Validation of Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire to assess exercise tolerance of Chinese elderly with coronary heart disease

Objective The Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire （VSAQ） has been used to assess exercise tolerance. Nevertheless, there is no val- idated Chinese version. The aim of this study is to determine whether a questionnaire-based method using the Chinese version of VSAQ （the modified VSAQ） is a practical tool to assess exercise tolerance of Chinese elderly with coronary heart disease. Methods One hundred thirty consecutive elderly patients who were diagnosed with coronary heart disease （CHD） （mean age 68.9 -4- 6.0 years） referred for treadmill exercise testing （TET） for clinical reasons were included in the study. They were asked to complete a questionnaire for clinical characteristics information on age, sex, history, exercise habits, medications, the original VSAQ and the modified VSAQ. We investigated the relationship between exer- cise tolerance in metabolic equivalents （METs） estimated by VSAQ and that obtained by TET. Results The METs by the original VSAQ and the modified VSAQ did not difference significantly （P = 0.528）. The modified VSAQ scores were significantly correlated with the METs oh- mined by TET （r = 0.819, 95% CI： 0.7534）.873, P 〈 0.01）, and the scores of original VSAQ also correlated with the METs by TET （r = 0.804, 95% CI： 0.7454）.854, P 〈 0.01）. The Bland-Altman graph analysis showed few values outside the limits of agrcement, suggesting good precision between the METs estimated by questionnaire and the METs obtained by TET. Conclusions The Chinese version of the VSAQ confirmed its validity and equivalence to the original version, especially when evaluating individuals with coronary heart disease and older adults. The results showed that the VSAQ is a valuable tool to assess the exercise tolerance.

Zinc Absorption from Representative Diet in a Chinese Elderly Population Using Stable Isotope Technique

Objective To determine the dietary zinc absorption in a Chinese elderly population and provide the basic data for the setting of zinc （Zn） recommended nutrient intakes （RNI） for Chinese elderly people. Methods A total of 24 elderly people were recruited for this study and were administered oral doses of 3 mg 67Zn and 1.2 mg dysprosium on the fourth day. The primary macronutrients, energy, and phytic acid in the representative diet were examined based on the Chinese National Standard Methods. Fecal samples were collected during the experimenta and dysprosium content. period and analyzed for zinc content, 67Zn isotope ratio, Results The mean （± SD） zinc intake from the representative Chinese diet was 10.6 ± 1.5 mg/d. The phytic acid-to-zinc molar ratio in the diet was 6.4. The absorption rate of 67Zn was 27.9% ±9.2%. The RNI of zinc, which were calculated by the absorption rate in elderly men and women, were 10.4 and 9.2 mg/d, respectively. Conclusion This study got the dietary Zn absorption in a Chinese elderly population. We found that Zn absorption was higher in elderly men than in elderly women. The current RNI in elderly female is lower than our finding, which indicates that more attention is needed regarding elderly females＇ zinc status and health.

The General Situation of Chinese Elderly Women Today

CURRENTLY there are more thar 50 million Chinese women over the age of 60, making up nine percent of the total female population. This number is increasing at the rate of about 2.8 percent per year. It is estimate that by the end of this century, one of every 10 women will be over the age of 60. This group of older women, with its own characteristics and demands, needs the attention and help of society. Over half a century ago when these women were born, China was still

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetes Mellitus in a Very Elderly Chinese Population: A Cross-sectional Study

Objectives This paper aimed to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus(DM)and explore the associated risk factors in a very elderly southwest Chinese population.Methods From September 2015 to June 2016,a cross-sectional survey was conducted to obtain a representative sample of 1,326 participants over 80 years old living in Chengdu.The presence of DM was based on fasting plasma glucose(FPG)and 2-h plasma glucose(2-h PG)levels during an oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT).A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios(ORs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)of the potential associated factors.Results The participants’mean age was 83.5±3.1 years.The overall prevalence of DM was 27.4%.The prevalence was higher in males(30.2%)than females(24.7%)(P=0.02).The prevalence of DM increased with body mass index(BMI)and decreased with aging.The multivariate analysis suggested that male sex(OR=1.433;95%CI,1.116–1.843),hypertension(OR=1.439;95%CI,1.079–1.936),overweight or obesity(OR=1.371;95%CI,1.023–1.834),high heart rate(≥75 beats/min;OR=1.362;95%CI,1.063–1.746),and abdominal obesity(OR=1.615;95%CI,1.216–2.149)were all significantly positively correlated with DM.However,age was negatively correlated with DM(OR=0.952;95%CI,0.916–0.989).Conclusions The prevalence of DM and newly diagnosed DM in a very elderly southwest Chinese population was high.OGTT screening should be performed regularly in people aged≥80 years to ensure timely diagnosis of DM.

Revision and validation of the“Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(Elderly Edition)”based on the Delphi process

Objective:This study aimed to revise the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire(Elderly Edition)(CCMQ-EE),as well as evaluate its reliability and validity.The objective was to provide a more accurate Chinese medicine constitution identification tool for geriatric health management and help further research on the relationship between geriatric diseases and constitution type,etc.Methods:The Delphi method and a cross-sectional survey of the elderly population were used.From April to October 2021,experts in different fields were invited to participate in the questionnaire,and items were revised through the experts'ratings and feedback.From December 2021 to February 2022,the revised CCMQ-EE was validated in the elderly population.Results:The coefficients of variation of rationality and importance scores decreased to less than 0.25 in the third round of Delphi.The Kendall coordination coefficients of rationality and importance in the third round were 0.15 and 0.17(P=.031 and P=.007,respectively).The revised CCMQ-EE was established with 34 items.The factor loadings of subscales were between 0.39 and 0.92,and the fitting effects of other subscales were acceptable,except for the inherited special constitution.The Cronbach alpha and test-retest reliability coefficients of each subscale ranged from 0.65 to 0.83,and 0.66 to 0.96,respectively.The composite reliability and average variance extraction were between 0.66 and 0.84,and between 0.32 and 0.57,respectively.The reliability and validity of the revised CCMQ-EE were acceptable or satisfactory.Conclusion:The revised CCMQ-EE was developed through a three-round Delphi process and internal team discussion.After the verification in the elderly in Beijing area,its measurement performance was good.The updated questionnaire can probably replace the initial version to better promote health management and help healthy aging by identifying the constitution type of the elderly.

Disability trajectories in activities of daily living of elderly Chinese before death

This study aims to analyze the changes in activities of daily living(ADL)of the Chinese elderly before death,and to explore the heterogeneity in this process.Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey(CLHLS),we quantify disability trajectories of ADL using a group-based trajectory model and find that there are three types of disability trajectory for ADL.The elderly who differ by socioeconomic status,childhood experiences,health behaviors,ages and birth cohorts show significant differences in their disability trajectories.Long duration of disability is found to be more prevalent in older females and people with high socioeconomic status.Good and stable status of ADL is more common among males and people of low socioeconomic status,while the elderly in an early cohort who died at older ages were more likely to have experienced a long duration of disability.Selective and protective effects contribute to the observed differences in trajectories.

Prevalence and influence factors of self-medication in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people: evidence from 2011, 2013 and 2015 CHARLS panel data

Self-medication is an increasingly frequent phenomenon worldwide and has an important influence on health.In this study,we analyzed the self-medication prevalence rate in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people,and explored the influence factors.The data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)in 2011,2013 and 2015 were used.Self-medication prevalence was calculated as the number of whole people divided by the number of people taking self-medication.The influence factors of self-medication were analyzed by panel data random effect model.We excluded observations with missing values in our analysis,leaving 16 962,17 876 and 19 572 observations in 2011,2013 and 2015,respectively.The average 3-year self-medication prevalence was 45.52%.Moreover,11.70%of respondents practiced self-medication with prescription medicine in 2011,2013 and 2015.Respondents living in non-rural areas(P=0.009)and western region(P=0.000)took more self-medication.Self-medication was a common phenomenon among middle-aged and elderly population in China.The government should strengthen the guidance for the middle-aged and elderly people who took more self-medication,such as those living in urban and western region.

Aged People in Chinese Society and Housing Planning for the Elderly People

China is galloping to a society of aged people,accord-ing to the Fourth National Population Survey,there hasbeen 97.38 million people over 60 years of age,accountingfor 8.59% of the total population.In other words,there hasbeen an increase of 0.95 Percentage than that of the ThirdNational Population Survey in 1982.The number of elderlypeople increased in the 8 years period at the annual rate of3.02%,which was one time higher than the average total in-crease(1.48). Five cities and provinces,namely,Shanghai,Beijing,Tianjin,Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Provincehave already become aged society.By the end of 1991,elder-ly People has reached 100 million.It is estimated that by2000, China will enter aged People’society with the totalamount of 131 million elderly people,accounting for 10%of the total population.Problems of the elderly People are vitally important so-cial issues.We often say that the children are the future ofmankind and there is no hope for the human being Withoutthe healthy development of

Depression among elderly Chinese-Canadian immigrants from China's Mainland

Background This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly immigrants from China's Mainland to Canada and the impact of various psychosocial factors as predictors of the number of depressive symptoms reported by the elderly Chinese immigrants Methods The participants were 444 elderly immigrants who migrated from China's Mainland to Canada They were a part of a random sample of 2272 elderly Chinese living in the communities and took part in a face-to-face interview to answer questions in an orally administrated questionnaire The depressive symptoms of the participants were measured by a Chinese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale Data obtained from the 444 elderly Chinese immigrants was analyzed to assess the impact of various psychosocial factors on the number of depressive symptoms that they reported Results The findings indicated that 23 2% of the elderly immigrants were assessed to have some depressive symptoms When other predicting variables were adjusted, elderly immigrants with more chronic illnesses, less positive attitude towards ageing, poorer physical health, less adequate financial situation, lower level of ethnic identification as Chinese, more service barriers, lower level of life satisfaction, shorter length of residency in Canada and those who lived alone tended to have more depressive symptoms Conclusions The findings indicate that the prevalence rate of depressive symptoms among our elderly immigrant sample is higher than the one reported in a general elderly population While further research is recommended to examine the reasons for such a difference, culturally appropriate health services, including health promotion programs, should be promoted to reduce mental health disparities

METABONOMICS CHARACTERISTICS OF MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY CHINESE PEOPLE WITH QI-INSUFFICIENCY CONSTITUTION

The aim of the work was to investigate the metabonomic characteristics of qi-insufficiency constitution among middle-aged and elderly healthy Chinese people.All healthy Chinese participants were screened from 2012annual health check-up for middle-aged and elderly community residents(=50 years old)at Chajiao community,

Conditions of Elderly Chinese Women

ACCORDING to the fourth national census in 1990, the population of women over the age of 60 had reached 51 million. With the increasing population of elderly people, the number of elderly women is becoming larger and larger The number of women who are 80 or more. is twice that of men over age 80. The problems of elderly women are attracting public attention. The information given in this article mainly comes from the 1990 national census except where noted otherwise.

Prognostic factors for community-acquired pneumonia in middle-aged and elderly patients treated with integrated medicine

OBJECTIVE:To identify prognostic factors in middle-aged and elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) who underwent integrated interventions involving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and modern medicine.METHODS:Patients aged ≥45 years and diagnosed with CAP were divided into a middle-aged cohort(45-59 years) and an elderly cohort(≥60 years),and clinical data comprising 75 predictor variables in seven classes were collected.After replacing missing data,calibrating multicenter differences and classifYing quantitative data,univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.RESULTS:On multivariate analysis,eight independent risk factors-respiration rate,C reactive protein(CRP),cost of hospitalization,anemia,gasping,confusion,moist rales and pneumonia severity index(PSI)-were correlated with the outcome "not cured" in the elderly cohort.Nine factors-neutrophil percentage(Neu%),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),time to clinical stability,appetite,anemia,confusion,being retired or unemployed,Gram-negative bacterial infection and educational level-were correlated with not cured in the middle-aged cohort.CONCLUSION:Independent predictive risk factors correlated with adverse outcomes in elderly patients were higher respiration rate,CRP≥four times the mean or median for the patient's center,cost of hospitalization>11,323 RMB and PSI>II,plus anemia,gasping,confusion and moist rales;those in middle-aged patients were higher Neu%,BUN≥mean or median,loss of appetite,anemia,confusion,being retired or unemployed and lower educational level.Gram-negative bacterial infection and time to clinical stability>9 days were protective factors.