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Biomedical subjects

J Litvak

Publications and source records attributed to J Litvak.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Incidence of hip fractures in the elderly: a cross-national analysis.

This paper reviews international data on incidence rates of hip fracture in persons 50 years of age and older, based on a bibliographic search of articles published since 1960. Incidence rates are higher in white populations than in black, Asian, and Hispanic populations. In both sexes and in all ethnic groups and geographic areas, incidence rates increase markedly with age. The steep increase with age, however, occurs later in black, Asiatic and Hispanic populations than in whites. The ratio of female to male incidence rates is higher than 1.0 in whites, while in blacks and Asians it has often been the reverse, with higher rates among men. In recent years in Hong Kong incidence rates in females have increased more rapidly than incidence rates in males, so that now the incidence rates in females are higher than those in males. In addition to the study in Hong Kong, most studies in Northern Europe and North America show an increase in age-adjusted hip fracture incidence rates over time over the past few decades. Methodological differences among the various studies (including differences in the definition of hip fracture, in case ascertainment, and in the selection and sample size of the study population) necessitate cautious interpretation of the findings of this report.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Aging.

Many issues are emerging as a consequence of the aging of modern populations. Developed as well as developing countries need to define the policies and programs that will reduce the burden of aging populations on societies and their economies, ensure the availability of health and social services for older persons, and promote their continuing participation in a socially and economically productive life. The situation is more challenging for developing countries, which must add new priorities to the scarce resources of their health and social programs when they still have to deal with the problems of their younger population. The World Health Organization is collaborating with the member states to find solutions that are adequate to their own situation. Promotion of research that will provide policymakers with data on the actual needs of their aging population is the main objective of the WHO international research program on aging.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[The aging of the population: a challenge that goes beyond the year 2000].

This report analyzes the causes and characteristics of the aging trend in the world's population, which has been witnessed in recent decades. Measures are proposed for dealing with the health problems that have arisen as a result of this aging trend, as well as for guaranteeing the delivery of full health services to the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

Diabetes mellitus: a challenge for the countries of the region.

PAHO recently convened a meeting of experts on diabetes mellitus for purposes of underlining the importance of the disease as a health problem and developing recommendations to assist the countries of the Region in establishing control programs. Existing data on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in different countries are not comparable, since population samples are not always representative and diagnostic criteria vary. Ten different countries set the prevalence figure at anywhere from 1.2 to 6.9 per cent. Mortality from diabetes reveals only part of the problem, largely because of registration difficulties. The figures that are available, however, show that the situation is very serious in several Carribbean countries; that is, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica rank first, second, and third, respectively, among 22 countries in the Americas. The data now available on morbidity and mortality, expected population growth, and probably increases in the relative size of older population groups lead to the assumption that diabetes mellitus, together with its complications, will become an increasingly serious problem in the Region over the next 10 to 15 years. Programs for the control of diabetes mellitus should include educational campaigns for patients, the public, and health professionals; early detection of the disease in high-risk groups; registration and followup of cases and the organization of systems for providing comprehensive care. Promotion of basic, clinical, and epidemiologic research directed at local problems and seeking to acquire a better understanding of the nature of the disease and its complications is also highly recommended. Naturally, each country should adapt current methods of treatment to local socioeconomic and cultural circumstances, especially with regard to dietary therapy, prescribed insulin dosage, and use of the controversial oral hypoglycemic drugs. Despite the important contribution that research can make to a better understanding of diabetes mellitus, it is the health authorities, the patients, and the public who still have the major task of coping with this increasingly prevalent disease, which more and more is revealing the consequences of its chronic nature and complications in our Region.

Central America↗