85-year-olds will increase by a third by 2020: UK study
December 23rd, 2009 - 1:33 pm ICT by ANILondon, Dec 23 (ANI): The population of people over 85 years of age in Britain would increase by one third by 2020, says a new study.
The study suggested that health and social care provision needs to be put in place for a large increase-33 percent-in the 85 year old population in the UK by 2020.
The researchers said that while “the oldest old” (individuals aged 80 or 85 years and over) are the fastest growing sector of the world’s population, detailed data about the health problems experienced in this age group is lacking.
For the Newcastle 85+ Study, the researchers assessed the health of more than one thousand individuals born in 1921 and living in Newcastle and North Tyneside.
The majority of participants underwent a detailed health assessment and a medical record review, reports BMJ.
Lead researcher, Professor Tom Kirkwood said the research group provided an invaluable resource of material as they had “evaded the risks of mortality associated with specific adverse factors and are therefore particularly likely to be informative about the effects of intrinsic ageing”.
Despite significant levels of disease and impairment, the researchers found that “these 85 year olds seemed optimistic” and almost eight out of ten (78pc) of them rated their health, compared to others of the same age, as ‘good’ or better.
Low levels of disability were found and only one out of ten participants was in institutional care.
The results also show that almost six out of ten participants suffered from high blood pressure and just over a half had osteoarthritis.
Moderate to severe cognitive impairment was present in 12 percent of the group and 21pc of them had severe to profound urinary incontinence.
Six out of ten had some form of hearing impairment and almost four out of ten had visual impairment.
More than nine out of ten participants had seen their GP and almost eight out of ten had seen a practice nurse in the previous year.
Although women had a higher number of diseases and disabilities than men, they were less likely to have gone to hospital as an outpatient in the previous three months.
The authors concluded that the study is important as it will help local and national policy makers plan services for the expanding population of oldest old.
The study was published on bmj.com. (ANI)
- Smoking 'ups breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women' - Mar 02, 2011
- Low socioeconomic status 'ups depression risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients' - Jan 27, 2011
- Following healthy lifestyle tips could prevent bowel cancer - Oct 27, 2010
- Poor hand grip linked to poor survival - Feb 09, 2010
- Handgrip strength in the oldest old related to poor survival - Feb 09, 2010
- Retirement 'leads to a substantial reduction in tiredness, depression' - Nov 24, 2010
- Mild memory problem ups risk of death - Sep 06, 2011
- Healthier men enjoy more years of good sex - Mar 10, 2010
- E. coli infection linked to heart disease risk - Nov 19, 2010
- Physical symptoms prevalent in all types of cancers regardless of stage - Oct 12, 2010
- Age-related problems develop faster in middle age adults with diabetes - Apr 01, 2011
- Genes a crucial factor in urinary incontinence - Apr 05, 2011
- Poor work ability linked to faster deterioration of health - Feb 01, 2011
- Poor oral hygiene linked to cancer deaths - Jun 12, 2012
- Smoking accounts for more than a third of severe rheumatoid arthritis cases - Dec 14, 2010
Tags: ageing, care provision, health and social care, health assessment, health problems, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, institutional care, invaluable resource, medical record, north tyneside, osteoarthritis, practice nurse, professor tom, research group, researcher professor, severe cognitive impairment, tom kirkwood, urinary incontinence, visual impairment