Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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To evaluate several aspects of the relationship between alcohol use and coronary heart disease in older adults, including beverage type, mediating factors, and type of outcome. ⋯ In this population, consumption of 14 or more drinks per week was associated with the lowest risk of coronary heart disease, although clinicians should not recommend moderate drinking to prevent coronary heart disease based on this evidence alone, because current National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines suggest that older adults limit alcohol intake to one drink per day.
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To examine the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), self-reported HRQOL was compared in prostate cancer patients receiving short- (< 6 months) or long-term (> or = 6 months) ADT and healthy controls. ⋯ Patients with prostate cancer who were receiving ADT experience worse HRQOL than those not receiving ADT, but duration of ADT was not a contributing factor. After controlling for comorbidity, total testosterone level rather than ADT accounted for a small yet statistically significant percentage of the total variance of the physical health component summary. These findings have important clinical implications regarding the decision to treat prostate cancer patients with ADT.
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To make comparative estimates of prevalence of late-life functional disability, examine sociodemographic and health correlates, investigate sex and ethnic differences, and estimate population attributable risk of modifiable risk factors. ⋯ Lower prevalence of functional disability accompanies rapid aging and health transition in Singapore than in other countries but higher prevalence than reported past prevalence within the country. Associations with sociodemographic and health-related factors were consistent with Western studies, including unexplained sex and ethnic differences.