Biomedical subjects

Peak-Chiang Chiam

Publications and source records attributed to Peak-Chiang Chiam.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Mental disorders and asthma in the elderly: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have mostly linked anxiety disorders with asthma in young patients, but the data are inconsistent for depression. Few population-based studies have investigated the co-morbid diagnoses of mental disorders with asthma in older adults. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of a population sample of older adults aged 60 and above (n = 1092). The diagnoses of recent depression and anxiety were made using the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) Schedule. The presence of asthma was ascertained by self-reports of physician-diagnosed asthma. RESULTS: Asthma was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive disorders, with odds ratio of 2.45 (95% CI, 1.06-5.69) when compared against non-asthmatic controls; and 2.42 (95% CI, 1.04-5.64) when compared against controls with other chronic illnesses, after adjusting for psychosocial factors, physical co-morbidity and use of depression-causing drugs. Odds ratios were elevated but statistically insignificant for anxiety disorders and dementia. CONCLUSION: We observed that asthma in the elderly was more evidently associated co-morbidly with depression, rather than anxiety disorder. However, possible associations with anxiety and dementia are not excluded, and should be further investigated.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Curry consumption and cognitive function in the elderly.

Curcumin, from the curry spice turmeric, has been shown to possess potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties and to reduce beta-amyloid and plaque burden in experimental studies, but epidemiologic evidence is lacking. The authors investigated the association between usual curry consumption level and cognitive function in elderly Asians. In a population-based cohort (n = 1,010) of nondemented elderly Asian subjects aged 60-93 years in 2003, the authors compared Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores for three categories of regular curry consumption, taking into account known sociodemographic, health, and behavioral correlates of MMSE performance. Those who consumed curry "occasionally" and "often or very often" had significantly better MMSE scores than did subjects who "never or rarely" consumed curry. The authors reported tentative evidence of better cognitive performance from curry consumption in nondemented elderly Asians, which should be confirmed in future studies.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Physical and cognitive domains of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: validation in a multiethnic population of Asian older adults.

BACKGROUND: We sought to assess the validity of the physical and cognitive domains of Lawton and Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale and its cross-cultural applicability across ethnic groups in an Asian population of community-living older adults. METHODS: Using data from a random population sample of noninstitutionalized Chinese, Malay, and Indian older adults 60 years old and older in Singapore (N = 1072), we modeled the dimensional structure of the 8-item IADL Scale using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and assessed its convergent and divergent validity using known group differences and strengths of association. RESULTS: Factor analyses yielded two strong and reliable factors representing underlying physical and cognitive dimensions of IADL. The validity of the model was supported by the pattern of associations of the IADL with age, gender, education, self-reported health status, hospitalization, physical comorbidities, dementia and depression, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Notably, cognitive IADL showed a greater total effect on MMSE cognitive performance score than did physical IADL, with the effect of physical IADL on MMSE score mostly explained by cognitive IADL. Reasonably good cross-cultural validity was demonstrated among Chinese, Malays, and Indians, with strongest validity for Indians. CONCLUSION: The eight-item IADL Scale has physical and cognitive domains and is cross-culturally applicable. The cognitive IADL domain taps a set of activities directly related to cognitive functioning.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

Prevalence and correlates of functional disability in multiethnic elderly Singaporeans.

OBJECTIVES: To make comparative estimates of prevalence of late-life functional disability, examine sociodemographic and health correlates, investigate sex and ethnic differences, and estimate population attributable risk of modifiable risk factors. DESIGN: Population-based survey. SETTING: Multiethnic population of Singapore (3 million residents). PARTICIPANTS: Noninstitutionalized Chinese, Malay, and Indian people aged 60 and older (N=1,079) MEASUREMENTS: Functional disability was defined as needing help in at least one basic activity of daily living (ADL) task in the 10 items of the Barthel Index. Five basic ADLs (eating, bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting) were used to compare prevalence with those reported from other national surveys and with reported past prevalence within the country. RESULTS: The prevalence of disability in at least one of five ADL items (6.6% in those aged > or = 65) appeared lower than elsewhere, including China, but higher than reported past prevalence within the country. Functional disability on at least one of the 10 ADL items was independently associated with female sex, Indian ethnicity, older age, poor self-rated health, specific chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, and living with others. The population attributable risks for leading modifiable factors were arthritis (12%) and cognitive impairment (14%). CONCLUSION: Lower prevalence of functional disability accompanies rapid aging and health transition in Singapore than in other countries but higher prevalence than reported past prevalence within the country. Associations with sociodemographic and health-related factors were consistent with Western studies, including unexplained sex and ethnic differences.

Activities of Daily Living↗