The relationship between body mass index, hypertension and all-cause mortality in the populaton over 55 year old in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI), hypertension and all-cause mortality in the elderly population in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In 1992, a cohort of 3 257 people above 55 years old was selected from 3 different areas of Beijing, i.e. urban and suburbs (both plain and mountain areas). Information on physical condition, history of chronic diseases, self-perceived health, as well as smoking and drinking status was collected. Blood pressure, body height and weight were measured among 2 086 of 3 257 subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BMI was decreasing with age, while the prevalence of hypertension increased with age. Meanwhile the prevalence of hypertension increased with age as well as with BMI. There was a reverse relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality, i.e. the risk of death was 39.0% lower for those with BMI = 20.0 - 24.9 kg/m(2) (Hazard ratio: 0.61, 95% Confidence interval: 0.49 - 0.75) and 62% lower for those with BMI >/= 25.0 kg/m(2) (Hazard ratio: 0.38%, 95% Confidence interval: 0.29 - 0.49) than those with BMI < 20.0 kg/m(2). After controlling for age, gender, residential place, hypertension as well as self-perceive health status and cognition function, low BMI remained a significant and independent predictor to death.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distribution of BMI was different in elderly from the youth. The findings suggested that it was important to control the body weight among the elderly hypertensives.</p>

Research on the health care needs of the elderly in Beijing / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective To find out about the current health situation of the elderly in the Beijing area and their health care needs so as to provide basis for the formulation of health care policies for the elderly by the government and relevant departments and for the development of health care programs for the elderly in accordance with their needs. Methods A sample survey, covering such topics as the health situation, medical treatment, nursing, rehabilitation and health care needs of the elderly and community health service, was made of 2 487 elderly people aged 60 and above in different parts of Beijing, including the city proper, the part linking city and country, and the suburbs. An analysis was then made of the difference in the health situation and health care needs of the elderly between various parts and populations. Results Chronic diseases constituted the major health problem for the elderly, with hypertension, coronary heart disease, osteoarthrosis, and cerebrovascular disease ranking in the first four places and the incidence of diabetes increasing rapidly. About 10 percent of the elderly, who suffered from somatic dysfunction, had reduced daily life skills and needed assistance from others. An increased number of elderly people also meant a greater demand for medical and nursing services. Community health service, the advantages of which bacame increasingly manifest, was thus popular with the elderly. Financial difficulty was the chief factor affecting the elderly in their seeking medical service. Conclusion The elderly is a weak population in health. With the aging of the general population, the health care needs of the elderly are on the rise. As health is the major factor affecting the life quality of the elderly, enhanced efforts in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases ought to be taken as the central task in the health care of the elderly. They are also the key to improving the life quality of the elderly.

Outcome of three-year follow-up for elderly people with dementia in urban and rural areas of in Beijing / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To analyze the influence of elderly dementia living in urban and rural areas of Beijing on their survival rate. Methods The elderly people with dementia aged 60 years and over lived in Beijing was investigated since 1997 by two step method and the mortality of the same population was followed up in 2000. Results A total of 2 788 patients were collected in 1997, and 2 721 of them were visited in 2000. Sixty seven(2 4%) of them were lost for follow up due to making a move and other reasons. Among the followed 2 721 cases , 2 307 were still alive (82 7%) and 414 died (14 9%), with the annual fatality rate being 3 79%(standardized). For all 205 cases diagnosed as dementia in 1997, the accumulated fatality rate was 42 46%(standardized), being 5 folds of the fatality for the non dementia. No significant difference was found in the fatality rate between male and female dementia. The fatality of dementia in rural area and over 75 years of age increased. Age and living conditions influenced significantly the fatality, and the fatality rate increased in patients with dementia and dysfunction of body moving. Conclusions Dementia is a disease impacting seriously the survival of elderly people.