Size Of Elderly Population Research Articles

A replication of the curvilinear relationship between population growth and elderly suicide rates in a cross-national study

A curvilinear (U-shaped) relationship between population growth rates and elderly suicide rates fitting the quadratic equation y = a + bx + cx2 (where y is the elderly suicide rate, x is the population growth rate and a, b and c are constants) has been reported (Shah, 2009a). A theoretical model with three sequential stages incorporating population growth, elderly population size, the proportion of elderly in the general population, life expectancy and birth rates has been proposed to explain the findings (Shah, 2009a).

A comparative study of elderly suicides in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: trends over time and age-associated trends

The elderly population size in the U.K. and its constituent countries is increasing. Traditionally, suicide rates increase with aging. Time trends in elderly suicide rates and age-associated trends in suicide rates in the U.K. and its three constituent countries (England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) were examined and comparisons were made of elderly suicide rates in these three countries using data from the World Health Organization. Elderly suicide rates in both sexes declined over the 24-year period 1979 to 2002 in the whole of the U.K., England and Wales, and Scotland, but only in females in the age-band 65-74 years in Northern Ireland. Female suicide rates increased with age while male suicide rates peaked in the age-band 25-34 years in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland and Scotland male suicide rates decreased with age and peaked in the age-band 25-34 years, and female suicide rates peaked in the age-bands 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 years. Elderly suicide rates were lowest in Northern Ireland. The similarities and differences in elderly suicide rates, time trends for elderly suicide rates and age-associated trends in suicide rates between the three constituent countries of the U.K. offer an opportunity to examine the differential characteristics between these countries which may potentially explain these observations.

The relationship between research publications in two leading geriatric psychiatry journals and elderly population size, socio-economic status and markers of mental health care

The relationship between research publications in two leading geriatric psychiatry journals and elderly population size, socio-economic status and markers of mental health care

Comparison of elderly suicide rates among migrants in England and Wales with their country of origin

The black and minority ethnic (BME) elderly population size in England and Wales has progressively increased over the last three decades. Only two studies, both well over a decade old, have compared suicide rates in BME groups in England and Wales with those in their country of origin. A study comparing suicide rates among elderly migrants in England and Wales and in their country of origin using the latest available mortality data from the Office of National Statistics and the World Health Organization was conducted. There were wide variations in standardised mortality ratios for elderly suicides among migrants from different countries compared with those born in England and Wales and in their country of origin. There was convergence towards elderly suicide rates for England and Wales in some migrant groups in males in the age-bands 65-74 years and 75 + years, and in females in the age-band 75 + years. However, males aged 75 + years from most migrant groups had higher rates than those born in England and Wales. A more detailed analysis of suicide of older people from migrant groups is required to determine vulnerability and protective influences.

Do socio-economic factors, elderly population size and service development factors influence the development of specialist mental health programs for older people?

Despite the increase in the proportion of older people in the population, little is known about factors that facilitate the development of specialist mental health services for older people. The relationship between the presence of specialist mental health programs for older people and elderly population size, proportion of older people in the population, gross national domestic product (GDP), and various parameters of health funding, mental health funding and mental health service provision was examined in an ecological study using data from the World Health Organization. The presence of specialist mental health programs for older people was significantly associated with higher GDP, higher expenditure on healthcare and mental healthcare, the presence of a national mental health policy and a national mental health program, the availability of mental health care in primary care and the community, and higher density of psychiatric beds, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and social workers. The challenge will be to persuade policy-makers in low and medium income countries, where the increase in the elderly population is most rapid, to develop specialist mental health services for older people.

A Framework For Long-Term Actuarial Projections Of Health Care Costs

Ever-expanding life expectancy is increasing the size of elderly populations with profound social and economic consequences for developed nations, including future cost of their health care systems. Most existing long-term health care cost projections are driven mainly by changing demographics (aging populations). This simplified approach fails to recognize the many variables, and complicated interactions among them, affecting the future of health, health care, and health care costs. This study presents a framework incorporating key health care cost drivers. Using the framework, the study then introduces three plausible futures for health care along with broad, nonmodeled estimates of their costs that point to a very wide range of potential future costs. By taking the next step and building actuarial models based on the framework presented in this study, actuaries and health economists can create a powerful tool for health policymakers and health officials to better understand the long-term consequences of decisions taken during their stewardship of health care systems.

Early treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: implications for reducing the risk of permanent bladder damage.

A significant change has occurred in the management of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) since effective pharmacological treatment became available and led to a significant decrease in the number of surgical procedures in many Western countries. The hypothesis of a causative role of benign prostatic enlargement and bladder outflow obstruction (BOO) in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was based on the association between prostate growth and symptoms of prostatism in elderly men and on the dramatic reduction of LUTS upon relief of obstruction. Careful investigation into the epidemiology of LUTS and BPH failed to confirm such an association and opened new perspectives in the pathophysiology of lower urinary tract dysfunction and symptoms. The observation that LUTS were equally distributed in male and female cohorts, when matched for age, moved attention away from the prostate and towards the urinary bladder and its aging-related disorders. When BPH surgery was developed, the management of the disease was aimed at preventing death from chronic renal failure, but the picture has changed and modern medical treatment is now aimed at improving the patient's quality of life. The increasing size of elderly populations in the Western world and the consequent financial constraints of national healthcare systems have raised the question of when pharmacological treatment of symptomatic BPH should be initiated. Retrospective and prospective analysis of various BPH populations and clinical studies has clearly defined the capacity of pharmacological treatment to reduce the incidence of complications of BPH, such as acute urinary retention and the need for surgery, but the cost/benefit ratio is unclear. Notwithstanding the limitations inherent in the experimental models, there is evidence from various animal models, investigating the pathophysiology of the urinary bladder in the presence of outflow obstruction, to indicate that a cause and effect relationship between BOO and bladder decompensation has been established and to support the hypothesis that permanent bladder damage may occur when the obstruction is not relieved early enough. Preliminary experimental evidence also suggests that alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists may have a role in reducing the damaging effects of BOO on the urinary bladder. At present, there is no evidence to support the need for early pharmacological treatment of symptomatic BPH with no BOO beyond the obvious target of improving the patient's quality of life. The evidence for early treatment of BOO and the need to preserve bladder function is clear. Further experimental and clinical research is required to identify markers of early bladder damage and decompensation which can be used to select patients for early pharmacological treatment of BPH.

Recent trends in elderly suicide rates in England and Wales.

The proportion of elderly in the population is increasing due to increased life expectancy and falling birth rate, and suicide rates increase with age. This study examined the following in England and Wales: (i) recent trends in the elderly suicide rate; (ii) recent trends in method-specific elderly suicide rate; (iii) the relationship between elderly population size and elderly suicide rate in recent years; and (iv) the sex difference in overall and method-specific elderly suicide rate. Data on the various suicide variables were ascertained from the annually published mortality data for years 1985 to 1996. The main findings of this study were: (i) there is a trend towards decline in the overall pure and combined suicide rates for elderly men and women over the 12 year study period; (ii) the main contributors to this decline are suicides due to poisoning by solid and liquid substances (E950), hanging, strangulation and suffocation (E953), drowning (E954), firearms and explosives (E955), and jumping from high places (E957); (iii) the overall pure and combined suicide rates and that for most categories of suicide was higher in men compared to women; and (iv) suicide rates decreased with an increase in the elderly population size. Suicide rates can decline due to a number of reasons. The challenge now is to ensure further decline in suicide rates to meet the Our Healthier Nations target.

The future of Thailand’s population policy: Potential directions

Thailand has experienced concurrent population fertility change and economic change. Fertility in the country is close to or at replacement level and has been projected to even fall below replacement level. The authors consider whether Thailand's rate of fertility will fall below replacement, whether further fertility decline should be encouraged, and how policies may be adjusted to ensure that fertility decline is relatively uniform across all segments of the population. Since the mean desired family size of married couples remains about two children, it is unlikely that the fertility rate in Thailand will fall below replacement barring substantial change in the country's social and cultural contexts. Some people concerned about population aging and potential labor shortages, however, are calling for the development and implementation of pronatalist government policy. Such a move may be unwarranted given the very long time lag required before fertility decline affects the absolute size of elderly populations. As for labor shortages, Thailand's rapidly growing economy and lagging education are more to blame than demographic change. Policy makers and planners in Thailand must reevaluate the country's long-term population goals and policies.