Biomedical subjects

D Mellström

Publications and source records attributed to D Mellström.

80 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

Mortality among the widowed in Sweden.

This study consists of three parts. In the first part the risk of death for widowed persons is studied as a function of time interval since the day of bereavement. The effects of bereavement on mortality are investigated in all widowed people in Sweden (about 360 000) from 1968 to 1978. Among widowers above 65 years of age there are nine deaths per 1000 in excess compared with married men during the first 3 months after bereavement. In comparison with married people in the age group 70-74 it is found that among widows there is an increased mortality by 22% and among widowers by 48% during the first 3 months after bereavement. Further observation, during a period of altogether 11 years, showed that excess mortality continues, though at a lower level. In the second part, causes of death in the age group 70-74, divided according to marital status, are studied on the basis of data from the National Central Bureau of Statistics. The excess in mortality is due mainly to cancer and cardiovascular deaths, but also accidents, suicides and cirrhosis of the liver. The third part deals with differences between marital status groups with respect to tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse by using data from the population study of "70-year-olds in Göteborg" (H 70). By using data from central registers together with data from the population study it is possible to show that life style factors have an impact on the difference in mortality pattern between married and widowed people in Sweden.

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PubMed1982

Long-term effects after partial gastrectomy in elderly men. A longitudinal population study of men between 70 and 75 years of age.

Subjects who have had a partial gastrectomy are today mainly found among the elderly. In the population study of 70-year-olds in Gothenburg in 1971-72, 449 men were investigated. Out of these, 10% had had a partial gastrectomy. A total of 331 subjects was re-examined 5 years later at the age of 75. Two groups were recognized in accordance with operative method: Billroth type I (B I) and Billroth type II (B II). In comparison with the non-operated group, the B-II-operated group showed a mean lower body weight of about 6 kg at 70 and 11 kg at 75 years. Although the body weight was lower among operated subjects, no difference was found in the intake of energy and nutrients. There was a greater occurrence of bone fractures among the operated subjects. Tobacco smoking was commoner among subjects with partial gastrectomy. Among the B I and B II groups there was a change in the blood constituents B-hemoglobin, P-vitamin B12, S-calcium, S-ALP, and S-TIBC. At the age of 75 the bone mineral content of the heel bone, as measured with photon absorptiometry, was lower among operated subjects. An increased occurrence of smoking-related cancer was found among subjects with partial gastrectomy.

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PubMed1982

Zopiclone to geriatric patients. A parallel double-blind dose-response clinical trial of zopiclone as a hypnotic to geriatric patients - a study in a geriatric hospital.

Zopiclone was given for 14 nights to 68 geriatric patients (mean age 81 years) with sleep problems. The patients were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: 3.75 mg, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 mg of zopiclone. Sleep quantity and quality, side effects, and influence on psychomotor performance (digit symbol substitution and letter cancellation test) were studied before treatment, during active treatment, and after withdrawal of the drug. All patients slept better on zopiclone compared to placebo. There were only slight differences between the different dose levels as regards quantity and quality. No influence on psychomotor performance could be shown. The side effects were mild. Zopiclone showed a good hypnotic efficacy, and 7.5 mg is probably the best dose for elderly patients.

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PubMed1981

Previous alcohol consumption and its consequences of ageing, morbidity and mortality in men aged 70-75.

In a population study of 70-year-old people in Göteborg, 468 70-year-old men were examined in 1971/72 and then re-examined (342) in 1976/77 together with a cohort-comparison group of 489 70-year-old men. Registration twice or more at the Temperance Board (recidivists)was found to be the best epidemiological measurement available for previous alcohol abuse or large-scale alcohol consumption. About 10% in all three examination groups met this criterion. The morbidity of diabetes and chronic bronchitis, the consumption of care and the mortality rate were higher among recidivists. Furthermore, this study showed a lower functional ability in cognitive tests, muscle strength, gonadal function, pulmonary function, visual acuity, walking ability and density of the skeleton among recidivists. In chemical analysis of the blood several significant differences of obvious trends were found.

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PubMed1981

Loneliness in the Swedish aged.

Feelings of loneliness in relation to disease, handicaps, social network and social background were studied in a representative sample of 1,007 70-year-old people living in Göteborg, Sweden. The results showed that loneliness was a problem to 24% of the women and 12% of the men. The study allowed a detailed analysis of the association between feelings of loneliness and health, disabilities due to other than medical reasons, consumption of social and medical service, social contacts, cognitive functioning and personality traits. The most important factors related to the feeling of loneliness were the loss of spouse, depression of mood and lack of friends. The lonely had a negative self-assessment of health and consumed more out-patient care, social welfare help and sedatives. The higher consumption of medical service and/or social care was, however, not associated with a higher prevalence of definable somatic disease or handicaps.

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PubMed1981

Institutional care among 70-year-old people in an urban population. A medical and social characterization.

Within the framework of the longitudinal gerontological and geriatric population study in Göteborg, Sweden, the sample of which comprising altogether 1148 70-year-old males and females in 1971/72, those 32 probands, 15 males and 17 females, who were institutionalized were studied in more detail. The types of institutions were for care of somatic diseases (5 males and 9 females), for alcohol abusers (6 males and no female), and for mental diseases (4 males and 8 females). The impressions was that the overwhelming majority of these probands should not manage to be at home without great personnel and technical resources.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Health status and risk for hip fracture: a case control study of 70-75-year-olds.

A study concerning health status and social factors was performed of all hip fracture patients (n = 868) admitted to the orthopaedic clinics in Gothenburg, Sweden, during the course of 1 year. All non-institutionalized patients aged 70-75 years were invited 6 months after the fracture to a case-control survey with age-matched controls from the gerontological studies in Gothenburg. The hip-fracture patients had lower body mass index (BMI), lower bone mineral content (BMC) and higher prevalence of vertebral compression fractures. The serum concentrations of osteocalcin, aminoterminal peptide from procollagen-III and alkaline phosphatase activity were higher in the fracture group while serum creatinine concentrations and muscle strength were significantly lower. The prevalences of previous stroke and of Parkinsonism were greater in the hip fracture group. No differences in medication were observed. Thirty-nine percent of the hip fracture patients were suffering from pain and 88% had some form of walking disability at the follow-up study.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

On the use of the WHO handicap classification in a population study of 73- and 76-year-old men and women.

The WHO ICIDH classification of handicap was used in a population sample studied at 73 (n = 504) and 76 (n = 649) years of age. In the sample, there was either no handicap at all or the degree of handicap was generally low. In most handicap categories, however, the grades increased from 73 to 76 years. The self-rated activity level and the handicap category Occupation showed only low correlation. Good agreement was found between the handicap category Physical independence and assessments of Personal and Instrumental ADL and there was also a correlation between Mobility and maximal walking speed. Correlations were found between the handicap categories and the dimensions in the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), but r-values were generally rather low. The highest correlation was that with the dimension of Physical mobility. The difference between self-assessed health aspects of quality of life and observer ratings using given norms is stressed.

Activities of Daily Living↗