[Influenza vaccine in 85-and-over aged: motivation of elderly and family physicians to vaccinate or not]. / Influenzavaccinatie bij 85-plussers: de motieven van ouderen en huisartsen om wel of niet te vaccineren.

OBJECTIVE: To determine on what grounds persons over 85 years are or are not vaccinated against influenza. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Gerontological Research Centre and Department of General Practice Medicine, University of Leiden, the Netherlands. METHOD: A random sample (n = 331) of the general population of Leiden aged 85 years or older and not institutionalized were interviewed. Early in October 1993, 163 interviews were suitable for analysis (response rate 54%). An analysis of non-responders revealed no significant difference as regards gender and housing, but persons aged 90 and older were under-represented. The general practitioners (n = 41) of the 163 elderly persons were interviewed about these persons (response: n = 127; 78%) and about influenza vaccination in general (response: n = 33; 82%). RESULTS: The vaccination coverage rates were 51% according to the elderly and 56% according to the GPs; those of elderly people with an indication (48% according to themselves and 64% according to the GP) 52% and 67%, respectively. Reasons for elderly people not to accept vaccination were that they considered vaccination unnecessary, that they felt well and wanted to avoid possible adverse effects. A doctor's recommendation to have vaccination done was a positive influence. GPs' motives not to vaccinate were absence of an indication and the elderly person's wish. CONCLUSION: Only two-thirds of those over 85 not living in a nursing home with an indication for influenza vaccination were indeed vaccinated. Information about the possible damage done by influenza and about the pros and cons of vaccination, together with a doctor's advice to be vaccinated appeared to have a positive effect on the vaccination coverage.

Musculoskeletal disorders and disability in persons aged 85 and over: a community survey.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalences of musculoskeletal disorders and disability in the elderly, and the relationship between them. METHODS: A community sample of 73 females and 32 males aged 85 and over underwent a standardised examination at home. Musculoskeletal disorders were classified according to published clinical criteria. The relative effects on disability (a walking distance of < 500 m or dependency in activities of daily living (ADL)) of musculoskeletal disorders and comorbidity were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 57% of those interviewed. A major restriction of joint movement range was frequent in the shoulder but uncommon in other joints. A shoulder disorder was found in 27% of subjects, rheumatoid arthritis in 1% and osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand, hip, and knee in five, seven, and 18% of subjects, respectively. Disability was frequent: a walking distance of < 500 m was found in 60% and ADL dependency in 40% of the group. Factors related to one or both of these disability measures included female gender, hip and knee OA, impaired vision, cognitive impairment and neurological disease. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain and disorders, in addition to disability were frequent in this very elderly population. However, as a cause of disability, other disorders were at least as important as musculoskeletal disorders.