Elderly Institutionalized Population Research Articles

Fatty acid composition of serum lipids and its relation to diet in an elderly institutionalized population

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional status with respect to fatty acids of 53 institutionalized elderly subjects (group A). Seven-day food records and biochemical determinations were used. The same protocol was applied to 25 healthy young adults (group B). The 1981 French Recommended Dietary Allowances were used to assess adequacy of intake. Total fat intake was found to be too high in both groups. Higher intakes of animal fats and saturated fatty acids and lower intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid were documented in group A than in group B. Elderly subjects exhibited decreased 18:2 omega 6 and 20:4 omega 6 in serum phospholipids and triglycerides. Other indicators of essential fatty acid status in group A differed from group B in the direction of deficiency (double-bond index [DBI], 0.93 +/- 0.01 vs 1.13 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.001; total omega 6, 25.07 +/- 0.46% vs 32.49 +/- 0.89%, p less than 0.001). These findings indicate that institutionalized elderly people are deficient in circulating essential fatty acids, which appears to be caused by both diet and metabolism.

SnF2 as an adjunct to toothbrushing in an elderly institutionalized population.

SUMMARYThis study examined whether tooth brushing with 0.4% SnF2 gel altered the oral microflora or improved the gingival health of an elderly institutionalized population. The trial included a 2‐week initial preparation period, two sequential experimental periods during which active agent and placebo were “crossed over,” and a 1‐week interim between the experimental periods.

The Effect of Dementia on Mortality in the Elderly Institutionalized Population

ABSTRACTDementia has long been known to shorten life in the elderly, although some studies have suggested a weakening of this relationship in recent decades. This Ontario study involves the comparison of residents with dementia versus a matched group without dementia who were living in long-term-care institutions at the start of the follow-up period.The 2-year death rate in the 257 cases in the matched dementia group was 40.1%, significantly higher than the 30.7% rate in the matched controls. This excess was observed in all four types of institutions, and in seven of the eight sex-age groups. Individuals with dementia who were reported to cause disturbance by noisy behaviour had a significantly higher death rate than others.Comparison of our findings with earlier work suggests that the trend of mortality in elderly institutional residents with dementia has continued downward.

Influenza A/Brazil/78(H1N1) infection in the elderly.

Although influenza A/H1N1 virus has caused both sporadic illness and epidemics throughout the world, there have been few cases and no outbreaks reported in older persons. Using a surveillance program for detection of viral respiratory tract illness, we documented an outbreak of influenza (A/Brazil/78(H1N1) infection in one floor of a chronic disease hospital. We prospectively studied all 32 patients and 16 personnel on that floor. Infection was proved in 11 subjects by serology and/or virus isolation, including 9 patients (median age, 84 yr) and 2 personnel (36 and 58 yr of age), for attack rates of 28% and 12.5%, respectively. Six patients had fever, 38 degrees C to 39 degrees C, lasting for 1 to 5 days (median, 4), and/or respiratory and constitutional symptoms lasting for 2 to 17 days (median, 13). Bacterial pneumonia occurred in 1 patient 12 days after the onset of upper respiratory tract illness. Risk factors for acquisition of infection in patients included a nonvaccinated state (p = 0.03) and a preinfection antibody titer of less than or equal to 32 (p = 0.02). These findings indicate that older persons are at risk for infection with influenza A/H1N1 virus, which may also cause outbreaks of respiratory illness in the elderly institutionalized population similar to other influenza viruses.