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Aims and objectives: This paper aims to: (a) determine the personal, sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and social characteristics of older Brazilians with clinical evidence of long COVID; (b) evaluate perceived quality of life and determine its association with personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and social variables; and (c) assess significant predictors of high perceived QoL. Background: Given the inherent vulnerabilities of the ageing process, the older people are an at‐risk group for both contagion of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the perpetuation of residual symptoms after infection, the so‐called long COVID or post‐COVID syndrome. Design: A cross‐sectional survey design using the STROBE checklist. Methods: Brazilian older people with long COVID syndrome (n = 403) completed a phone survey measuring personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, and social characteristics, and perceived Quality of Life (QoL). Data were collected from June 2021–March 2022. A multiple linear regression model was performed to identify salient variables associated with high perceived QoL. Results: The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.6 years old. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that race, home ownership, daily screen time, musculoskeletal and anxiety symptoms, and work situation were the significant predictors of QoL among COVID‐19 survivors. Conclusions: Knowledge about the persistence of physical, emotional, and social symptoms of COVID‐19 can help nurses and other healthcare providers to improve the management of survivors, bringing benefits to the whole society. Relevance to clinical practice: Given the novelty of long‐COVID and its heterogeneous trajectory, interventions focusing on the repercussions and requirements unique to more vulnerable older persons should be developed and these aspects should be included in public health recommendations and policymakers' concerns. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution was required to design, to outcome measures or undertake this research. Patients/members of the public contributed only to the data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social Frailty is a significant public health concern affecting the elderly, particularly with the global population aging rapidly. Older adults with social frailty are at significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes such as disability, cognitive impairment, depression, and even death. In recent years, there have been more and more studies on social frailty, but no bibliometrics has been used to analyze and understand the general situation in this field. Therefore, by using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bilioshiny software programs, this study aims to analyze the general situation of the research on social frailties of the older adults and determine the research trends and hot spots. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted by searching relevant literature on the social frailty of the older adults from 2003 to 2022 in the Web of Science core database, using visualization software to map publication volume, country and author cooperation networks, keyword co-occurrences, and word emergence. Results: We analyzed 415 articles from 2003 to 2022. Brazil has the highest number of articles in the field of social frailty of the older adults, and the United States has the highest number of cooperative publications. Andrew MK, from Canada, is the most published and co-cited author, with primary research interests in geriatric assessment, epidemiology, and public health. "Social Vulnerability," "Health," "Frailty," "Mortality," and "Older Adult" are among the research hotspots in this field. "Dementia," "Alzheimer's disease," "Population," and "Covid-19" are emerging research trends in social frailty among the older adults. Conclusion: This scientometric study maps the research hotspots and trends for the past 20 years in social frailty among the older adults. Our findings will enable researchers to better understand trends in this field and find suitable directions and partners for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper develops and applies a multidimensional counting approach to rank order wellbeing and deprivation distributions among a panel of older people in Brazil and South Africa. Using data collected in 2002 and 2008 among low-income households in urban and rural locations in Brazil and South Africa, the analysis in the paper throws light upon (i) changes in multidimensional deprivation associated with individual ageing and (ii) the effects of differential access to pension provision on wellbeing and deprivation. The paper finds that individual ageing is not necessarily associated with a decline in multidimensional wellbeing. The findings also lend support to the view that social policy, and especially inclusive pension provision, has an important role in addressing the effects of rapid population ageing in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elder abuse is a multifactorial public health issue deeply affected by silence and discrimination. This paper aims to analyze the social representations of violence among older people with functional dependence based on the theory of social representations. A qualitative exploratory–descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 21 older people enrolled in a home-based program in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. A sociodemographic survey and an interview script were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using the content analysis technique and QSR NVivo® software. Concerning the social representations of violence, older people's narratives revealed a broad perception of the phenomenon through the following categories: multivariate phenomenon, ageism, neglect, and denial. The identification of the subtle forms of violence against older people and the exploration of this issue from the perspective of these vulnerable people can contribute to the production of new knowledge and the creation of mechanisms by which to raise awareness of and prevent this issue, as well as to break the silence surrounding it through reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falls are the fifth leading cause of death and are one of the main causes of hospitalization. The literature about falls prevalence among older adults living in rural/remote communities in South America is scarce. To compare falls prevalence among the elderly in the Andes, Peru, and in the rural area of the municipality of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Two separate cross-sectional studies were conducted in Peru, Andes (N = 413), and Brazil, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul state (N = 1029). We stratified all data analysis according to location (Andes/Rio Grande). Characteristics of the samples were compared and the chi square test for proportions was used. Falls prevalence was then calculated for each independent variable and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson Regression with robust variance. Falls prevalence in the last year was much higher in the Andes (64.1%) than in Rio Grande (25.3%). For most characteristics assessed, falls prevalence in Peru was at least double that found in Rio Grande. According to the adjusted analysis for the Andes, age (80 or more), being married, divorced and alcohol intake were significantly associated with falls. In Rio Grande, female gender and being in the 70–79 and 80 or more age ranges were associated with falls as well as those who self-rated their health as poor. This paper contributes to knowledge about falls prevalence among the elderly from rural and remote communities in two South American countries. Longitudinal multicentre studies with standardized methodologies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objective: To analyse the association between napping, functional capacity and satisfaction with life in older adult residing in the community. Method: A cross‐sectional population‐based study using data from a health survey conducted in a city of the state of São Paulo. Information on sociodemographic and clinical variables was collected through a questionnaire, as well as the occurrence or not of napping and satisfaction with life. Functional capacity was assessed using the Katz Index and Lawton–Brody Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the Rao–Scott chi‐square test and a hierarchical analysis using stepwise backward multiple Poisson regression. p‐Values <0.05 were considered significant. In this paper, we adhere to STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Results: There was predominance of the 60–69 years age group (51.3%) and of females (60.8%). The majority of the older adults (57.5%), of both sexes, reported napping. A higher prevalence of napping was found in the older subjects, the male sex, the subjects without children, those with health problems and those that were partially dependent in instrumental activities of daily living. Conclusions: The study showed that naps are prevalent in older adults. The need to identify the issues that permeate napping is emphasised, in order to promote health in individuals of this age group, before classifying the practice as beneficial or harmful. Relevance to clinical practice: It is essential that health professionals, in their practices, consider the complaints and reports of naps in the elderly, in an attempt to detect and reduce possible consequences in activities of daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a growing ageing population and the advent of interactive TV (iTV), understanding how older people use iTV services is a timely and important task. Working towards this end, this paper reports on in situ conversations of, and observations with, almost 400 older people, with different levels of educational attainment and experience with ICTs, while talking about and using online video portals and similar interactive systems in Spain, Brazil and Denmark. The results show more similarities than differences in their reasons for adopting online video portals and patterns of use. All our participants used these portals for keeping or remaining in touch with people they trusted. The results also show that privacy online was a common concern to all the participants. Differences in the acceptance of e-government services and the type of content that drove most of their interactions were also found. Implications for designing more accessible and meaningful iTV services are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of symptoms for more than three months following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is referred to as "Long COVID". To gain a deeper understanding of the etiology and long-term progression of symptoms, this study aims to analyze the prevalence of Long COVID and its associated factors in a cohort of Brazilian adults and elders, twelve months after hospital discharge. An observational, prospective, and follow-up study was performed with a cohort of adults and older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020 in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Twelve months after hospital discharge, patients answered a phone questionnaire about the persistence of symptoms after three levels of exposure to COVID-19's acute phase (ambulatory, medical ward, and intensive care unit). According to the characteristics of participants, the prevalence of Long COVID-19 was calculated, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. We analyzed data from 1822 participants (980 adults [≥18–<60 years] and 842 older people [≥60 years]) across three exposure levels. The overall Long COVID prevalence was 64.2%. Long COVID was observed in 646 adults (55%; of which 326 were women) and 523 older people (45%; of which 284 were women). Females had a higher prevalence of long-term symptoms (52%) compared with men. The most common post-COVID-19 conditions in the 12-month follow-up were neurological (49.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (35.1%) and persistent respiratory symptoms (26.5%). Male individuals were less likely to develop Long COVID (aOR = 0.50). Other determinants were also considered risky, such as the presence of comorbidities (aOR = 1.41). Being an adult and having been hospitalized was associated with the development of Long COVID. The risk of developing Long COVID was twice as high for ward patients (aOR = 2.53) and three times as high for ICU patients (aOR = 3.56) when compared to non-hospitalized patients. Presenting clinical manifestations of digestive (aOR = 1.56), endocrine (aOR = 2.14), cutaneous (aOR = 2.51), musculoskeletal (aOR = 2.76) and psychological systems (aOR = 1.66) made adults more likely to develop Long COVID. Long COVID was present in a large proportion of people affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presence of Long COVID symptoms displayed a dose–response relationship with the level of disease exposure, with a greater prevalence of symptoms associated with the severe form in the acute period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Ageing is associated with structural changes in brain regions and functional decline in cognitive domains. Noninvasive tools for identifying structural damage in the brains of older adults are relevant for early treatment. Aims. This study aims to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA©) in identifying gray and white matter brain damage in older individuals with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Methods. Ninety older adults (62 women) with an average age of 69 ± 7 years were enrolled and categorized as having no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or moderate cognitive impairment (MoCI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to assess the number, volume, and distribution of brain damage. The Fazekas and Scheltens scales were applied to the brain MRIs, and inferential statistics were employed to compare variables among the groups. Results. Cognitive impairment was observed in 56.7% of the participants (95% confidence interval (CI): 46.4–66.4%), with thirty-six older adults (40%) classified as MCI and 15 (17%) as MoCI. Cognitive impairment and medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy were found to be associated (p = 0.001), exhibiting higher mean volume scales of the MTL atrophied area in the MoCI group (p < 0.001). The MMSE accurately revealed MTL atrophy based on the Scheltens (p < 0.05) and Fazekas (p < 0.05) scales. At the same time, the MoCA accurately identified periventricular white matter (PWM) abnormalities according to the Fazekas scale (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The MMSE and MoCA screening tools effectively identified gray and white matter brain damage in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Lower MMSE scores are associated with MTL atrophy and lesions, and lower MoCA scores are related to PWM lesions. The concurrent use of MMSE and MoCA is recommended for assessing structural changes in distinct brain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) by the elderly is commonly studied, but studies evaluating the use of PIM by frail elderly covered by prepaid health plans are still lacking. Objective: To identify the prevalence of use and the factors associated with the use of PIM by the elderly patients with high and moderate risk of clinical-functional vulnerability, according to the Beers criteria 2019. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed with elderly people from a private health plan in Vitória-ES, Brazil. Socioeconomic, demographic and clinical data were collected through a digital platform and a structured questionnaire through an interview, from October 2018 to June 2019. The association between the use of PIM and independent variables was verified by univariate logistic regression with their respective confidence intervals (CI) 95%. The Multiple Model included the variables with P ≤.20. Results: 332 elderly patients were interviewed (mean age 81.5 years, gender 237 female, 95 male). A 65% prevalence of PIM use was identified. In the multiple logistic regression model, the variables associated with the use of PIM were self-medication (P =.004), high risk of clinical-functional vulnerability (P =.022), use of psychotropic medications (P =.000001), musculoskeletal medications (P =.04) and alimentary tract medications (P =.03). Physical exercises were considered a protection factor (P =.02). Conclusion: The high prevalence of PIM use indicates the need for improvement in elderly private health care, to increase pharmacotherapy safety for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal program (PAT-Back) compared to best practice advice on pain and disability in older adults with chronic low back pain (LBP) in primary care. Methods This feasibility study took place in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. The PAT-Back intervention consisted of a program including exercises, pain education, and motivational text messages for the in-home component. The control group received an evidence-based educational booklet. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment, adherence and retention rates, level of difficulty of the education and intervention content, perception of utility of mobile technology, and adverse events. The feasibility criteria were previously defined. Results A total of 248 people were screened, of which 46 older adults were eligible. The retention rate was high (100% in the PAT-Back group and 95% in the control group). The adherence rate to intervention was partially met (60%), whereas the adherence rate to unsupervised exercises was adequate (75%), and perception about safety to perform home exercise was partially acceptable (70%) in the PAT-Back group. In addition, 100% of older adults reported which text messages motivated them to perform the exercises in the PAT-Back group. Difficulty reported by participants in understanding and performing the intervention was small in both groups. Six participants reported transient adverse events in both groups. Conclusion Older adults accepted both interventions. Results demonstrated that the program is feasible, although minor changes targeting adherence and safety in home exercise are needed. Impact This feasibility study supports progression to a full trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal program (PAT-Back) on pain and disability in older adults with chronic LBP within a primary health care setting in low to middle income countries where such data from the older population are scarce and the burden of LBP is increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Motricidade is the property of Silabas Didaticas LDA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: There is little nationally representative information about factors associated with longevity among older Brazilians. Methods: Baseline survey data from the Brazilian longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) were linked to vital statistics systems. Mortality rates and life expectancy estimates were calculated and compared to official sources. Cox Proportional Hazards models and Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs) identified significant predictors of mortality. Results: Calculated mortality rates and life expectancy estimates were similar to official statistics for most ages with higher risk of death among older ages, as expected. High School completion, being partnered, and female sex were negatively associated with mortality, while being underweight, previous diagnosis of a chronic condition, having any functional limitations, poor self-rated health, low grip strength, and smoking were all associated with higher mortality risk. Discussion: The ELSI-Brazil study has potential to identify factors associated with longevity and to inform programs and policies designed to enhance healthy aging among older adults in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How do older consumers in an ageing society interpret and make sense of cultural media products, such as advertising campaigns, portraying their cohort? A qualitative study analysing 626 advertisements and drawing from 18 consumer interviews in Brazil shows how older consumers reject stereotypical images of their cohort in advertising even when the images are positive. Older individuals seek to distance themselves from stereotypical social images of old age, placing themselves in a liminal state of being 'not too old but no longer young'. This research speaks to the opportunities of cultural media producers to better align their messages with legislative and regulatory efforts to portray older consumers more realistically to successfully destigmatise this section of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances en Enfermería is the property of Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Successful aging and active aging policies frame independence in old age as an expectation and a virtue in opposition to the once desired reciprocity between generations. Due to digitalization trends worldwide, mastering digital skills becomes another responsibility for older adults to remain independent. However, this process can create new forms of dependency as support from skilled users - usually the younger generation - is crucial for technology adoption among older adults. This study addresses how older adults may experience digital dependency as a personal failure and a burden upon younger generations. We conducted long-term ethnography among older adults adopting new technology in Brazil and Chile, countries with rapidly aging populations that have implemented aggressive digitalization strategies. The fast digitalization of public services may increase the risks of social exclusion for older adults as the less connected and less skilled age group in Latin America. Contrary to expectations suggested by the research literature, participants preferred to enroll in smartphone workshops instead of relying on their children. We volunteered in smartphone workshops for older adults and mapped the difficulties they face when adopting new technologies and the strategies they develop afterward to use technology while avoiding dependency. Participants may restrict their use of smartphones due to their limited digital skills or claim a lack of interest in technology as a self-defense strategy against appearing ignorant or incompetent. We found that participants preferred relying on friends for support instead, perceiving their help as a form of peer collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of exergaming and resistance training on reaction time in older adults and to investigate intraindividual variability in reaction time. Thirty-six participants (62.1 ± 7.1 years), randomly assigned to exergaming (n = 17) or resistance training (n = 19) groups, underwent two protocols of physical training carried out three times a week for 13 weeks. The exergaming program was based on games from Kinect Sports and Kinect Adventures collections using a console Xbox 360 Kinect. In the resistance-training program, each session consisted of ten full-body exercises using free weights and weight machines. Outcomes were reaction time in simple (finger-press test) and complex (Stroop test) tasks and intraindividual variability. A mixed model analysis of variance was conducted, and effects sizes were calculated. Interactions effects revealed no significant differences between groups before and after 13 weeks of training. Regarding the main effects, only the exergaming group showed a significant (p = 0.041) and relevant decrease in reaction time in a complex task (neutral test) when compared to the pre- (1854 ± 732 ms) and post-tests (1530 ± 521 ms). The resistance-training group showed a trend (relevant effect size) of improvement in intraindividual variability in reaction time. These results suggest that both interventions could benefit the cognitive function of older adults. Exergaming improves the reaction time in a complex task, and resistance training improves the intraindividual variability. However, exergaming was not superior to resistance training in any of the outcomes. Trial Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (RBR-7fh22d/) on 06/07/2019, retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective is to assess compliance with evidence-based criteria regarding a person-centered care approach to the prevention and management of falls among adults and the elderly in a Brazilian private hospital. Methods: This project used the JBI audit and feedback method to implement evidence into practice. The JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice audit tools have been used to promote changes in oncology and medical–surgical wards. The implementation protocol was designed based on the primary barriers and facilitators identified in the baseline audit, along with a training program and changes in the electronic medical records. Nursing documentation available in medical records, interviews with nurses who worked in oncology and medical–surgical wards, and interviews with patients admitted in oncology and medical–surgical wards were used to assess the baseline and follow-up audit compliance rates. Results: The baseline and follow-up audits showed improvement for criteria 3 and 9 (100%) and criteria 6 and 7 (97%), respectively. The compliance for criteria 4 (97.6%), 5 (76.7%), and 8 (18%) showed slight variations from baseline and follow-up audits. Compliance for criteria 1 (76.9%) and 2 (63.3%) decreased in the follow-up audit. Conclusion: These findings support that baseline, and follow-up audits allied to a fall training program and changes in the electronic nursing records increase the compliance rates related to evidence-based practice regarding a person-centered care approach to preventing and managing falls. We will implement new strategies according to the best practices to achieve better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To identify the most frequent determinants of contact limitation on older adults' mobility addressed by the recommendations to mitigate mobility limitation during the COVID‐19 pandemic and identify the recommendations characteristics and means of dissemination that might guide coping actions. Background: Measures for physical contact restriction were implemented to prevent COVID‐19 spread. These measures directly impacted older people, reducing their mobility, especially outside home environment. Health systems worldwide need to be prepared to implement strategies to mitigate negative effects of reduced mobility in this population. Design: Scoping review using Arksey and O′Malley's methodological framework. Method: Therefore, a scoping review was conducted in LILACS, CINAHL, MEDLINE, WEB OF SCIENCE and SCOPUS databases. Documents and reports with recommendations from government agencies were also consulted. Results were presented in a narrative synthesis based on a conceptual model of mobility proposed by Webber (The Gerontologist, 2010, 50, 443) regarding the most frequently addressed determinants, characteristics of the proposed interventions, and means of dissemination for the older person population. Findings Twenty‐eight studies were selected for the final sample. According to Webber's model, most articles (n = 14) presented the impacts on mobility from the perspective of physical determinants, relating this aspect to biological losses in the musculoskeletal system, and a minority assessed mobility in vital spaces, encompassing environmental (n = 3) and financial (n = 1) determinants. Also, the most frequent recommendation was that physical activity promotes maintenance of mobility and prevents the occurrence of adverse results, such as falls, fractures and functional decline. As to dissemination, digital technologies were recognised as a strategy to motivate, instruct and monitor exercise practice to increase mobility in older adults. Conclusion: The main conditions related to the decline in mobility of older adults during COVID‐19 pandemic were physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. The practice of physical activity is widespread and needs to be adapted according to individual needs. Finally, digital technologies are essential tools in this period, but other alternatives should also be considered for low‐income seniors. Implications for practice: It is hoped that the gaps identified through this scoping review can help enhance the discussion on the broader assessment of mobility in older adults and the design of interventions when contact restriction is a reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generally, in the aging process, there is degradation of autonomic nervous control mechanisms, compromising the regulation of heart rate, which contributes to increased frailty and the risk of falls. This process is defined as a geriatric syndrome that leads to impairment of physiological systems and homeostatic imbalance. Objective: To correlate heart rate variability (HRV), frailty parameters, and the risk of falls in elderly people from a community center. Methods: This research will involve active seniors and participants from the Centro de Convivências de Praia Grande, São Paulo, Brazil. Clinical, demographic, and anthropometric data, psychological variables, and physical conditions will be collected through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the risk of falls test. The heart rate R-R intervals will be analyzed using the H10 polar frequency meter and the HRV application, and transferred to the Kúbios software for further analysis.Results: Two hundred and fourteen participants are involved in this study, 181 (84.6%) of whom are female, 137 (64.0%) are white, with a mean age of 70.27 ± 7.07 years, a weight of 68.37 ± 11.15 kg, and a body mass index of 27.04 ± 4.04 kg/m2. Conclusion: A positive correlation is expected through the stratified analysis of frailty indices, risk of falls, and HRV, suggesting that the lower the HRV, the greater the risk of falls and the greater frailty in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can exert a negative impact in social participation in affected older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether social participation in older adults with AD is associated with disease stage and cognitive function as well as the quality of life and depressive symptoms in their caregivers. A correlational, cross‐sectional study was conducted in 40 older adults with AD (28 women and 12 men) and 40 caregivers (30 women and 10 men). Social participation was assessed using the 'social participation' domain of the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire. Disease stage was determined using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale and cognitive function was assessed using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination. Quality of life and depressive symptoms in the caregivers were evaluated using the Quality of Life Assessment Scale on Alzheimer's Disease and Beck Depression Inventory respectively. The older adults with AD had a mean percentage of 59.4% on the social participation domain and a mean score of 49.0 for cognitive function. The caregivers had mean scores of 39.1 for quality of life and 9.9 for depressive symptoms. The stepwise backward multiple linear regression model indicated that the predictors analysed together explained 48% of the variability in social participation among older adults with AD. Therefore, lower social participation among older adults with AD is associated with more advanced stages of the disease and cognitive decline in these individuals as well as a lower perception of quality of life and greater levels of depressive symptoms in their caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to identify the relationship of burden with depressive symptoms, mental disorders and older adults' functional dependence in paid and unpaid caregivers. This is a quantitative and cross‐sectional study, carried out in the inland of the state of São Paulo with 111 caregivers, 60 of whom were unpaid and 51 were paid. The caregivers answered a questionnaire for the assessment of sociodemographic and care characteristics, the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9), the Self‐Report Questionnaire (SRQ‐20), and the Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ). Unpaid caregivers were older, married, have been providing care for a longer period of time, and devoted more days and hours per week to care when compared to paid caregivers. Depressive symptoms and mental disorders (non‐psychotic) are related to the levels of burden in both paid and unpaid caregivers (p < 0.001). The care process causes harm such as burden, depressive symptoms, and mental disorders in paid and unpaid caregivers. Thus, it is important to think about coping strategies to minimize the psychological consequences of the care process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mobility challenges may indicate functional decline and are a relevant problem faced by older people. An individual's perception of mobility is affected and moderated by several factors and varies significantly from one community to another. Providing an improved understanding of how older people perceive and experience mobility is a step towards better preparing nurses for roles they are increasingly expected to play. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate perceptions and experiences of mobility in a group of Brazilian community‐dwelling older people living with mobility challenges. Method: Data were generated between June and October 2018 through in‐depth interviews, socio‐demographic surveys and field notes. Purposive sampling strategies were used to recruit 23 Brazilian older people to participate in this focused ethnographic study. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Perceptions of Brazilian community‐dwelling older people living with mobility challenges were culturally learned and influenced by the social, physical and health environments. Participants' previous experiences with mobility had significant implications on values they attributed to mobility challenges. In addition, older people's experiences with mobility challenges were an integral part of sense of self and strongly related to contextual factors. Conclusions: This study contributes new information to the field of inquiry on mobility of older people as it focuses on the perceptions of a specific age group and culture and attends to the interrelationships between health conditions and contextual factors affecting the mobility of older people. Implications for practice: This study's particular contributions to the nursing discipline are related to improving care by revealing the significance of the context of mobility in which nursing actions are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Aging leads to the loss of anatomical structures and physiological processes such as postural stability. Poor postural control leads to a shift in the center of gravity, thus overloading the musculature. Muscles overloaded due to postural changes do not show enough muscle contraction, causing the appearance of trigger points (TP). Among the PG deactivation methods, the Dry Needling (DN) has been shown to be a good response method in clinical practice. Objective: To analyze the immediate effect of DN on pressure pain threshold (PPT) of latent trigger points of the sural triceps muscles, in order to verify whether there is improvement in the posture of the lower limbs of active elderly women. Methods: A randomized, controlled and blind clinical trial (patients) was carried out. The sample consisted of physically active elderly women from the community. Divided into two groups: DN Group (DNG) and Control Group (CG). Both groups underwent an initial assessment, treatment (DNG) or sham (CG), and reassessment. The tests were: pressure algometer and biophotogrammetry. Data were analyzed from Normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The characterization of the sample was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for comparison between groups. For inter and intragroup analysis, mixed Anova with post hoc Bonferroni was used. The level of significance used was p<0.05. Results: The PPT showed an increase in the intragroup analysis for the right (14.03%) and left (14.92%) sides in the GDN group, as for the intergroup analysis, the results of the reassessment were higher in the DNG group compared to the GC. Regarding the posture of the lower limbs, there was no significant improvement in the intergroup and intragroup analyses. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the application of Dry Needling in PG in the sural triceps musculature presents an increase in the pressure pain threshold, however, only one session of the technique application was not enough to present a significant improvement in the posture of the lower limbs. of active elderly women. Search registered on the ReBEC (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials) platform under the number RBR-97sqsb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Populational ageing has been increasing in a remarkable rate in developing countries. In this scenario, preventive strategies could help to decrease the burden of higher demands for healthcare services. Machine learning algorithms have been increasingly applied for identifying priority candidates for preventive actions, presenting a better predictive performance than traditional parsimonious models. Methods Data were collected from the Health, Well Being and Aging (SABE) Study, a representative sample of older residents of São Paulo, Brazil. Machine learning algorithms were applied to predict death by diseases of respiratory system (DRS), diseases of circulatory system (DCS), neoplasms and other specific causes within 5 years, using socioeconomic, demographic and health features. The algorithms were trained in a random sample of 70% of subjects, and then tested in the other 30% unseen data. Results The outcome with highest predictive performance was death by DRS (AUC−ROC = 0.89), followed by the other specific causes (AUC−ROC = 0.87), DCS (AUC−ROC = 0.67) and neoplasms (AUC−ROC = 0.52). Among only the 25% of individuals with the highest predicted risk of mortality from DRS were included 100% of the actual cases. The machine learning algorithms with the highest predictive performance were light gradient boosted machine and extreme gradient boosting. Conclusion The algorithms had a high predictive performance for DRS, but lower for DCS and neoplasms. Mortality prediction with machine learning can improve clinical decisions especially regarding targeted preventive measures for older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Maracanan is the property of Revista Maracanan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigated the extent to which the postulates of socioemotional selectivity theory can be applied to the social relations of older adults mediated by the use of Facebook. Participants were 130 older adults recruited at public access services to computers and internet in the city of São Paulo (82.3% female; mean age: 67.9 years; mean schooling: 12 ± 5.4 years) who should have at least one year of Facebook use and a minimum network of 30 contacts. Sociodemographic data, pattern of Facebook use (e.g., frequency of use, network size, self-efficacy, quality of contacts) and data related to key socioemotional selectivity theory-related constructs (i.e., future time perspective and life satisfaction scales) were collected. Structural equation modeling for manifest variables (path analysis) was used to explore the relationships with life satisfaction levels. As predicted by the theory, direct and positive associations were found to age and life satisfaction and direct and negative for age and social network size. Future time perspective remained as a mediator between age and life satisfaction. Socioemotional selectivity indicators such as reduction in network size and enhanced emotional closeness were not associated with life satisfaction. The data suggest that social relations mediated by Facebook may favor other strategies that maximize well-being without necessarily downsizing the social networks or selecting partners according to socioemotional criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Paulista de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article examines postmortem inventories and notarial records from Brazilian slaveholders in southern Brazil in the nineteenth century. By discussing selected cases in detail, it investigates the relationship between "precarious masters" (especially the poor and/or disabled, widows without family, and single elderly slaveholding women and men) and their slaves and former slaves to whom they bequeathed, in their testaments and final wills, manumission and property. The article reads these documents as intergenerational contractual arrangements that connected the masters' expectations for care in illness and old age with the slaves' and former slaves' expectations for compensation for their work and dedication. Following these uneven relationships of interdependence and exploitation as they developed over time, the article suggests a reassessment of the role of paternalism in Brazil during the country's final century of slavery. More than a tool to enforce relations of domination, paternalism articulated with the dynamics of vulnerability and interdependency as they changed over the life courses of both enslaved people and slave owners. This article shows how human aging became a terrain of negotiation and struggle as Brazilian slave society transformed throughout the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norovirus (NoV) is currently the leading cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis. In Brazil, few studies have characterized the molecular, epidemiological and clinical features of NoV‐associated gastroenteritis. This study aimed to describe the molecular and clinicoepidemiological findings of NoV infections in patients of all ages throughout Pernambuco state, Northeast Brazil. Thus, 1135 stool samples were analyzed from patients with gastroenteritis from Pernambuco state. NoV was detected by enzyme immunoassay in 125 (11.01%) samples. Regarding gender distribution, 55 (44.00%) patients were female and 70 (56.00%) male. Their ages ranged from 5 days to 87 years, and the group most affected by NoV infection (88.00%) was children under 3 years. Complete clinical information was available for 88 out of 125 NoV‐positive patients. Diarrhea was present in all patients and vomiting was reported in 60 patients (68.68%). Nine patients (10.22%) had bloody stools and 46 (52.27%) had a fever, with temperatures ranging from 37.90°C to 39.90°C (mean 38.20°C). NoV was detected mainly in the summer‐autumn seasons. Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses identified four different NoV GII genotypes circulating in this area of the country. Therefore, our study provided valuable information about the clinics and epidemiology of NoV infection in tropical settings and will assist health authorities to develop better control strategies against this important pathogen. Highlights: The clinicoepidemiological and molecular features of NoV infection in Northeast Brazil were characterized.Children under 3 years old were the age group most affected (88.00%).Four different NoV GII genotypes were found to be circulating in this area of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Frailty is characterized by a functioning decline in multiple systems accompanied by an increase in individual's vulnerability to stressors. It appears to be higher in low and middle-income countries compared with high-income ones. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of frailty in non-institutionalized Brazilian older adults. Design: a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Setting: Cross-sectional and prospective data from Brazil. Participants: non-institutionalized adults aged 60 and older. Methods: Electronic searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SCOPUS and Web of Science, considering the studies published between March 2001 and July 2018, using a combination of the following terms and correlates: "elder" AND "frail" AND "prevalence" AND "Brazil". Two independent reviewers selected studies according to the inclusion criteria. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer (title/abstract) and by consensus. Studies with samples ≥221 subjects were considered for meta-analysis. Results: 28 studies were included, while 18 had the data meta-analyzed. The majority of studies (61%) included older adults only from the Southeastern region. The number of subjects ranged from 53 to 5,532 individuals (N = 17,604) and the average age ranged from 65.6 to 85.5 years. The overall prevalence of frailty was 24%. When considering the different assessment methods, the prevalence was lower for frailty phenotype (16%) compared with other criteria (40%). Regarding sex, the prevalence of frailty was similar for women (28%) and men (25%). The prevalence of frailty was higher in older adults recruited from health care services (30%) compared to community ones (22%). Conclusion: In Brazil, the overall prevalence of frailty in non-institutionalized older adults is higher than observed from more developed countries. However, it may vary according to the assessment methods and settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in our older adult population, there is a need for dementia training for informal and formal dementia caregivers. The objective of this scoping study is to assess dementia knowledge instruments utilized in educational programs and interventions intended for formal and informal dementia caregivers. Scoping review methodology was used to search PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science with tailored database search terms. The search yielded 8101 results, with 35 studies meeting inclusion. Studies were conducted in eight countries, had varying study designs (randomized controlled trials [RCTs] = 9, non‐RCTs = 6, one‐group study design = 20) and utilized previously published (19) and author developed (16) instruments. Furthermore, the studies were internationally diverse, conducted in the United States (n = 18), Australia (n = 7), UK (n = 3), China (n = 2), Canada (n = 2), Taiwan (n = 1), Brazil (n = 1) and multi‐country (n = 1). Only two studies focused on minority populations. While author‐developed instruments may be more relevant and timesaving, studies should strive to validate instruments or use previously published instruments to help standardize findings across studies and understand better the effects of educational programs on caregiver knowledge. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 397–413. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy / Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional is the property of Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research question: Which person related and clinical aspects variables are associated with the types of urinary incontinence in older women? Research problem: The purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of urinary incontinence among elderly women and verify the association between related to the person and clinical variables with types of urinary incontinence. Literature review: There is a wide variation in the prevalence of urinary incontinence throughout the world, as well as among the regions of Brazil (Milsom et al., 2014). The worldwide prevalence of any type of incontinence in women has been estimated at more than 275 million in 2013, with an increase of more than 300 million by 2018. Methodology: A cross‐sectional study with a quantitative aproach was conducted with 120 elderly women. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form was used as data collection tool and all participants signed consent form. Results: The prevalence of UI found was 67.5%. Regarding the type of UI, the following frequencies were found: urgency (29.2%), stress (23.3%) and mixed (15.0%). Urge incontinence was significantly associated with age (mean: 81.1 years, P:.05) and abdominal circumference (mean: 97.9 cm, P:.01). Diabetes mellitus was associated with urgency incontinence (P < .001), while hypertension showed association with stress and mixed incontinence (both with P < .001). Conclusions: Urinary incontinence was present in 67.5% of elderly women living in long‐term care facilities, with a higher occurrence of urgency and stress, and parametric statistics showed an association between Urge incontinence and age and abdominal circumference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at understanding the meanings that older adults attribute to two group leisure activities: dance classes and music get-togethers. The research question was: What are the meanings that older adults construct through group leisure activities? The study used ethnographic methods, specifically participant observation and in-depth one on one interviews. Two groups were selected in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In total, 32 in-depth interviews were conducted, 16 in each group. Data analysis included the development of categories, and entailed constant comparison between the two cases, which were then interpreted in terms of Consumer Culture Theory due to its relevance to leisure in contemporary societies. Six categories of meanings were identified in each group. Of these, five were common to both groups (well-being, hedonism, social connectedness, identity construction, and learning) and one category in each group was activity-specific: rediscovery of the body (dance) and nostalgia (music). The results of the study show how ageing becomes an asset to the individual rather than a liability, leading to a redefinition of what later life can be. In particular, we provide a novel perspective on leisure in later life by focusing on Brazil – an emerging country with a relational culture and high social inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding predictors of successful ageing is essential to policy development promoting quality-of-life of an ageing population. Initial models precluded successful ageing in the presence of chronic disease/functional disability; however, this is discrepant with self-reported successful ageing. Indicators of social, psychological and physical health in 1,735 people aged 65–74, living in Canada, Columbia, Brazil or Albania, were analysed in the International Mobility in Ageing Study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the change in self-rated successful ageing in relation to physical health, depression, social connectedness, resilience and site, while controlling for age, gender and income sufficiency. Sixty-five per cent of participants self-rated as ageing successfully; however, this was significantly different across sites (p < 0.0005, range 17–85%) and gender (p = 0.019). Using objective measures, 6 per cent were classified as 'successful', with significant variability amongst sites (p < 0.0005, range 0–12%). Subjective successful ageing was associated with fewer (not absence of) chronic diseases, absence of depression and less dysfunction in activities of daily living, but not with objective measures of physical dysfunction. Social connectedness and resilience also aligned with self-rated successful ageing. Traditional definitions of objective successful ageing are likely too restrictive, and thus, do not approximate self-rated successful ageing. International differences suggest that site could be a surrogate for variables other than physical/mental health and social engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy / Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional is the property of Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Older adults with chronic illnesses face many challenges related to their diseases and need higher resilience capacities to overcome. Resilience, as a mediator among various dimensions of health, can lead to positive health outcomes in such people. The current study aimed at discovering the impact of resilience on the perception of chronic disease from older adults' perspective. Methods: The current qualitative study was conducted in specialized clinics of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran. A total of 25 older adults with chronic diseases were recruited by purposive sampling. Data were generated by semi-structured interviews and continued until data saturation. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded by MAXQDA7 software. Data were analyzed based on Graneheim and Lundman approach. Results: Three main themes were extracted from the data including achieving spiritual transcendence (approaching God, appreciate the beauty around); creating peace and balance (controlling the inner stress, maintaining solidarity of family); overcoming the disease (compliance with treatment, building effective interpersonal relationships). Conclusion: The themes indicated that effective interventions such as teaching stress management, communication skills, and adherence to treatment should be provided by healthcare providers and policy makers to improve the resilience of the older adults with chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To provide normative data for the Brazilian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BR) and to measure the effect of sociodemographic variables on the cognitive performance of cognitively healthy elderly people. Methods: A sample of 110 cognitively healthy individuals, aged over 65 years, with at least 4 years of schooling were recruited from 3 health care centers for the elderly in Recife, Brazil. The cognitive performance was assessed using MoCA-BR. Results: The average score of these elderly people in the MoCA-BR was 23.2 ± 2.7. Their schooling correlated positively with the cognitive performance, with a Spearman’s coefficient of 0.33 (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between age and the cognitive performance (Spearman’s rho = –0.19). The multiple linear regression model with the highest adjusted coefficient of determination was the one that included schooling and age (adjusted R2 = 0.127). Conclusions: The cognitive performance of healthy elderly was evaluated and was strongly influenced by schooling and, to a lower degree, by age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives:We previously found large variations in general practitioner (GP) hypertension treatment probability in oldest-old (>80 years) between countries. We wanted to explore whether differences in country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and life expectancy could explain the differences. Design:This is a survey study using case-vignettes of oldest-old patients with different comorbidities and blood pressure levels. An ecological multilevel model analysis was performed. Setting:GP respondents from European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) countries, Brazil and New Zeeland. Subjects:This study included 2543 GPs from 29 countries. Main outcome measures:GP treatment probability to start or not start antihypertensive treatment based on responses to case-vignettes; either low (<50% started treatment) or high (≥50% started treatment). CVD burden is defined as ratio of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to ischemic heart disease and/or stroke and total DALYs lost per country; life expectancy at age 60 and prevalence of oldest-old per country. Results:Of 1947 GPs (76%) responding to all vignettes, 787 (40%) scored high treatment probability and 1160 (60%) scored low. GPs in high CVD burden countries had higher odds of treatment probability (OR 3.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.00–4.57); in countries with low life expectancy at 60, CVD was associated with high treatment probability (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.12–4.25); but not in countries with high life expectancy (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.56–1.98). Conclusions:GPs’ choice to treat/not treat hypertension in oldest-old was explained by differences in country-specific health characteristics. GPs in countries with high CVD burden and low life expectancy at age 60 were most likely to treat hypertension in oldest-old.Key Points • General practitioners (GPs) are in a clinical dilemma when deciding whether (or not) to treat hypertension in the oldest-old (>80 years of age). • In this study including 1947 GPs from 29 countries, we found that a high country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden (i.e. myocardial infarction and/or stroke) was associated with a higher GP treatment probability in patients aged >80 years. • However, the association was modified by country-specific life expectancy at age 60. While there was a positive association for GPs in countries with a low life expectancy at age 60, there was no association in countries with a high life expectancy at age 60. • These findings help explaining some of the large variation seen in the decision as to whether or not to treat hypertension in the oldest-old. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]