Age and ageing
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to examine the relation of personality to the development of disability in old age. ⋯ The results suggest that higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness may be associated with a reduced risk of incident disability in old age.
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To assess the usefulness of the British Thoracic Society guidelines for severity assessment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in predicting mortality and to explore alternative criteria which could be more useful in older patients. ⋯ Our Study confirms the usefulness of currently recommended severity rules for CAP in this older cohort. SOAR criteria may be useful as alternative criteria for a better identification of severe CAP in advanced age where both raised urea level above 7 mmol/l and confusion are common.
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To assess the construct validity of three measures of pain and to determine a categorical version of the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale. ⋯ The NRPS and the PAINAD measure pain differently from the SRPS, especially in the presence of depression. Our categorical version of the PAINAD shows good agreement with the NRPS.
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Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) develops in 8-24% of patients with herpes zoster. Few studies have evaluated the patient burden and treatment of PHN in general practice. ⋯ PHN causes substantial patient burden expressed as interference with daily functioning and reduced health status associated with pain severity. This burden may result in part from suboptimal management strategies and suggests a need for more effective pain management.