Atrial peptides, ANP(1-98) and ANP(99-126) in health and disease in an elderly population.

Circulating immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide, IrANP(99-126) and the N-terminal fragment of the prohormone, IrANP(1-98) were measured in two population samples from the general population of Gothenburg, Sweden. A group of 85-year olds (974 subjects) and a group of 40-year olds (191 subjects) were investigated in respect of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease. IrANP(99-126) and IrANP(1-98) were significantly higher in the 85-year olds compared to the 40-year olds, and were significantly increased in subjects with congestive heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation and renal dysfunction but not in subjects with hypertension.

Reproductive factors as predictors of bone density and fractures in women at the age of 70.

The importance of reproductive and other health and social factors as predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) and fractures was investigated in a longitudinal study of 70-year-old women. At 70 years of age there was no correlation between menarcheal age, menopausal age, duration of fertile period and parity and BMD or a history of fractures. Bilateral oophorectomy (mean age at surgery 45.

The influence of urinary incontinence on the quality of life of elderly women.

The quality of life assessed by the Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire was compared in a group of women (n = 120) suffering from urinary incontinence (age 75.4 +/- 1.9, range 65-84 years) and an age-matched representative sample of the total population (n = 313).

Prevalence of vertebral fractures in 85-year-olds. Radiographic examination of 462 subjects.

Radiographic examinations for the presence of vertebral fracture between Th4-L5 were performed in a random sample of 85-year-old women (n 304) and men (n 158) who participated in a longitudinal population study. A moderate vertebral fracture was defined as an anterior/posterior vertebral height ratio of 0.66 or less.

Bereavement among elderly people: grief reactions, post-bereavement hallucinations and quality of life.

Ratings of grief reactions, post-bereavement hallucinations and illusions and quality of life were made during the first year after the death of a spouse among 14 men and 36 women in their early seventies. In both sexes, the reactions were generally moderate or mild and characterized by loneliness, low mood, fatigue, anxiety and cognitive dysfunctioning. Feeling lonely was the most persistent problem during the year.

Urinary incontinence and related urogenital symptoms in elderly women.

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), urinary tract infections (UTI) and related urogenital symptoms (UGS) in a representative sample of elderly women (Papers I & II), and to investigate factors (Papers II & III) influencing the prevalence of UI in these women. The effects of treatment with oral estriol and placebo on the vaginal bacterial flora, vaginal cytology and urogenital symptoms in elderly women suffering from the urogenital estrogen deficiency syndrome were compared (Paper IV). A health care programme, based on an algorithm model, for the investigation and treatment of elderly women suffering from UI and related UGS, was designed and applied to a large group of elderly women (Paper V).

Pharmacokinetic study of omeprazole in elderly healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole and its metabolites were studied in 8 healthy elderly volunteers using [14C]omeprazole. In another 6 healthy elderly volunteers, the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole were studied using unlabelled drug. Each volunteer received single doses of omeprazole intravenously (20mg) and orally (40mg) as solutions in a randomized crossover design.

Falls in 84- to 85-year-old people living at home.

The present study is a part of the Swedish longitudinal population study "70-year-old people in Gothenburg". The aim of the present study was to analyse retrospectively incidence, circumstances, and consequences of falls during one year among 741 home-living people aged 84-85. A comparison of social and medical characteristics of fallers and non-fallers aged 85 was performed.

Accidents in the institutionalized elderly: injuries and consequences.

A total of 308 major and 519 minor accidents involving 588 patients occurred during one year at a somatic long-term care hospital and its associated nursing homes. In relation to the number of patients, the incidence of accidents was nearly three times higher in the nursing homes than in the hospital. The most prevalent injuries in female patients were fractures and hematomas, while open wounds were more frequent among male patients.

Anaemia and other haematological abnormalities in patients admitted to long-term care.

We investigated the occurence and causes of anaemia and other haematological abnormalities in 142 elderly patients (43 men, 99 women; median age 79 and 80 years), admitted to long-term care. Healthy 81-year-old subjects (n = 220) were used as reference group. Anaemia according to the WHO definition was much more common in the studied population (41%) than in a representative sample of 81-year-old subjects (10%).

An evaluation of the acceptability of incontinence aids used by 85-year-old men and women.

An evaluation of the acceptability of incontinence aids was performed in incontinent 85-year-old men and women (n = 355) resident in the city of Göteborg. Incontinence aids were used more often (P < 0.001) by incontinent women (67.

Coffee drinking: a minor risk factor for bone loss and fractures.

The influence of coffee drinking as a possible risk factor for loss of bone mass was assessed in a cohort of 619 70-year-old men and women who were examined with dual photon absorptiometry of the right calcaneum. A high consumption of coffee was significantly associated with a lower bone mass, deteriorated dental state, lower socio-economic level and a higher consumption of tobacco. In non-smoking women a bivariate relationship was found between the daily consumption of three or more cups of coffee and a low bone mass (p less than 0.

Prevalence of fractures among 10,000 women from the 1900 to 1940 birth cohorts resident in Gothenburg.

The prevalence of fractures in women aged 45-86 years resident in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, was investigated by means of a postal questionnaire. A sample of 10,000 women from seven birth cohorts (1900-1940) was obtained at random from the population register. The response rate was 70.

Thyroid dysfunction in 85-year-old men and women. Influence of non-thyroidal illness and drug treatment.

Serum TSH and free T4 were determined by chemiluminometric assays in 601 women and 285 men aged 85 years from the population study "70-year-old people in Gothenburg, Sweden". For individuals with serum TSH concentration above 6.0 mU/l, "antimicrosomal" antibodies were determined, to assess the etiology of the elevated TSH concentration.

Incidence and prevalence of thyroid disease in elderly women: results from the longitudinal population study of elderly people in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The incidence and prevalence of thyroid dysfunction were estimated in a longitudinal study of a representative sample of elderly women at ages 70, 75, 79 and 81. Thyroid-stimulating-hormone concentrations were measured in frozen samples obtained at the ages of 70 and 75 that had been stored for ten and five years, respectively. At the ages of 79 and 81 the serum concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone were determined in connection with the sampling.

Accidents in the institutionalized elderly: a risk analysis.

Among a total of 4,862 admittances to a Swedish geriatric hospital and its associated nursing homes, 827 accidents occurred in 588 patients during one year. The purpose of the present study was to establish the direct causes of these accidents and to identify possible risk factors. Information was collected from medical records, interviews with patients and staff, examination of the mental and physical state of the patients, and through reconstruction of the accidents.

Clinical significance of low serum thyrotropin concentration by chemiluminometric assay in 85-year-old women and men.

The prevalence and causes of low serum thyrotropin concentration were studied in 886 individuals at age 85 years (601 women and 285 men). All participants were subject to detailed clinical and biochemical evaluation, including determination of serum thyrotropin and free thyroxine concentrations by chemiluminometric assays. Samples with thyrotropin concentrations below 0.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence and use of incontinence aids in 85-year-old men and women.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence and the use of incontinence aids was investigated in 85-year-old men and women resident in the city of Göteborg. The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence was 37.2%.

Coronary heart disease at 70, 75 and 79 years of age: a longitudinal study with special reference to sex differences and mortality.

In a population study of 70-year-old people in Göteborg, Sweden, a representative sample of 449 men and 524 women was followed for nine years. The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) at age 70 was about 30% in both sexes and did not change up to age 79. Myocardial infarction appeared twice as often in men as in women at age 70 but angina pectoris and ST-T changes on ECG showed no sex difference.

A method for measuring pressure sores.

A simple, reproducible method for measuring the volume of pressure sores is described. The sore is covered with a transparent film which follows the previous skin as much as possible. An isotonic solution is injected through the film; the amount of fluid required to fill the sore represents the sore volume.

Overtreatment of hypertension in the elderly?

In a representative population sample of 619 70-year-old people, 26% were taking antihypertensive treatment. Twenty per cent (n = 32) of them showed no signs of cardiovascular disease and had a blood pressure of less than 175/95 mmHg. Treatment was withdrawn in 25 of the 32 patients.

An epidemiological study of urinary incontinence and related urogenital symptoms in elderly women.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and related urogenital symptoms (UGS) was investigated in a random sample (n = 4206) of women from the 1900-20 birth cohorts residing in the city of Göteborg. It was reported by 16.9% of the respondents that they currently had UI and by 22.