Using machine learning to study the association of sociodemographic indicators, biomarkers, and oral condition in older adults in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic health conditions and socioeconomic problems that affect the well-being and life expectancy of older adults are common. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the association between sociodemographic variables, oral conditions, and general health and the biomarkers of older adults using machine learning (ML). METHODS: A total of 15,068 surveys from the national study of Health, Well-Being and Aging (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento) data set were used for this secondary analysis. Of these, 3,128 people provided blood samples for the analysis of blood biomarkers. Sociodemographic, oral health, and general health variables were analyzed using ML and logistic regression. RESULTS: The results of clustering analysis showed that dyslipidemia was associated with poor oral condition, lower socioeconomic status, being female, and low education. The self-perception of oral health in older adults was not associated with the presence of teeth, blood biomarkers, or socioeconomic variables. However, the necessity of replacing a dental prosthesis was associated with the lowest self-perception of oral health. Edentulism was associated with being female, increased age, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic and educational disparities, sex, and smoking are important factors for tooth loss and suboptimal blood biomarkers in older adults. ML is a powerful tool for identifying potential variables that may aid in the prevention of systemic and oral diseases in older adults, which would improve geriatric dentistry. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings can help the academic community identify critical sociodemographic and clinical factors that influence the process of healthy aging and serve as a useful guide to enhance health care policies and geriatric oral health care services.

Cardiac Tamponade as a Manifestation of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Some solid cancers (such as lung, breast, and esophageal cancer, and melanoma) can lead to pericardial effusion by metastatic spread, potentially provoking hemodynamic instability. Detection by echocardiography is therefore essential. Pericardiocentesis can help restore cardiac function and provide fluid for establishing an etiology through cytological, microbiological, and cellularity analysis. A 60-year-old woman with metabolic syndrome and obesity hypoventilation syndrome presented to the emergency department with dyspnea at rest. A chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and massive left pleural effusion. Ultrasound findings were pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade. We performed pericardiocentesis, extracting 1000 mL of exudate, and thoracentesis, which confirmed the diagnosis of lymphocytic exudative effusion. A CAT (computerized tomography) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed a left kidney mass. A biopsy of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and a pleural biopsy revealed metastatic involvement. This report describes a rare presentation of cardiac tamponade due to clear cell renal cell carcinoma and discusses the pathogenesis, mechanisms, and prognosis of this condition.

Association Between Tobacco Smoking, Dental Status and Self-perceived Oral Health in Elderly Adults in Colombia.

Tobacco smoking is responsible for several health problems, including mouth diseases. The aim of the present study was to establish the association between smoking and dental status and self-perceived oral health in a large group of elderly Colombian adults. Analysis of 18,937 survey records of participants aged ≥ 60 years old was conducted. Information regarding age, sex, skin color, socioeconomic level, education, marital status, denture use, partial tooth loss or edentulism, Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and tobacco smoking was retrieved from the database. A descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Half of the participants were edentulous in the maxilla while mandibular teeth were more frequently retained in more than 60% of the participants. After adjusting for sex and age, smoking consistently increased the odds of partial or complete edentulism in the maxilla (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.09) and mandible (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00-1.08). Nonetheless, the increase in the odds in the mandible was not statistically significant. The habit of smoking was associated with increased tooth loss that in the long-term may result in poor oral health affecting the quality of life of elderly people.

SABE Colombia: Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging in Colombia-Study Design and Protocol.

Objective. To describe the design of the SABE Colombia study. The major health study of the old people in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the Survey on Health, Well-Being, and Aging in LAC, SABE (from initials in Spanish: SAlud, Bienestar & Envejecimiento). Methods. The SABE Colombia is a population-based cross-sectional study on health, aging, and well-being of elderly individuals aged at least 60 years focusing attention on social determinants of health inequities. Methods and design were similar to original LAC SABE. The total sample size of the study at the urban and rural research sites (244 municipalities) was 23.694 elderly Colombians representative of the total population. The study had three components: (1) a questionnaire covering active aging determinants including anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, physical function, and biochemical and hematological measures; (2) a subsample survey among family caregivers; (3) a qualitative study with gender and cultural perspectives of quality of life to understand different dimensions of people meanings. Conclusions. The SABE Colombia is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary study of the elderly with respect to active aging determinants. The results of this study are intended to inform public policies aimed at tackling health inequalities for the aging society in Colombia.

Función gustativa en gerontes: comparación de la influencia de dos técnicas de higiene lingual en ancianos de cuatro hogares geriátricos de Cali / Gustative function in elders: comparison of the influence of two lingual hygiene techniques for elders in four geriatric homes in Cali

El sabor que perciben los seres humanos varía según la edad, estado emocional, etc. EL objetivo principal del estudio que aquí se reporta fue detectar si las técnicas de higiene de la lengua producen cambios en la percepción de los sabores dulce, salado, acido y amargo en diferentes grupos de ancianos. Se realizó un muestreo por conveniencia, que incluyó ancianos de ambos sexos y de diferentes estratos socioeconómicos, tanto internos como externos que asisten a 4 instituciones geriátricas de la ciudad de Cali, a los cuales se les realizaron pruebas sensoria- les de tipo discriminativo triangulares en tres conjuntos de 30, 31 y 28 personas respectivamente, agrupados por institución geriátrica a la que pertenecían. Según los resultados de las pruebas gustativas, se encontró que no existe relación directa entre el cepillado de lengua y la perdida de función gustativa.

Taste perceived by humans naturally changes during time periods of Development and by the influx of age, emotional conditions, gustative/smell sense and brain/sense illnesses. Main objective of this report is to determine variations on taste capability on elder people. A convenience sample conformed by 90 residents attended in 4 institutions were studied. By oral examination it was established tongue surface variations and their taste abilities after tongue cleaning with brushing - 30 subjects, gauze cleaning 32 subjects and without any especial tongue cleaning method – 28 subjects. There were no relationship between tongue cleaning techniques and taste capability in the study elders.

Conocimientos y actitudes acerca de la vejez de los estudiantes de odontología de la Universidad del Valle / Knowledge and attitudes about aging in dental students from the Universidad del Valle

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar los conocimientos acerca de la vejez, de los estudiantes que iban a iniciar el curso en Odontogeriatría. Se quería también averiguar sobre las actitudes que tenían sobre los ancianos y el proceso de envejecimiento. Se analizaron las respuestas de cuarenta y cuatro estudiantes del octavo semestre de la Escuela de Odontología de la Universidad del Valle, los años 1.999 y 2.000. Los resultados mostraron básicamente que los estudiantes tenían un conocimiento incompleto sobre la vejez. Con relación a las actitudes frente a los ancianos, al proceso de envejecimiento y vida futura, la mayoría de los estudiantes mostraron actitudes positivas. A la luz de esta información, la Escuela de Odontología de la Universidad del Valle en Cali - Colombia podrá reconsiderar los cursos de Odontogeriatría.

One purpose of this study was to analyze the knowledge the of dental students, who were to begin the course in Geriatric Dentistry, had about aging. Another purpose was to find about their attitudes about old people and the process of aging. The answers of 44 students of their eighth semester of 1.999 and 2.000 year were analyzed. The results showed that the knowledge the sudents had about aging was not satisfactory. As far as their attitudes about old people, aging and future life, the majority of the students had positive attitudes. Based on this information, the School of Dentistry of Universidad del Valle in Cali-Colombia will be able to redesign the Geriatric Dentistry courses.