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This paper discusses the relationship of cultural participation in performing arts with the manifested interest. Using the data set from the Cultural Habits and Practices Survey 2018-2019 a binary probit model has been applied for the analysis. Emphasizing the role of aging in participation, especially for the group of the elderly and very old. The age variable is one of the most difficult variables to apprehend, in which the cohort effects, age itself and period should be considered. This paper is an approach to the study of the aging effect on cultural participation, which would be continued with the analysis of the Surveys in previous years. This work shows that there is no homogeneous behavior between participation and interest within the different performing arts. Presenting some of them differentiating features.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors influencing the quality of life among the elderly population of rural Thailand. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khon Kean Province, Thailand in one month of time period. Non-probability sampling technique was adopted by including four hundred twenty-eight elderly people age of sixty and above in this study. They were invited through available list with health department and willing participants were enrolled after taking their written consent. Those who were sick during the time of study were excluded. The quality of Life (QOL) was assessed through WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire. Chi-square was used to analyze the factors associated with the QOL in aging. Study was ethically approved from Mahidol University Thailand. RESULTS: A total of 428 elderly with a mean age of 78 years (±4) were included in this study. The results found that over 361(84%) of the elderly had moderate QOL, around 59(13.8 %) of respondents replied they had a good quality of life and 6(1.6%) had fair QOL. Factors influencing the QOL among the elderly included marital status, most were married (62.9 %), followed by divorced, widowed and single (37.1%), sufficient income (69.2%), savings, sufficient money for health care services, and needed to work. CONCLUSION: Study concluded that the factors like marital status, sufficient income, savings, healthcare services are influencing the quality of life among aging in Thailand.

Simina Crişan,1,2 Lucian Petrescu,1,2 Mihai Andrei Lazăr,1,2 Cristina Văcărescu,1,2 Alina-Ramona Nicola,1 Dragoş Cozma,1,2 Cristian Mornoş,1,2 Constantin Tudor Luca1,2 1Cardiology Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Timisoara, Romania Abstract: The evaluation of patients diagnosed with impaired systolic function heart failure represents a great challenge, in both the general and elderly population. We consider that elderly patients are the most severely affected by this disease that represents the final impact of cardiovascular disease continuum. Cardiovascular diseases are associated with serious morbidity and mortality, and considerable health care costs related to diagnosis and treatment. In this report we discuss some controversies regarding methods of heart failure evaluation as well as therapeutic steps and devices, including: reparatory therapeutic steps and initiation of therapy with loop diuretics, inconsistent dose titration for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker and beta blockers, as well as novel therapies, such as angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor and treatments that directly improve cardiomyocyte function. We conclude that, beyond technical progress, which is raising the cost of therapy for patients with heart failure, more careful monitoring of patient progress through clinical and paraclinical control visits, both at medical facilities and at home, would have greater impact and be more cost-effective. Physical therapy and promoting emotional and psychological wellbeing, to maintain a positive state of mind, contribute substantially to the quality of life and life expectancy, and are most important in elderly people who are most affected by dramatic reductions in wellbeing. Unfortunately, for many patients with severe impairment of left ventricular ejection fraction, these goals and therapeutic procedures are often lacking in current health care systems.Keywords: impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure, therapeutic controversies, elderly population

The role of age in the risk stratification of patients candidate for non-cardiac surgery is still today an unresolved issue. European guidelines, in contrast to American guidelines, do not attribute to age an independent role in increasing the risk, and the indices for assessment of perioperative cardiovascular risk are based on studies that were carried out on middle-aged subgroups of the population without specific attention to the elderly patient. While the indices of geriatric assessment have still not yet gained a standardized role in the risk stratification of patients candidate to non-cardiac surgery, their need is becoming increasingly urgent considering the epidemiological impact of elderly patients with multi-comorbidities who more and more in the future will undergo such interventions. The European guidelines themselves identify an “evidence gap” concerning frailty which requires a deeper evaluation. The aim of the multicenter observational study VALUTA-75 is to verify if the indices of risk stratification routinely used by the cardiologist integrated with those of physical and cognitive performance of specific geriatric pertinence can improve the ability to predict perioperative cardiovascular and non cardiovascular events, with the scope of improving the therapeutic process.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in five randomly selected villages in Wardha district of Maharashtra state to study the magnitude and factors related to the prevalence of ocular diseases among the elderly population. A total of 903 persons above 50 years were screened. The prevalence of low vision was 32% while that of blindness was 12.2% Ocular morbidity rate was 1.21 lesions per elderly person and it increased significantly with increasing age (p

Purpose: To demonstrate that use of a mydriatic agent remains a significant confounder in autorefraction of the presbyopic population. Methods: The pre- and post-cycloplegic autorefraction results of 37 subjects over 50 years of age were measured using a Humphrey-598 autorefractor. The results of both eyes were included in a multivariate regression analysis. Results: The average age of the patient sample was 63.4 years. The mean spherical equivalent (SEQ) shifts for the hyperopic, myopic, pseudophakic, and emmetropic eyes were -0.53 D (95% CI -0.77 D to -0.39 D; p < 0.00 1), -0.38 D (95%CI -0.81 D to +0.04 D;p = 0.077), -0.49 D (95% CI -0.78 D to -0.20 D;p = 0.001), and -0.35 D (95% CI -0.59 D to -0.11 D;p = 0.004), respectively. Conclusion: Cyclopleged autorefraction in the presbyopic population is associated with a myopic shift that can potentially lead to overestimation of myopic prevalence. This is an important factor in comparing population studies where cyclogleged autorefraction is used in contrast to non-cyclopleged autorefraction and subjective refraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary data on the Behavioural Assessment Scale of Later Life (BASOLL) (Brooker and Nissenbaum, 1986) are described. The BASOLL is based upon Zarit's Memory and Behavioural Problem Checklist (MBPC; Zarit el al., I980) and the Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS; Blessed et al., 1968). The BASOLL was administered to a sample of 177 psychogeriatric patients over a period of 2 years during regular clinical practice in outpatient, day patient and inpatient settings. A factor analysis revealed three factors which were named self-care behaviour, memory and orientation, and challenging behaviour. The similarity with factors derived from Zarit's MBPC is discussed. Summative scales derived from the factor analysis of the BASOLL were internally consistent. Data on test-retest and interrater reliability are presented which suggest that the scales are reliable. The scales included in the BASOLL were all able to distinguish between patients in day hospital, respite care and continuing care settings. Thus the scales can be said to have good criterion validity for these settings, The clinical development and utility of the BASOLL is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Blessed Dementia Scale (DS) is a brief behavioural scale based on the interview of a close informant. Its validity as a screening test was evaluated in 105 demented patients and 123 community residents. The DS proved to be a sensitive and specific screening test for dementia, especially when items related to personality changes were omitted by constructing a revised DS (RDS). Both the DS and RDS correlated with the patients neuropsychological test performance. They also differentiated patients with different degrees of dementia. In the screening of dementia the cut-off point of 4 in the DS gave a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 84%. In the RDS the cut-off point of 1.5 gave a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 97%. Behavioural rating scales such as the DS are valuable in the screening of dementia, especially when combined with cognitive testing. In addition they can be used in the evaluation of the degree of disability and in the planning of social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]