Risk factors for depressive disorders in very old age: a population-based cohort study with a 5-year follow-up.

Purpose: Depressive disorders are common among the very old, but insufficiently studied. The present study aims to identify risk factors for depressive disorders in very old age.

Methods: The present study is based on the GERDA project, a population-based cohort study of people aged ≥85 years (n = 567), with 5 years between baseline and follow-up.

Assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance by Doppler echocardiography in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Assessment of pulmonary artery pressures, cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is crucial in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Doppler echocardiography can be used to determine PVR in patients with PAH.

Methods: Forty-two patients were included and Doppler echocardiography was performed simultaneously (n = 22) and non-simultaneously (n = 60) with right heart catheterization.