Finnish Elderly People Research Articles

Ocular surface health of the Finnish elderly population.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical ocular surface characteristics in a population-based sample of Finnish elderly people. This cross-sectional study included 601 subjects (335 females, 266 males) born between the years 1933-1956 and living in Savitaipale, Finland. Ocular surface health was evaluated using a comprehensive set of diagnostic tests. Previous dry eye (DE) diagnosis and history of drug treatment of DE were also recorded. Differences between sexes were estimated with Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher's exact test. Overall, 10% and 33% of people displayed signs of DE and ocular surface disease (OSD), respectively, and 30% had been previously diagnosed with DE and 36% used some form of drugs for DE. Men displayed more severe signs of meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis and conjunctival redness (p < 0.001), while women had higher scores in corneal staining (p = 0.005) and OSD Index (p < 0.001). Signs of OSD and DE are common among the Finnish elderly population. However, the diagnosis is affected by the diagnostic criteria used and significant differences exist between sexes. Although women were more frequently diagnosed with DE and OSD and experienced more ocular surface irritation, men had more often lid and meibomian gland-related issues. The current diagnostic criteria of DE pose a risk of misclassifying men, who commonly display less severe symptoms in comparison with women yet exhibit more severe clinical signs associated especially with the lid margin.

Investigating the Finnish Elderly People’s Attitudes and Motivation towards Digital Game-Based Physical Exercises

Attitudes and motivation towards physical exercises play a vital role for elderly people’s adherence to exercise. In recent years, digital games have been used to enhance elderly people’s experiences in physical exercises. However, there is a limited number of studies regarding elderly people’s attitudes and motivation towards digital game-based exercises. In this study, we aim at investigating the Finnish elderly people’s attitudes towards physical and digital game-based exercises, as well as their motivation in the gameplay. Furthermore, we intend to investigate if digital games can be an alternative way of exercising for elderly people. We conducted a user experience test of the “Skiing Game” with 21 elderly participants in Finland. We applied both qualitative (e.g. interview) and quantitative (e.g. questionnaires) methods to collect data from the participants. Then, we analyzed the data by using SPSS and Nvivo. The findings show that the Finnish elderly people’s attitudes towards physical exercises are more positive than digital game-based exercises. However, their attitudes towards digital games have become more positive after the gameplay. Their in-game and post-game user experiences were moderately positive. Their motivation to play digital game-based exercises was moderately high after the gameplay. Their feedback towards the Skiing game was positive. They recommend that digital game-based exercises can be an effective way of exercising. Based on these findings, we recommend that digital games are promising to be used as an alternative way of exercising for the Finnish elderly people. The discussion in this study can help researchers gain insights about using digital games for promoting elderly people’s participation in physical exercises.

Investigating the Finnish elderly people’s user experiences in playing digital game-based skiing exercise: A usability study

Investigating the Finnish elderly people’s user experiences in playing digital game-based skiing exercise: A usability study

Association of depression and sleep quality with complications of type 2 diabetes in elderly

Introduction.– Many physical, psychological and social factors have an impact on the well-being of elderly. We studied the psychological well-being and alcohol use of Finnish elderly people living over 2months/year in Spain compared to those living in capital area of Finland, city of Espoo. Methods.– A structured questionnairewas delivered to elderly people over 65years in Espoo 2007 and in Costa del Sol area, Spain, 2011. Random sample included 2100 persons in Espoo and 500 persons in Spain, of which the response rate was 71,6% and 62,8%, respectively. We had 1395 answered questionnaires from Espoo and314 fromSpain after purifying thedata. Questionnaire included demographics and physical, psychological and social issues and alcohol use. We studied the psychological well-being by PSYCHSCORE, including loneliness, depression, zest for life, plans for the future, feeling of being needed and life satisfaction. Results.– Mean age was 72.6 years in Espoo and 70.9 years in Spain. Elderly living in Spain had higher education, better incomes, lived more oftenwith a partner and had better health (all P<0.001) compared to people living in Espoo. Elderly in Spain used more alcohol than those inEspoo (P<0.001), experiencedmore falls (P=0.09) and fractures (P=0.03), but had better psychological well-being (85,7% vs 60.3%, P<0.001). Conclusions.– Psychological well-being among elderly in our sample is linked to higher education, better incomes, better health and living with a partner. Elderly living in Spain used more alcohol and had better psychological well-being compared to elderly in Espoo.

Inflammation and thoracic aortic structure assessed by PET/CT scan and arterial stiffness in elderly patients

Introduction.– Many physical, psychological and social factors have an impact on the well-being of elderly. We studied the psychological well-being and alcohol use of Finnish elderly people living over 2months/year in Spain compared to those living in capital area of Finland, city of Espoo. Methods.– A structured questionnairewas delivered to elderly people over 65years in Espoo 2007 and in Costa del Sol area, Spain, 2011. Random sample included 2100 persons in Espoo and 500 persons in Spain, of which the response rate was 71,6% and 62,8%, respectively. We had 1395 answered questionnaires from Espoo and314 fromSpain after purifying thedata. Questionnaire included demographics and physical, psychological and social issues and alcohol use. We studied the psychological well-being by PSYCHSCORE, including loneliness, depression, zest for life, plans for the future, feeling of being needed and life satisfaction. Results.– Mean age was 72.6 years in Espoo and 70.9 years in Spain. Elderly living in Spain had higher education, better incomes, lived more oftenwith a partner and had better health (all P<0.001) compared to people living in Espoo. Elderly in Spain used more alcohol than those inEspoo (P<0.001), experiencedmore falls (P=0.09) and fractures (P=0.03), but had better psychological well-being (85,7% vs 60.3%, P<0.001). Conclusions.– Psychological well-being among elderly in our sample is linked to higher education, better incomes, better health and living with a partner. Elderly living in Spain used more alcohol and had better psychological well-being compared to elderly in Espoo.

‘No good for shovelling snow and carrying firewood’: Social representations of computers and the internet by elderly Finnish non-users

This study explores elderly people’s refusal to use the computer and the internet from the perspective of social representations by seeking answers to the following questions: How do the respondents classify the computer and the internet? What kind of images do they use to depict the computer and the internet? How do the social representations of the computer and the internet express the respondents’ distinct identities, interests, history and culture? The research data consist of written accounts by Finnish elderly people living in non-urban environments. Their social representations can be summarized as follows: the computer and the internet are useless and risky ‘tools and things’ that threaten one’s freedom, lifestyle, health and security as well as create differences between users and non-users. The study shows how some elderly people’s distinct identities, interests, history and culture may limit their motivation and capacity to welcome and use the computer.

Association of smoking status with obesity and diabetes among elderly people

The present study was aimed to examine associations of current and ex-smoking status with obesity and diabetes among elderly people. Nationwide study of Finnish elderly people based on biennial surveys from 1985 to 1995, were used to study 7482 people aged 65–79 years. Smoking status included non-, ex-light, ex-heavy, current light, and current heavy smokers. Obesity was set as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30. Information of smoking, BMI, and diabetes was based on self-reports. Logistic regression was used as the main method of analyses. Compared to non-smokers (reference category), ex-heavy smokers had higher (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval: 1.09, 1.85) and current light smokers (OR, 0.46; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.69) lower relative risk of obesity. Current light smokers had also lower and ex-heavy smokers higher rate of diabetes than non-smokers. Ex-heavy smokers had a higher risk of obesity (OR, 1.75; 95% CI: 1.30, 2.36) and diabetes (OR, 1.48; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.01) than ex-light smokers. Same pattern for current smokers was found. Heavy ex- and current elderly smokers are at risk of obesity and diabetes. Thus, heavy smokers should be emphasized in programs promoting smoking cessation.

Hospital-treated minimal-trauma rib fractures in elderly Finns: long-term trends and projections for the future.

We determined the current trends in the number and incidence of hospital-treated minimal-trauma rib fractures (low- to moderate-energy traumas typically caused by a fall from standing height or less) in Finnish elderly people by collecting from the National Hospital Discharge Register all patients 60 years of age or more who were admitted to hospitals in 1970-2001 for primary treatment of such fractures. The number and incidence (per 100,000 persons) of these fractures clearly increased from 268 (number) and 41 (incidence) in 1970 to 737 and 70 in 2001, while in younger patients (aged 20-49 years) the trend was decreasing, the corresponding numbers being 194 and 10 in 1970, and 153 and 7 in 2001. In the elderly Finns, also the age-adjusted incidence of these hospital-admitted rib fractures showed an increase, from 37 (1970) to 51 (2001) in women, and from 63 to 77 in men. In women aged 80 years and over, the age-specific incidence of fracture increased from 88 to 186, while in the other age groups only slight secular changes were found. If the above-described trends continue, the number of elderly Finns admitted to a hospital due to a rib fracture will more than double in next three decades.

Changes and associations in healthy diet among the Finnish elderly, 1985-2001.

diet is related to health and studies of transitions in diet among elderly people are scarce. The aim of this study was to monitor any recent changes in healthy diet among the 65- to 79-year-old population of Finnish citizens. Possible disparities in 5-year age groups, occupation and marital status were examined. biennially conducted nationwide monitoring cross-sectional surveys among Finnish elderly people were used to study 11,793 (response rate 82%) men and women from 1985-2001. Data were pooled into three time periods. Analysis of logistic regression was used to compare and test for changes in healthy diet in categories of sociodemographic factors. the diet of the elderly population clearly improved from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. The change over the monitoring period was slightly steadier among women than men. The youngest respondents, especially women, retired office employees and married persons had the healthiest diet. continuing improvement in diet might indicate positive health outcomes in the future. Nevertheless, there are still subgroups with unhealthier diets that include persons who are also underprivileged as far as functional ability is concerned.

Functional ability in the elderly Finnish population: time period differences and associations, 1985-99.

The aim of this study was to determine whether functional ability among 65- to 79-year-old Finnish men and women changed at population level from the 1980s to 1990s and how gender, age, previous occupation, and marital status are associated with functional ability and whether these associations have changed over time. Biennial surveys on health behaviour among Finnish elderly people were used to study 10,309 men and women from 1985 to 1999. Age, gender, previous occupation, and marital status were the demographic variables. Logistic regression was used to determine differences. Functional ability deteriorated clearly with age, but was slightly better in the 1990s than 1980s. Gender differences of functional ability were small. Retired office employees had the best functional ability. Moreover, time changes of functional ability between occupational groups were a little more positive among men than among women. Functional ability of divorced and widowed elderly emerged as slightly worse than among married persons. Young age and non-manual occupation prior to retirement were associated with better functional ability. The overall improvement of self-reported functional ability among elderly people suggests that the onset of disabilities could be postponed, especially if health-related circumstances were more evenly distributed at the start of or even before retirement age.

Prevalence of coronary heart disease, associated manifestations and electrocardiographic findings in elderly Finns.

to study the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its clinical manifestations among Finnish elderly people in a cross-sectional epidemiological survey in the rural district of Lieto, southwestern Finland, with special emphasis on the overlap of CHD manifestations with electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and factors associated with CHD. observational population-based study. Health Centre in Lieto, Finland, 1990-91. 488 men and 708 women aged 64-97 years. angina pectoris (AP) and dyspnoea were recorded using the London School of Hygiene cardiovascular questionnaires. Resting ECG findings were analysed and coded. Minnesota codes 1.1-1.3, 4.1-4.4, 5.1-5.3 or 7.1 were interpreted as ischaemic. The medical history of cardiovascular diseases was based on medical records. the prevalence of AP was 9.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7-12.0] among men and 4.9% (3.5-6.8) among women. The respective figures for myocardial infarction (MI) were 13.9% (10.9-17.0) and 6.5% (4.8-8.6). Ischaemic ECG findings were common: 32.9% (28.7-37.1) of men and 39.3% (35.7-43.0) of women had such changes, whereas only a minority of them reported typical AP. The total prevalence of CHD, including AP, MI, past coronary artery by-pass operation or angioplasty or ischaemic ECG findings, was 37.7% (33.4-42.0) in men and 42.0% (38.3-45.6) in women. Among men, a higher prevalence of CHD was associated with increasing age [odds ratio (OR) 1.81; 95% .CI: 1.20-2.73] and a history of having smoked in the past (OR 1.66; 1.06-2.59), whereas among women it was associated with increasing age (OR 2.02; 1.48-2.77) and a lower educational level (OR 2.30; 1.37-3.86). the prevalence of CHD among elderly people is high and the clinical picture of the disease is variable. The nature of CHD seems to be less severe among elderly women compared with men. Minor ECG changes, especially in the ST and T segments, are common with ageing and should not necessarily be interpreted as ischaemic. However, these findings combined with atypical chest pain or dyspnoea in an elderly person may indicate the possibility of CHD.

Comparison of health status between Portuguese and Finnish elderly people

This study compares the living situation, morbidity and mortality and related factors between two different communities, one in eastern Finland (with high mortality in cardiovascular diseases) and another in Lisbon, Portugal (representing the Mediterranean area with low ischaemic heart disease but nigh cerebrovascular mortality). The representative samples of 65-74 year old population were examined using the same study protocol, and official mortality statistics were analyzed from these countries. The results show that elderly Finns have more facilities at home than elderly Portuguese. Self reported diabetes mellitus, stroke and chronic bronchitis as well as obstipation, urinary problems, leg pain and chest pain, and cough in the morning were more prevalent in Portugal but cardiac failure was more common in Finland. Reported hypertension and antihypertensive drug treatment were equally prevalent in both countries, but diastolic blood pressure level was clearly higher in Portugal. Total CVD mortality in this age group is higher in Finland among men but lower among women, stroke mortality is higher but ischaemic heart disease lower among both genders in Portugal.