The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
-
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jun 2005
Delirium superimposed on dementia in a community-dwelling managed care population: a 3-year retrospective study of occurrence, costs, and utilization.
Dementia is a growing public health problem and a well-described risk factor for delirium. Yet little is known about delirium superimposed on dementia in community-dwelling populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the 3-year occurrence, healthcare utilization, and costs associated with delirium superimposed on dementia in community-dwelling persons. ⋯ This study is the first to report the occurrence rate of DSD in a community-dwelling population, and to demonstrate the substantial health care costs and utilization associated with DSD.
-
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jun 2005
Back pain and decline in lower extremity physical function among community-dwelling older persons.
Little is known regarding the longitudinal effects of back pain on physical function among older persons. We sought to determine whether back pain leading to activity restriction (i.e., restricting back pain) is associated with decline in lower extremity physical function among community-dwelling older persons. ⋯ Restricting back pain is independently associated with decline in lower extremity physical function among community-dwelling older persons. Treatment of restricting back pain may help to decrease functional decline in this population.
-
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jun 2005
Impact of anemia and cardiovascular disease on frailty status of community-dwelling older women: the Women's Health and Aging Studies I and II.
The physiological basis of the geriatric syndrome of frailty, a clinical state of increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes such as disability and mortality, remains to be better characterized. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) and a recently-validated measure of frailty in community-dwelling older women, and whether this relationship was modified by cardiovascular disease (CVD) status. ⋯ In community-dwelling older women, mildly low and low-normal Hb levels were independently associated with increased frailty risk. This risk was synergistically modified by the presence of CVD. These results suggest that mild anemia, and even low-normal Hb levels are independent, potentially modifiable risk factors for frailty in community-dwelling older adults.