly population and analyze its socioeconomic correlates based on the data from the nationwide PolSenior2 project.

Patterns of multimorbidity in 4588 older adults: implications for a nongeriatrician specialist.

Introduction: Multimorbidity has been recognized as an important factor in geriatric medicine. However, its importance for other specialists is still to be fully appreciated.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in older patients drawn from the general population.

Disparate effects of ankle-brachial index on mortality in the 'very old' and 'younger old' populations-the PolSenior survey.

To assess the relationship between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and up to 10-year mortality in older individuals below and above the age of 80 years. In a multicenter survey of health status in the community dwelling subjects aged 55-59 and 65 + years in Poland, we assessed baseline medical history including risk-factors. We measured ABI, and serum creatinine, cholesterol, NT-proBNP, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations.

Serum Uric Acid Is a Weak Independent Predictor of Overall Survival in Older Adults.

Hyperuricemia accompanies many pathologies that contribute to overall death rate. The population-based multifaceted study of older adults in Poland made it possible to assess the effect of serum uric acid (SUA) on overall mortality. The PolSenior study performed between 2007-2011 included 3926 participants aged 65 years or above (mean age 79 ± 9 years) not treated with xanthin oxidase inhibitors (XOI) who were stratified by sex and SUA concentration into six subgroups increasing by 1 mg/dL.

Causes of Anemia in Polish Older Population-Results from the PolSenior Study.

Vitamin B, folate, iron deficiency (IDA), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and anemia of inflammation (AI) are among the main causes of anemia in the elderly. WHO criteria of nutritional deficiencies neglect aging-related changes in absorption, metabolism, and utilization of nutrients. Age-specific criteria for the diagnosis of functional nutritional deficiency related to anemia are necessary.

Prevalence of Hyperuricemia and the Use of Allopurinol in Older Poles-Results from a Population-Based PolSenior Study.

Background: Our study analyzes the frequency and risk factors of hyperuricemia and the use of allopurinol in a representative cohort of the older Polish adult population.

Methods: The analysis was a part of a cross-sectional PolSenior study on aging in Poland. The complete medication data were available in 4873 out of 4979 community dwelling respondents aged 65 and over.

Health status and its socio-economic covariates in the older population in Poland - the assumptions and methods of the nationwide, cross-sectional PolSenior2 survey.

Introduction: Population ageing constitutes an increasing medical, social, and economic burden worldwide. Optimal senior policy should be based on well-assessed knowledge on the prevalence and control of age-related diseases, multimorbidity, disabilities, and their social determinants. The objective of this paper is to describe the assumptions, methods, and sampling procedures of the PolSenior2 survey, which was aimed at characterising the health status of old and very-old adults in Poland.

Age-related differences in vitamin D status in Polish centenarians compared with 65-year-olds.

Introduction: Vitamin D status is known to change with age. However, little is known about vitamin D status in centenarians.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess vitamin D status and correlations among the levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25‑hydroxycholecalciferol (25[OH]D), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25[OH]D), calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in centenarians.