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J Bassey

Publications and source records attributed to J Bassey.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of a week's beta-adrenoceptor blockade with atenolol and metoprolol CR/ZOK on the response to exercise in healthy women aged 50 to 70 years.

12 healthy women with a mean age of 60 years (range 50-70 years) were treated with 50 mg atenolol or 100 mg metoprolol CR/ZOK or placebo for 1 week in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. Laboratory measurements of the cardiovascular responses to exercise were made 2-4 hours after and again 24 hours after the last tablet. Blood pressure and heart rate at rest were reduced equally by the two beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. The reductions in blood pressure and heart rate during graded exercise and then during prolonged steady treadmill exercise 3-4 hours after the tablet were greater for atenolol than metoprolol CR/ZOK. The reductions in cardiac output showed a similar pattern. Lactate concentrations and ratings of perceived exertion tended to be highest on metoprolol CR/ZOK, but these differences were inconsistent. We conclude that despite the changes in the cardiovascular system in these 50-70 year-old women, exercise tolerance was not greatly affected by beta-adrenoceptor blockade.

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Interviewing the elderly about their health: validity and effects on family doctor contacts.

Health-related questions in a large interview schedule (designed to examine relationships between customary physical activity, physical and psychological well-being among the elderly) were found to be repeatable (overall agreement was 93%) when used by two independent interviewers. The sensitivity and specificity of the interview in discriminating between people with and without health problems were 80% and 92%, respectively, when compared with a physician's independent assessments. Family doctor case notes under-recorded many of the common health problems of elderly people and could not be used to validate the interviewees' responses. Comparisons between 41 interviewees and 75 age-, sex- and practice-matched controls demonstrated that interviewees were only slightly more likely to consult or request a repeat prescription in the week following the interview (19%) than controls (11%). The 95% confidence intervals of this 8% difference were wide (-6% to 22%) and it might well have occurred by chance. Practices intending to use screening or research interviews with elderly people should be reassured such activities are not associated with large increases in demand for their services.

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