Search

With the burgeoning elderly population, there is an escalating demand for effective and safe exercise programs to enhance physical performance and avert age-related complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise program on the physical performance and postural balance of older adults. The study enlisted 21 participants aged 65 and older, divided into three groups: WBV, foam mat (FM), and control. Over four weeks, participants engaged in a structured exercise regimen designed to improve lower limb muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, coordination, and postural balance. The low-impact, elderly-friendly program included resistance exercises tailored to each group’s conditions. Pre- and post-program evaluations comprised physical performance tests (chair stand, 2-min step, chair sit-and-reach, figure-of-8 walk) and postural balance assessments (limit of stability (LOS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), One Leg Stance (OLS)). Results showed significant improvements across all groups, with the WBV group exhibiting the most pronounced enhancements. WBV group improvements included a 62.8% increase in lower-limb muscle strength and a 31.7% rise in cardiovascular endurance. The WBV group also demonstrated the greatest advancements in postural stability and dynamic balance, as indicated by significant changes in OLS and TUG test times. These findings suggest WBV exercises can effectively enhance physical performance and balance in older adults, presenting a promising alternative to traditional exercise programs that may impose greater physical burdens. Further research with larger sample sizes and controlled variables is recommended to confirm these benefits and refine WBV exercise protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and infections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses in hospitalized elderly patients with respiratory tract infections in Suzhou City, China, and to compare the differences in clinical characteristics and economic burden associated with these two infections. Methods: In this prospective study, pathogenetic testing and clinical data for hospitalized patients aged 60 years and older with respiratory tract infections were collected in five hospitals through stratified cluster sampling from December 2023 to May 2024. Comparative study on epidemic characteristics, clinical features and costs of cases who infected RSV alone and influenza alone were conducted. Results: Among 1,894 cases included, the RSV positivity rate was 5.91% during the 2023–2024 winter-spring season, while the influenza positivity rate was 9.61%. RSV-B was the predominant subtype of RSV, and influenza A (primarily H3N2) was the dominant strain among the influenza-positive cases. Compared with cases infected influenza virus alone, those infected RSV alone had lower occurrence frequency of fever (18.8% vs. 35.7%, P = 0.004), higher occurrence frequency of complications of lower respiratory tract infections (70.8% vs. 54.8%, P = 0.011), higher direct medical costs ($996.2 vs. $841.1, P = 0.017) and total costs ($1019.7 vs. $888.1, P = 0.036). RSV single infection is more common in female cases (P = 0.007) and diabetic cases (P = 0.007) than influenza virus single infection. Conclusions: During the winter and spring months, RSV is the second most common pathogen after influenza virus among older adults hospitalized for respiratory infections in Suzhou, China. Patients infected RSV are more likely to develop complications with lower respiratory tract infections and have higher medical costs than the influenza. RSV infection in the elderly should be emphasized, especially in female patients and diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Academic Library & Information Science is the property of Anhui University 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.)

Purpose: This study aimed to revise the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R) among older adults in China. Method: 1,107 participants were recruited through an online survey. The factorial structure, reliability, and validity of the CIAS-R were tested. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to distinguish individuals' Internet addiction membership. Results: The first-order five-factor model was demonstrated to best explain the underlying structure of the CIAS-R among the elderly in China. Time spent online, sense of loneliness, and depression provided evidence for the criterion validity of the CIAS-R. The magnitude of the correlation coefficients indicated Internet addiction may lead to psychological problems. LPA analysis showed the elderly could be clustered into four types based on their Internet addiction severity. Conclusion: The CIAS-R is a reliable and valid measure of Internet addiction among the elderly. This study offers a feasible way to intervene in the addicted aged for social workers and clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Continue Education Research is the property of Harbin Normal University 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 Continue Education Research is the property of Harbin Normal University 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: 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the body's main storage form of vitamin D and is internationally recognized as the best indicator of vitamin D status in the human body. There is a scarcity of research investigating the interrelationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and mortality among elderly individuals with hyperlipidemia. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and mortality in an older hyperlipidemic population from NHANES, while controlling for other influential factors. The study sought to elucidate the correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and mortality about all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), malignant neoplasms, and mortality from other causes. Methods: The data from NHANES 2001-2016, including 9,271 participants were analyzed to examine the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and mortality. The interrelationship was illustrated using Kaplan-Meier curves and restricted cubic splines, while the Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to estimate the multifactor adjusted hazard ratio (HR). Results: This study included 9,271 participants (43.28% male) with an average age of 69.58 years, and the average duration of participant follow-up was 88.37 months. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, malignant neoplasm mortality, and mortality from other causes. This negative association was further confirmed by the Cox proportional hazards models. Additionally, restricted cubic splines not only revealed this negative association but also highlighted the saturated serum 25(OH)D levels. Moreover, subgroup analyses indicated that the inverse correlation between serum 25(OH) D levels and all-cause mortality was more pronounced in the non-obese and smoking population. And the inverse correlation with mortality from other causes was even stronger in the non-obese population. Conclusions: In the elderly population with hyperlipidemia, 25(OH)D serum levels were negatively correlated with both cause-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. Moreover, there was a threshold effect in this negative association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the participation of mutual help and pension and influencing factors of the elderly in China, and to provide a reference basis for the long -term development of mutual help. Methods Based on the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) data, single -factor deck analysis, non-conditional logistic regression and Shapley decomposition method was used to analyze the influencing factors and differences in the participation of the elderly people in my country. Results The participation rate of mutual support for the elderly in China was only 19.72%, the participation level was low, and the awareness of mutual support for the elderly was weak. Multivariate Logistic regression results showed that the participation of the elderly in mutual support for themwas affected by the demographic characteristics, personal physical conditions, family conditions, pension concepts and ways. Shapley decomposition showed that the contribution rate of each factor to the elderly's participation in mutual support for the elderly was different, and the physical condition of the elderly had the greatest impact on their participation in mutual support for the elderly, the contribution rate was 19.96%. The second was the participation in insurance and the need for help from others, with the contribution rates of 19.27% and 12.33% respectively. Conclusion It's of great importance tocreate a platform for mutual assistance for the elderly, improve the government incentive mechanism, improve the community support network, and create a good atmosphere of mutual assistance, strengthen mutual assistance pension and education, and play a role of family support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the clinical effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with common bile duct exploration in the treatment of elderly patients with cholecystolithiasis and common bile duct stones (CCWC) and its influence on liver function and inflammatory stress response. Methods Eighty-six elderly patients with CCWC were divided into two groups according to different surgical methods, with 43 cases in each group. There were no differences in clinical baseline data between the two groups, such as gender, age, BMI, course of disease, ASA classification, maximum stone diameter and common bile duct diameter. Patients in the observation group was treated with LC combined with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE), while patients in the control group were treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/ESC combined with LC. The perioperative conditions (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative exhaust time, and hospitalization time) and clinical efficacy (incidence of complications, residual rate of stones and recurrence rate) of the two groups were observed. Serum total bilirubin (TBil), aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), tumor cell necrosis factor- α（TNF- α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected before and 3 days after operation. Results Compared with the control group, the operation time, postoperative exhaust time and hospitalization time in the observation group were shortened, and the amount of bleeding during the operation was reduced, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P<0. 05). There were no significant differences in stone residual rate or recurrence rate between the two groups (both P>0. 05). The recurrence rate was lower in the observation group than in the control group, with statistically significant difference between the two groups (P< 0. 05). The serum TBil, AST and ALT levels decreased, and serum TNF-α, CRP, IL-6, Cor and NE levels increased in the two groups at three days after operation in comparison with those before operation (all P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the serum levels of TNF-α, CRP, IL-6, Cor and NE in the observation group decreased at three days after operation (all P<0. 05). Conclusions The calculi removal effect of LC+LCBDE and ERCP/ESC+LC in the treatment of CCWC in the elderly patients is similar, and both can improve liver function. However, LC+LCBDE has fewer postoperative complications, and less impact on inflammation and stress response in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the current status of chewing ability and analyze the risk factors among Chinese community‐dwelling older adults. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, color‐changeable gum and a color difference meter were used to assess chewing ability in the population. The statistical analysis employed multivariate logistic regression models to identify and quantify the factors influencing chewing ability. Results: A total of 373 community‐dwelling adults aged 65 and older in Chengdu, in the west of China, were included in this study; 64 individuals (17.2%) exhibited signs of poor chewing ability. Female (odds ratio [OR]: 0.124, 95% CI: 0.057–0.268, p <.001), education level with college degree and above (OR: 0.114, 95% CI: 0.030–0.434, p =.001), number of teeth less than 20 (OR: 5.401, 95% CI: 2.509–11.626, p <.001), and decreased oral diadochokinesis (OR: 4.445, 95% CI: 1.775–11.132, p =.001) were significant factors in chewing ability in this study, after adjustment for potential variables. Conclusions: The prevalence of decreased chewing ability among Chinese community‐dwelling older adults was 17.2% and decreased chewing ability was associated with men, lower education level, less than 20 teeth and decreased oral diadochokinesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Given the current aging population, the demand on medical facilities, facilities for elderly care, and even their high prevalence, it is crucial to investigate the advantages of older people. The purpose of our study was to systematically review the existing literature on the health effects of horticultural therapy as a treatment option for the elderly. Subject and methods: Article searches were conducted through five databases: Web of science, Science Direct, PubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, according to the standard method of systematic evaluation and meta-analysis. Thirty-two published articles were included, and 27 relevant variables were meta-analyzed to assess the benefits of horticultural therapy in terms of physical and psychological functioning in the elderly. Results: Results show that horticultural therapy may be helpful in helping seniors lose weight -0.195 (95% CI -0.507,0.117), reduce their waist circumference -0.327 (95% CI -0.637, -0.017), lower their stress -0.339 (95% CI -0.610, -0.069) and cortisol -0.902 (95% CI -0.728, -0.002) levels, improve their physical flexibility 0.302 (95% CI 0.036, 0.569), social interaction 0.370, (95% CI 0.115, 0.624), and daily vegetables and fruit consumption 0.688 (95% CI: 0.287, 1.089). Conclusion: Horticultural therapy may be a useful tool for enhancing the physical, mental and social aspects of the elderly. However, there is substantial heterogeneity and wide variation in the quality of the included studies. Further high-quality studies, rigorous controls and adjustments for significant confounding variables, and larger populations are needed in the future to further our understanding of the link between horticultural therapy and elder health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the knee（IPACK) block combined with adductor canal block（ACB) on postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty（TKA) in the elderly patients. Methods Totally 126 elderly patients who underwent elective primary unilateral TKA were selected and divided into the ACB group, IPACK group, and IPACK+ACB group, with 42 cases in each group. In the ACB group, a PCIA pump was connected after surgery and ACB was performed under ultrasound guidance; in the IPACK group, IPACK block was performed on the side of the operation after neuraxial anesthesia was completed and before the operation began, and the PCIA pump was connected after the operation; in the IPACK+ACB group, IPACK block was performed on the side of the operation after neuraxial anesthesia was completed and before the operation began, the PCIA pump was connected and the ultrasound-guided ACB was performed after surgery. At 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery, the patients were assessed by visual analogue scale（VAS) at rest, activity and posterior knee joints to evaluate the degree of pain. The maximum angle of active knee flexion was measured at 24 and 48 h after operation, and the active range of motion of the knee joint was evaluated. The number of effective compressions and the number of salvage analgesia of the postoperative PCIA pump were recorded, and the rate of salvage analgesia was calculated. The occurrence of adverse reactions within 24 h after surgery was observed, including nausea and vomiting, dizziness, nerve damage, infection and bleeding at the nerve block puncture site, etc. Satisfaction scores were given to patients. Results At 8 h and 12 h after surgery, the VAS at rest and during activity in the ACB group and IPACK+ACB group were lower than those in the IPACK group, and the posterior knee VAS in the ACB group was higher than that in the other two groups（all P＜0. 05）, and at 24 h and 48 h after surgery, there were no significant differences in resting, active and posterior knee VAS between the three groups（all P＞0. 05）. At 24 h after operation, the maximum angle of active knee flexion in the IPACK+ACB group was greater than that in the other two groups（all P＜0. 01）, and there was no significant difference in the maximum angle of active knee flexion between the three groups at 48 h after surgery（P＞0. 05）. Compared with the IPACK group, the rate of salvage analgesia within 24 h in the ACB group and the IPACK+ACB group was reduced, the patient satisfaction rate increased, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting decreased（P＜0. 05 or P＜0. 01）. Conclusions ACB combined with IPACK block can reduce posterior knee pain, increase knee active range of motion, and do not increase the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions, which can provide good postoperative analgesia for elderly TKA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elderly have always been considered to be people at risk, due to the various physical and psychological health problems they present. However, during this time of pandemic these health problems have been exacerbated due to isolation, negative thoughts, and the deaths of family members, among other factors. This has led to depressive episodes, anxiety, insomnia, stress, and suicidal ideation. The objective of this review is to analyze how COVID-19 has impacted the mental health of the elderly, through various publications between 2020 and 2022. After conducting a search in the following databases: SCIELO, EBSCO, Pubmed, REDIB, Science Direct, Redalyc, Proquest, and Dialnet, 18 articles were found that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of the elderly, which is why some authors state that it is very important that the countries of the world have strategies or programs to support adults to be able to face this pandemic adequately and thus be prepared for similar situations that may occur in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper aimed to identify the level of psychological hardiness, the level of death anxiety, and the level of existential vacuum among the elderly, also the role of the predictive ability of death anxiety and existential vacuum in the psychological hardiness of the elderly at the governorates of Tafilyah and Ma'an in light of the Corona pandemic in Jordan. The descriptive-analytical approach was utilized. sample consists (500) elderly, that were selected by a simple random approach. Then the needed statistical measure was operated to achieve the required results. The results indicated a low level of psychological hardiness, a high level of death anxiety, and an existential vacuum in the elderly. The results show a suitable predictive ability for each of death anxiety and the existential vacuum in reducing psychological hardiness. The research paper recommended the necessity of rehabilitating the elderly in Jordan regarding the mental and psychological aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aged population increases, the health of seniors (aged 60 years and over) is particularly important for the development of a healthy China, which makes it important to assess the health determinants for the elderly. This study aims to estimate the effect and pathway of microgeographic environment on the seniors' health and physical activities, and further investigate the urban–rural disparity in the relationship between the seniors' health and geographic environment. We collected data on 7155 elderly (≥ 60 years) from the Household Health Survey database of the Hebei Provincial Health Planning Commission, China. The geographic environment data, based on different radius buffers of respondents' residence, were collected from Baidu Maps. The green space data were obtained from the dataset provided by National Ecosystem Science Data Center, National Science & Technology Infrastructure of China. A series of multilevel generalized structural equation models were employed to examine the disparities in the effects of geographic environment on the seniors' health and physical activities. Built environment has significant direct and indirect effects on the health of the urban elderly, while its indirect effect on the rural elderly is significant. Green space is significantly and positively associated with the seniors' health, whereas its indirect effect is insignificant in rural areas. Environmental pollution has a negative correlation with seniors' health, and it also significantly restricts seniors from participating in outdoor physical activities. Physical activity has a significantly beneficial effect and a significant mediating effect on the health of seniors in both urban and rural area. The socioeconomic attributes, such as income, education and age, are significantly associated with the health of urban and rural elderly. The study finds that built environment, green space, environmental pollution and physical activities are crucial factors influencing the seniors' health, but there is significant urban–rural disparity in the health effects. The findings provide policy implications for the government to develop healthy neighborhoods and cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-designed residential thermal environments that meet the comfort and health needs of elderly individuals can enhance their well-being and decrease associated health risks, which is one of the foundations of sustainable building development. However, limited evidence on thermal response patterns and thermal comfort needs of rural elderly leads to insufficient support for improving thermal environments. This study was conducted in seven villages in Xi'an, a cold region of China, and both subjective questionnaires of thermal comfort and objective physical environment tests were adopted. Correlations between nine kinds of human subjective responses and thermal environmental parameters were examined. The neutral values of operative temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity were calculated to be 23.9 °C, 63.3%, and 0.28 m/s, respectively. Comfort ranges for temperature, humidity, and air velocity were determined to be ≤29.3 °C (80% acceptability), 43.3–81.0% (80% acceptability), and 0.16–0.41 m/s (90% acceptability). Clothing insulation of rural elderly in summer was relatively higher and less sensitive to temperature shifts. The slope value of the thermal adaptative model was larger, with higher comfort temperatures in warmer environments. These results are the outcome of the prolonged adaptability to the regional climate and the poor indoor thermal environment, as evidenced by lower psychological expectations, higher behavior adjustment, and environmental decisions influenced by household low income. The findings in this study can be used as a basis for the design or improvement of residential thermal environments for rural older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective·To measure and analyze age-related changes in cortical bone thickness and alveolar bone height and width in the posterior teeth of the maxilla.Methods·Cone-beam CT (CBCT) data of the implant patients in the Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were collected from January 2019 to December 2022. There were 40 cases in the youth group (18‒30 years) and 40 cases in the elderly group (≥60 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1. The i-Dixel software was used to measure the thickness of buccal and palatal cortical bone, and the width and height of alveolar bone in three regions of the posterior teeth of the maxilla on the side with regular dentition (part Ⅰ: between the first and the second premolar of maxillary; part Ⅱ: between the second premolar and the first molar of maxillary; part Ⅲ: between the first and the second molar of maxillary), and the differences between different groups were compared.Results·In part Ⅲ, the buccal cortical bone thickness of the elderly men [(1.49±0.29) mm] was significantly greater than that of the young men [(1.11±0.34) mm] (P

Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate, through analysis, the ability of older persons to retrieve items from kitchen cabinets. To achieve this goal, data were collected from 128 valid questionnaires and supplemented with field research and user interviews. The study revealed that the elderly’s behavior in retrieving items from kitchen spaces is characterized by both high frequency and difficulty. For this experiment, a total of 42 participants, comprising 21 males and 21 females from the self-care elderly population in the Yangtze River Delta region, were recruited. Two different experimental settings were arranged: one with kitchen utensils arranged in a straight line and another with a purpose-made chest of drawers with varying heights. Video recordings using the Logitech C930C were utilized to capture the gestures and behaviors of the elderly while retrieving objects from the kitchen cupboards (cabinets). By employing a combination of the OpenPose model and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, which involves calculating human posture angles, REBA scores, and determining the risk level of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), a risk assessment framework for manual operations associated with WMSDs was developed. Using the angle data acquired from the user operation experiment as parameters, a gradient model of the elderly user’s operational capability was established. The findings indicated a significant impact of neck, trunk, and knee movements on the subjects (P

Abstract Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and infections of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses in hospitalized elderly patients with respiratory tract infections in Suzhou City, China, and to compare the differences in clinical characteristics and economic burden associated with these two infections. Methods In this prospective study, pathogenetic testing and clinical data for hospitalized patients aged 60 years and older with respiratory tract infections were collected in five hospitals through stratified cluster sampling from December 2023 to May 2024. Comparative study on epidemic characteristics, clinical features and costs of cases who infected RSV alone and influenza alone were conducted. Results Among 1,894 cases included, the RSV positivity rate was 5.91% during the 2023–2024 winter-spring season, while the influenza positivity rate was 9.61%. RSV-B was the predominant subtype of RSV, and influenza A (primarily H3N2) was the dominant strain among the influenza-positive cases. Compared with cases infected influenza virus alone, those infected RSV alone had lower occurrence frequency of fever (18.8% vs. 35.7%, P = 0.004), higher occurrence frequency of complications of lower respiratory tract infections (70.8% vs. 54.8%, P = 0.011), higher direct medical costs ($996.2 vs. $841.1, P = 0.017) and total costs ($1019.7 vs. $888.1, P = 0.036). RSV single infection is more common in female cases (P = 0.007) and diabetic cases (P = 0.007) than influenza virus single infection. Conclusions During the winter and spring months, RSV is the second most common pathogen after influenza virus among older adults hospitalized for respiratory infections in Suzhou, China. Patients infected RSV are more likely to develop complications with lower respiratory tract infections and have higher medical costs than the influenza. RSV infection in the elderly should be emphasized, especially in female patients and diabetic patients.

With the continuous progress of China’s rural revitalization and the increasing aging population in coastal rural areas, it has become a research focus to make the indoor thermal environment more suitable for the elderly, especially in winter. This study took Qingdao’s coastal rural areas in the cold region of China as an example. A field survey was conducted in 110 coastal rural dwellings, and four typical dwellings were selected for on-site measurements. This study collected information on the characteristics of local residential buildings, the primary living spaces for the elderly, heating methods, and thermal satisfaction. It also documented the energy expenditure and thermal conditions of the surveyed dwellings. The research findings indicate that the current heating system, while capable of partially improving the indoor thermal environment, is still affected by poor thermal insulation performance. As a result, there are issues such as low average indoor temperature, significant temperature fluctuations, and overall thermal instability. The findings of this study provide comprehensive information on the heating modes used in coastal rural dwellings, and the results can be utilized to evaluate and further improve the thermal environment of dwellings in cold coastal rural areas.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of sleep duration and sleep quality with chronic disease and comorbidity among the elderly in China, providing a reference for developing chronic disease prevention and control strategies for the elderly population in China. MethodsData on 11 529 the elderly aged ≥ 60 years old from 23 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across China were collected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2018. The association of sleep duration and sleep quality with chronic disease and comorbidity among the elderly in China was analyzed. ResultsAmong the 11 529 the elderly aged ≥ 60 years in China, 2 115 (18.35%), 6 362 (55.18%), and 3 052 (26.47%) had a sleep duration of < 6 h/d, 6 – 8 h/d, and >8 h/d, respectively; 6 201 (53.78%), 3 629 (31.48%), and 1 699 (14.74%) had good, fair, and poor sleep quality, respectively. There were 6 457 cases of chronic disease and 2 682 cases of chronic disease comorbidity, with prevalence rates of 56.01% and 23.26%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, age, marital status, smoking status, drinking status, and body mass index, multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of chronic disease in Chinese the elderly with a sleep duration of < 6 h/d was 1.25 times that of those with a sleep duration of 6 – 8 h/d (OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.13 – 1.39). The risk of chronic disease in Chinese the elderly with good and fair sleep quality was 0.62 times (OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.55 – 0.70) and 0.72 times (OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.64 – 0.81) that of those with poor sleep quality, respectively. The risk of chronic disease comorbidity in Chinese the elderly with a sleep duration of < 6 h/d was 1.34 times that of those with a sleep duration of 6 – 8 h/d (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.19 – 1.51). The risk of chronic disease comorbidity in Chinese the elderly with good and fair sleep quality was 0.54 times (OR = 0.54, 95%CI: 0.48 – 0.62) and 0.65 times (OR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.57 – 0.74) that of those with poor sleep quality, respectively. ConclusionShort sleep duration can increase the risk of chronic disease and comorbidity in Chinese the elderly, while better sleep quality can reduce the risk of chronic disease and comorbidity in Chinese the elderly.

Abstract Introduction Early screening and identification are crucial for fall prevention, and developing a new method to predict fall risk in the elderly can address the current lack of objectivity in assessment tools. Methods A total of 132 elderly individuals over 80 years old residing in some nursing homes in Shanghai were selected using a convenient sampling method. Fall history information was collected, and gait data during a 10-meter walk were recorded. Logistic regression was employed to establish the prediction model, and a nomogram was used to assess the importance of the indicators. The Bootstrap method was utilized for internal validation of the model, while the verification set was used for external validation. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess clinical benefits. Results The incidence of falls in the sample population was 36.4%. The Tinetti Gait and Balance Test (TGBT) score (OR = 0.832, 95% CI: 0.734,0.944), stride length (OR = 0.007, 95% CI: 0.000,0.104), difference in standing time (OR = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000,0.742), and mean stride time (OR = 0.992, 95% CI:0.984,1.000) were identified as significant factors. The area under the ROC curve was 0.878 (95% CI: 0.805, 0.952), with a sensitivity of 0.935 and specificity of 0.726. The Brier score was 0.135, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (χ 2 = 10.650, P = 0.222) indicated a good fit and calibration of the model. Conclusion The TGBT score, stride length, difference in standing time, and stride time are all protective factors associated with fall risk among the elderly. The developed risk prediction model demonstrates good discrimination and calibration, providing valuable insights for early screening and intervention in fall risk among older adults.

AIM: To analyze the causes of blindness and low vision in patients with visual disability in Yangpu District of Shanghai from 2019 to 2022.METHODS:Cross-sectional study. A total of 1 604 patients who participated in the evaluation of visual disability in Shanghai Yangpu District Kongjiang Hospital, from April 2019 to December 2022 were selected for the study. The grade of visual disability and the main causes of blindness and low vision were determined by trained doctors.RESULTS:A total of 804 patients with visual disabilities were identified, with 87.31% aged 60 and above. The causes of visual disability were high myopic retinopathy(30.47%), age-related macular degeneration(23.26%), glaucoma(17.04%), and diabetic retinopathy(11.07%). Glaucoma(36.96%)is the leading cause of blindness.CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with visual disability are aged 60 years and above. More attention should be paid to the elderly population. Comprehensive prevention, treatment and rehabilitation measures should be applied in different diseases based on classification, so as to early reduce the occurrence of visual disability.

Abstract The association between ambient temperature and mental health has been explored previously. However, research on the psychological effect of temperature in vulnerable groups and neighborhood scales have been scarce. Based on the survey and temperature data collected from 20 neighborhoods in Guangzhou, China, this study estimated the association between ambient temperature and community mental health among the elderly, adopting a fixed-effects methodology. According to this empirical analysis, compared to a comfortable temperature range of 20℃–25℃, measures of worse mental health among elderly were significant in high and low temperatures with increases in negative outcomes observable at both ends of the temperature range, leading to the U-shaped relationship. Second, the association between ambient temperature and worse mental health was found in the subcategories of gender, income, and symptom events. Specifically, from the hot temperature aspect, elderly males were more sensitive than elderly females. The effect on the low was far more than on the middle-high income group, and the probability of each symptom of the elderly’s mental health significantly increased. From the cool temperature aspect, the temperature in the range of 5ºC–10ºC was significantly associated with the probability of some symptoms (feeling down, not calm, downheartedness, and unhappiness) and the middle-high income group. Our research enriches the empirical research on ambient temperature and mental health from a multidisciplinary perspective and suggests the need for healthy aging and age-friendly planning in Chinese settings.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a health education intervention based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) on the prevention of falls in elderly hospitalized patients with orthostatic hypotension (OH). Methods A total of 400 elderly OH patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted to a tertiary grade A hospital in Nantong city from January 2019 to December 2022 were divided into an intervention group (n = 199) and a control group (n = 201). The control group received routine health education on fall prevention, while the intervention group received an additional health education intervention program based on PMT. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Fall Risk Assessment Scale for the Elderly, and the Balance Test Scale for the Elderly were used to collect information on the two groups' fall risk, balance ability, and quality of life scores of before and 6 months after the intervention. Results The mean age of the 400 patients was 66.53 ± 7.51 years. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, education level, occupation, marital status, and monthly income between the intervention and control groups (all P > 0.05). Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in balance test, fall risk assessment and SF-36 scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After 6 months of intervention, except for the health change dimension, the SF-36 scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group; the balance ability and fall risk scores of the intervention group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). ConclusionThe PMT-based fall prevention health education intervention program can help reduce the risk of falls, improve balance, and improve the quality of life of elderly patients with OH.

Insulinoma is the most common functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, which is characterized by excessive endogenous insulin secretion and subsequent hypoglycemia. As a rare cause of hypoglycemia and syncope in the elderly, insulinoma is often ignored by clinicians. Compared with young and middleaged patients, elderly patients with insulinoma are more prone to fatal hypoglycemia and irreversible brain function damage. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve their quality of life and healthy life expectancy. On June 21,2021, a 73-year-old female patient with insulinoma was admitted to the hospital. By analyzing its clinical manifestations, qualitative and localization diagnosis, treatment and follow-up,it provided diagnosis and treatment ideas for the diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of insulinoma in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health promotion is a process that urges people to maintain and improve their own health, which can reduce the deterioration rate of cognitive function of the elderly or delay the decline of cognitive ability. However, the health promotion behavior and lifestyle of the elderly in the county are affected by many factors. Searching the existing databases, this paper reviews the related research on the health promotion of cognitive function of the elderly in the county area at home and abroad, including the related research on screening tools and health promotion intervention programs, compares the research on intervention programs, and puts forward the future research direction based on the county background in China. The purpose of this study is to provide a reference for Chinese scholars to effectively carry out health promotion strategies for the cognitive function of the elderly in county areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the prevalence and influencing factors of depression among the elderly in rural areas of Sichuan Province, Methods By using the method of multi - stage samplings a questionnaire survey was conducted among 606 rural elderly persons in Sichuan from July to August, 2022. Chi - square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of depression. Results The average score of depression in the rural elderly was (3.79 ± 3.21) points, 85 people had depressive symptoms, and the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 14.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that not seeking medical treatment due to economic difficulties in the past year (OR = 10. 140, 95% CI: 3, 347 - 30. 716), hospitalization in the past year (OR = 5. 229, 95% CI: 2. 789 - 9. 801), self - rated health fair or below(poor self - rated health: OR = 20. 301, 95% CI: 7. 666 - 53. 761; fair self - rated health: OR = 5.912, 95% CI: 2.729 - 12.807) and childless (OR 二 8. 495, 95% CI: 1.747 -41.313) were risk factors for depressive symptoms in the rural elderly (P < 0. 05), Living with a spouse (OR = 0. 321, 95% CI: 0. 116 - 0. 888) and high social support (OR = 0. 505, 95% CI: 0. 260 - 0. 982) were protective factors for depressive symptoms in rural elderly (P < 0. 05). Conclusion The depression situation of the elderly in rural areas of Sichuan Province is worrying, which needs to be paid special attention and early intervention, especially for the rural elderly with economic difficulties, poor health status, no children or living alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of global population aging on older adults' health and emotional well-being is examined in this study, emphasizing innovative technological solutions to address their diverse needs. Changes in physical and mental functions due to aging, along with emotional challenges that necessitate attention, are highlighted. Gaze estimation and interactive art are utilized to develop an interactive system tailored for elderly users, where interaction is simplified through eye movements to reduce technological barriers and provide a soothing art experience. By employing multi-sensory stimulation, the system aims to evoke positive emotions and facilitate meaningful activities, promoting active aging. Named "Natural Rhythm through Eyes", it allows for users to interact with nature-themed environments via eye movements. User feedback via questionnaires and expert interviews was collected during public demonstrations in elderly settings to validate the system's effectiveness in providing usability, pleasure, and interactive experience for the elderly. Key findings include the following: (1) Enhanced usability of the gaze estimation interface for elderly users. (2) Increased enjoyment and engagement through nature-themed interactive art. (3) Positive influence on active aging through the integration of gaze estimation and interactive art. These findings underscore technology's potential to enhance well-being and quality of life for older adults navigating aging challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia among the elderly presents a significant disruption in sleep patterns, characterized by reduced quantity and quality of sleep. Prolonged insomnia exacerbates stress levels, ultimately increasing the risk of acute depression, heart disease, and diabetes. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT) in the elderly by assessing existing evidence. Utilizing internet-based publications from 2018 to 2023 sourced from Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, relevant articles were identified using MeSH and PICOS framework keywords. Twenty-four studies were reviewed, with seven meeting inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that the majority of insomnia respondents were aged 45-85 years, predominantly women. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT) emerged as an effective treatment method, significantly improving sleep quality in elderly individuals. This finding underscores the importance of CBT in addressing insomnia among the elderly population, particularly among elderly women, who constitute a substantial portion of insomnia sufferers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim was to analyze the effects of nurse-led mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in hospitalized elderly suicide survivors. Methods: The data of middle-aged and elderly suicide survivors in the medical system and nursing records of our hospital from January 2018 to August 2023 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into conventional group and MBCT group according to whether they actively received MBCT. The general demographic data of the patients and the changes in the scores of Suicidal Ideation Scale (SSI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Patient Health Questionnaire 15 (PHQ-15), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) at admission and 3 and 6 months of follow-up were collected. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline data of the 2 groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of the inpatient care program on each score. Results: A total of 160 patients were included in the study, including 100 patients in the MBCT group and 60 patients in the conventional group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the 2 groups after matching (P > .05). Suicidal Ideation Scale score, BHS score, PHQ-15 score, and GDS-15 score in MBCT group were lower than those in conventional group at 6 months of follow-up (P < .05). At the same time, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the intervention program was the main factor affecting the SSI (OR=1.538, P=.010), BHS (OR=1.614, P=.006), PHQ-15 (OR=1.797, P=.001), and GDS-15 scores (OR=1.642, P=.004) at 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions: The application of nurse-led MBCT in hospitalized elderly suicide survivors may reduce suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression and improve physical symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To search for and summarize the best evidence for themanagement of elderly patients with dysphagia. Methods: Clinical decisions, recommended practices, evidence summaries, clinical practice guidelines, expert consensus, and systematic reviews on the management of dysphagia among elderly patients were systematically reviewed from domestic and foreign guideline websites, association websites, and Chinese and English databases according to the 6S model of evidence-based resources. The search period was between January 1, 2010 and November 1, 2023. Two researchers evaluated the quality of the included literature respectively and extracted evidence. Results: A total of 14 literatures were identified, including 2 guidelines, 2 clinical decisions, 5 evidence summaries, 3 expert consensus statements, and 2 systematic reviews. Twenty-four pieces of evidence from 7 aspects were summarized, including assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, medication care, nutrition management, oral care, complication management, and psychological care. Conclusion: The best evidence-based recommendations for the management of dysphagia in elderly patients is summarized, it is suggested that the best evidence should be selected according to the actual situation of patients, and a personalized management plan should be formulated to improve the quality of life of patients and achieve high-quality nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economic Administrative & Legal Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) 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.)

The association between ambient temperature and mental health has been explored previously. However, research on the psychological effect of temperature in vulnerable groups and neighborhood scales have been scarce. Based on the survey and temperature data collected from 20 neighborhoods in Guangzhou, China, this study estimated the association between ambient temperature and community mental health among the elderly, adopting a fixed-effects methodology. According to this empirical analysis, compared to a comfortable temperature range of 20℃–25℃, measures of worse mental health among elderly were significant in high and low temperatures with increases in negative outcomes observable at both ends of the temperature range, leading to the U-shaped relationship. Second, the association between ambient temperature and worse mental health was found in the subcategories of gender, income, and symptom events. Specifically, from the hot temperature aspect, elderly males were more sensitive than elderly females. The effect on the low was far more than on the middle-high income group, and the probability of each symptom of the elderly's mental health significantly increased. From the cool temperature aspect, the temperature in the range of 5ºC–10ºC was significantly associated with the probability of some symptoms (feeling down, not calm, downheartedness, and unhappiness) and the middle-high income group. Our research enriches the empirical research on ambient temperature and mental health from a multidisciplinary perspective and suggests the need for healthy aging and age-friendly planning in Chinese settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to know the effect of physical effort on the hormone calcitonin, some biochemical variables, and muscle strength among elderly women. The researchers used the experimental method by designing one group, following the pre- and post-measurements. The research sample was chosen intentionally and consisted of 10 women whose ages ranged between 59 and 60 years. The proposed program was applied to determine the extent of its impact on the variables under research. The results of the research were that there were differences between the two pre-measurements. In favor of post-hoc measurement, the most important recommendations are scientific awareness of the importance of exercising in general and for the elderly in particular due to its clear effect on raising physical and muscular efficiency and endocrine secretions of the hormone calcitonin It is responsible for regulating the percentage of calcium and phosphorus in the blood and increasing bone minerals, which reduces the risk of diseases such as osteoporosis or exposure to frequent bone fractures, which clearly accompany this stage of teeth, in which it is difficult to recover easily, and the duration of recovery may even be longer than other stages of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of two different internal fixation methods in elderly patients in artificial femoral head replacement for intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients. Methods A total of 100 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent artificial femoral head replacement in the Department of Orthopaedics, this hospital from December 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into observation group and control group according to the use of ordinary steel wire or greater trochanter plate internal fixation. 78 patients in the observation group were fixed with ordinary steel wire, while 22 patients in the control group were fixed with greater trochanter plate. The operation time. intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization expenses, hospitalization time, postoperative complications, hip joint visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Harris score were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the two groups. Results The patients were followed up for 6-18 months, with an average of (10.89±4.29) months. By the last follow-up, 13 patients had died, including four in the control group and nine in the observation group. All patients successfully completed the operation, and the difference of Tronzo-Evans classification between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other general data(P>0.05). There were no significant differences in hospitalization time, intraoperative blood loss, hip VAS score and Harris score at the last follow-up between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group and the hospitalization cost was lower than that of the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Although the ordinary steel wire binding fixation has more advantages than the trochanter plate fixation in terms of operation time, hospitalization expenses and postoperative complications, the application of the trochanter plate can simplify the operation and make the fixation more reliable during the operation, which is especially suitable for patients with complex intertrochanteric fractures. The choice of the two methods depends on the degree of fracture and the actual situation of the patient, and there is no uniform standard at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigated the effects and mechanisms of military service on health outcomes of Chinese elderly men aged 60 and older. While numerous studies explored the effect of military service on health in developed countries, we still knew little about the relationship between military service and later health outcomes in developing countries such as China. Using the data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we found that military service is positively associated with better health outcomes of the elderly, in terms of physical health, cognitive abilities, and self-rated health. In addition, results of mechanism analysis show that, compared with nonveterans, elderly veterans had healthier habits, better education, higher individual and household income, and more favorable social medical security.Moreover, heterogeneity analysis indicates that this effect is more pronounced for older, rural, and spouseless elderly people. This article provided insights into elderly veterans' health security measures in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Science Edition) is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 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.)

Elderly patients with functional constipation generally have mental and psychological disorders, especially the prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders is much higher than that of normal population. Anxiety and depression can affect gastrointestinal motility and sensation by affecting brain-gut axis. enteric nervous system, hormone neurotransmitters and intestinal flora, leading to functional constipation. The author reviewed the research on the comorbidity of functional constipation and anxiety and depression in the elderly at home and abroad and discussed the application of psychosomatic integration model in clinical practice in order to provide a reference for improving the clinical treatment practice of functional constipation in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In China, osteoporosis has become a major health concern among elderly population, imposing significant burden on the country’s social and economic systems. The monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) has been currently recommended as a novel marker of inflammation and oxidative stress associated with osteoporosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, its reliability in non-diabetic elderly populations remains unclear. The present study was to evaluate the association between MHR and osteoporosis in a non-diabetic elderly population. Methods: The clinical data of 240 non-diabetic elderly subjects (115 in the osteoporosis group and 125 in the normal bone group) were retrospectively analyzed and all statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS 26.0. Results: Differences in age, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, MHR, uric acid, creatinine, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be statistically significant between the two groups. A binary logistic regression model was conducted by including age, MHR, UA and Cr as variables. The results showed that age was an independent risk factor and MHR was an independent protective factor for bone abnormality in the non-diabetic elderly population. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve for the predictive effect of MHR, age and their combined test on osteoporosis in non-diabetic elderly populations was 0.623, 0.728 and 0.761, respectively; the correlation analysis showed that MHR was positively correlated with lumbar and hip BMD, and negatively associated with femoral neck stress ratio, femoral intertrochanteric stress ratio, and femoral stem stress ratio, showing statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusions: For the non-diabetic elderly population: the MHR is a protective factor against bone abnormalities and was significantly higher in the normal bone group than in the abnormal bone group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the application of precise feeding management program based on Volume- Viscosity Swallowing Test (V-VST) in elderly patients with dysphagia due to schizophrenia, so as to improve the safety and effectiveness of patients' diet. Methods From June 2022 to May 2023, 116 elderly schizophrenic patients with dysphagia grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ (all confirmed by Kubota drinking water test) hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were selected. The patients were divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 58 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given routine nursing and dietary guidance, and the patients in the observation group were combined with V-VST on the basis of Kubota drinking water test to provide a safe and effective accurate feeding plan for patients. After 30 days of intervention, the incidence of aspiration, improvement of swallowing function, nutritional level and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results After 30 days of intervention, the incidence of aspiration in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, the effective rate of dysphagia improvement, the levels of serum preprotein (PA) and albumin (ALB) and other nutritional indicators were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the quality of life was also significantly higher than that in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P <0. 05). Conclusion The precise feeding management based on V-VST can reduce the incidence of aspiration in elderly patients with dysphagia and effectively improve their swallowing function and nutritional status, thus improving their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the status and influencing factors of health poverty among the elderly in rural areas of Sichuan in the post poverty alleviation era. Methods By using the method of multi - stage sampling, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 606 rural elderly persons in Sichuan from July to August, 2022. Chi 一 square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of health poverty. Results Among the 606 persons, 167 (27. 6%) were in health poverty. The results of multivariate analysis showed that age(OR - 1. 655, 95% CI: 1, 250 一 2. 191), number of chronic diseases (OR - 1. 864, 95% Cl: 1. 510 - 2. 301) and physical function limitation (OR = 1. 890, 95% CI: 1.353 -2.640) were the risk factors, while the number of daughters (OR = 0.739, 95% Cl: 0. 593 - 0.920) and labor intensity in the past year (OR = 0. 498, 95% C/: 0. 343 - 0. 722) were protective factors for health poverty in the rural elderly. Conclusion The rural elderly in Sichuan still have a high risk of health poverty, especially the elderly who are aged, suffer from multiple chronic diseases, have serious disability, have little labor intensity, and have few daughters are the high 一 risk groups of health poverty, which needs to be paid attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the preferences of old-age adults for their long-term caregivers can improve person-centred health care and the quality of long-term care (LTC). This study examines Chinese older adults' preferences for long-term caregivers. This is a cross-sectional study. A national representative discrete choice experiment (DCE) surveyed 2031 adults aged 50–70 across 12 provinces in China. Each DCE scenario described five attributes: type of caregivers, place of LTC, contents of LTC, out-of-pocket payments, and quality of life (QoL). Preferences and the marginal willingness to pay (WTP) were derived using mixed-logit and latent class models. Older adults displayed higher preferences for long-term caregivers who improve their QoL, incur lower out-of-pocket payments, and provide medical LTC services at home, with the maximum WTP of $22.832 per month. QoL was rated as the most important LTC factor, followed by the place of LTC and the type of caregivers. When the level of QoL improved from poor to good, respondents would be willing to pay $18.375 per month more (95% confidence interval: 16.858 to 20.137), and the uptake rate increased by 76.47%. There was preference heterogeneity among older people with different sex, education, family size, and knowledge of LTC insurance. QoL was the most important factor in older Chinese adults' preference for caregivers. Home care and medical care from formal caregivers was preferred by older adults. We recommend training family caregivers, raising older people's awareness of LTC insurance, and guiding policymakers in developing people-oriented LTC and a multi-level LTC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several research efforts have found that older schizophrenia patients are at higher risk for suicide. Related risk factors for suicide attempts in the elderly with schizophrenia are poorly understood. This study sought to assess the prevalence of suicide attempts and related risk variables in schizophrenia patients over the age of 50. Methods: We recruited 591 elderly patients over the age of 50. Demographic, clinical and blood parameters of all patients were collected. Patients with schizophrenia were evaluated for psychopathological symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: The rate of suicide attempts among elderly Chinese schizophrenia patients was 15.2%. In these elderly schizophrenia patients, those who with suicide attempts had significantly higher scores for insomnia, depression and smoking addiction, and higher levels of red blood cells, Hc1 glycosylated hemoglobin and free T3, but significantly lower levels of hypersensitive C‐reactive protein and ‐globulin. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher depression scores and smoking addiction were risk factors for suicide attempts in these patients. Additionally, multiple regression analyses showed that higher BMI and insomnia scores were associated with suicide risk scores in elderly schizophrenia patients. Conclusions: Our research shows that there is a high incidence of suicide attempts in people over 50 years of age with schizophrenia. A number of clinically relevant factors and metabolic markers are associated with suicide attempts among elderly patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADLs) has been extensively used to evaluate the fundamental activity of daily living (ADL) of the elderly. However, with societal advancements and improvements in living standards, people's life behaviors and activity abilities change, resulting in traditional ADLs potentially inadequate for assessing contemporary ADL. This paper proposes an enhanced version of the traditional ADLs, incorporating two key aspects, basic mobility improvement and smart device application. Three items are introduced, namely "Going far away", "Using smartphone", and "Online shopping". An experimental design and sample study were conducted to evaluate the reliability, validity, and accuracy of the new scale using appropriate methods. The findings indicate that the new ADLs (NADLs) has certain advantages in assessment content, reliability and validity, decline effect and accuracy, compared with the traditional ADLs. Specifically, the improved scale assesses the higher level and more complex ADL of the elderly, with the inclusion of supplementary items. Furthermore, the NADLs demonstrate superior accuracy in assessing ADL among the elderly. The NADLs also exhibit a lower ceiling effect compared to the traditional ADLs, indicating better content effectiveness. In conclusion, with societal progression, the NADLs emerges as a reliable and valid measure, serving as an effective tool for evaluating ADL among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study collected data through microclimate monitoring, surface temperature measurements, and questionnaire surveys, and used indicators, such as the universal thermal climate index (UTCI), surface temperature (Ts), and wind chill temperature (tWC), to determine the thermal comfort threshold of the elderly in severely cold climates and evaluate their cold stress. The results indicated that (1) the neutral UTCI (NUTCI) for elderly individuals in winter was 13.3 °C, and the NUTCI range was from 1.4 to 25.2 °C; (2) the intensity of elderly individuals' physical activity affected the magnitude of risk of whole-body cooling, with duration-limited exposures corresponding to 0.5, 3.3, and over 8 h for light, moderate, and vigorous activity levels, respectively; (3) the tWC in all four spaces was below −10 °C, potentially inducing discomfort or even frostbite in the elderly; (4) for a 10 s touch, the maximum Ts (−17.2 °C) of stone was lower than the numbness threshold (−15.0 °C), while that (−15.1 °C) of steel materials remained below the frostbite threshold (−13 °C), posing risks for the elderly during physical activity. This study's results will provide valuable insights and theoretical references for the landscape design of urban park activity spaces for elderly individuals in cold climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, four types of fall detection systems – designed with YOLOPose, principal component analysis (PCA), convolutional neural network (CNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) architectures – were developed and compared in the detection of everyday falls. The experimental dataset encompassed seven types of activities: walking, lying, jumping, jumping in activities of daily living, falling backward, falling forward, and falling sideways. Keypoints extracted from YOLOPose were entered into the following architectures: RAW-LSTM, PCA-LSTM, RAW-PCA-LSTM, and PCA-CNN-LSTM. For the PCA architectures, the reduced input size stemming from a dimensionality reduction enhanced the operational efficiency in terms of computational time and memory at the cost of decreased accuracy. In contrast, the addition of a CNN resulted in higher complexity and lower accuracy. The RAW-LSTM architecture, which did not include either PCA or CNN, had the least number of parameters, which resulted in the best computational time and memory while also achieving the highest accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Thyroid stimulating hormone releasing hormone (TSH) is a key indicator for diagnosing subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). We evaluated factors affecting TSH levels in elderly SCH, establishing a composite reference interval, and comparing it with traditional one in diagnosis. Methods We collected data on patients aged ≥60 undergoing physical examinations in Chengdu, screening the influencing factors associated with TSH. Then, a two-dimensional composite reference interval was established for TSH and FT4, and the differences between the new and traditional diagnosing methods were compared. Results The incidence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction was about 14%, with SCH accounting for 97%. Regression analysis found that TSH levels increase as FT4 and uric acid levels decrease. Compared with the two-dimensional composite reference interval, the traditional one has a higher incidence rate of SCH. Conclusion Compared with the two-dimensional composite reference interval, the traditional one is more likely to overestimate the incidence rate of SCH, leading to excessive diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To investigate the mediating effect of decreased Intrinsic capacity(IC) between symptoms and ability to perform activities of daily living(ADL) in elderly patients with Heart failure(HF). Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, 237 elderly patients with HF in the cardiology department of a Grade A Tertiary Hospital in Suzhou, China were selected from January 2022 to November 2022, and the General Information Questionnaire, Symptom Status Questionnaire-Heart Failure (SSQ-HF), Barthel Index Scale (BI), and IC Assessment Tool were applied to investigate the mediating effect of IC between HF symptoms and ADL using structural equation modeling. Results: HF symptoms and decreased IC were associated with patients' ability to perform ADL (P=0.005, P