Socio-economic background, functional status, multiple pathology and medical conditions requiring care have been evaluated in 506 elderly subjects living in nursing homes in Turin (Italy). In the sample 78.8% are women, mean age 84.2 years, only 21.2% are men, mean age 76.3 years. Particularly in the oldest age classes women are more represented than men. Most subjects (94.3%) require help in at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL). Part of the sample (21.2%) comes from home, 13.2% from acute wards, 9.1% from long term care wards, 6.3% from mental hospitals, 26.3% from residential homes. Education level is rather low. Before retirement, many men were workmen (38.3%), while many women were housewives (46.6%). Multiple pathology is very common: 23.7% of patients suffer from 4 pathologies, more than 5 diseases are present in 18.8%, while only 4.7% of subjects have less than two pathologies. Half of the sample (52.6%) is affected by dementia, 37.6% by cardiovascular diseases, 29.1% by chronic obstructive lung disease and 25.5% by stroke. Bone fractures are present in 22.1% of the subjects. Severe impairments in strength and/or motility in at least two limbs affect 43.7% of patients, double incontinence 49.2%, severe disturbances in speech and communication 35.4%. The prevalence of care needs is higher in women compared with men. More females than males need aid in walking, help in eating, diapers, pressure sores prevention and bedposts.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gastric cancer in the elderly: results of surgical treatment.

Some relevant data on 290 patients (151 under 65 and 139 over 65 years of age) operated on for gastric carcinoma, have been analysed. The age, the stage and location of the neoplasm, the type of surgery and the post-operative mortality have been studied. The mortality in the 113 patients (64 under and 49 over the age of 65 years) who had had total or partial gastrectomies performed, was evaluated at one year, from one to three years and from three to five years. The survival was evaluated according to the age of the patients, the stage and site of the tumour and the type of operation performed. The most frequent location in the elderly patient is the distal third or two-thirds of the stomach. There is no difference between the mortality in elderly or younger patients except following partial gastrectomy. The survival analysed on the basis of the absolute value, the relationship to the stage, the site of the tumour and the type of operation, is longer in the elderly.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Platelet aggregation, erythrocyte filterability and changes of some blood coagulation parameters in subjects with chronic obstructive arteriopathy of the lower limbs].

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