Research Interests: Medicine, Sweden, Humans, Female, Pubmed, and 4 moreMale, Aged, Drug Therapy, and consumption sociology
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Within in the framework of the longitudinal gerontological and geriatric population study in Göteborg, Sweden, S-Magnesium (S-Mg) was examined in 55 70-year-old males and 55 70-year-old females with a as many probands without diuretic... more
Within in the framework of the longitudinal gerontological and geriatric population study in Göteborg, Sweden, S-Magnesium (S-Mg) was examined in 55 70-year-old males and 55 70-year-old females with a as many probands without diuretic treatment. Probands with diuretic treatment had lower S-Mg than others (p smaller than 0.001). Females had higher S-Mg values than males both in those with (p smaller than 0.05) and without (p smaller than 0.01) diuretic treatment. Sixteen per cent of the males and 7 per cent of the females with diuretics had S-Mg below 0.7 mmol/l compared to none in those without. Out of 161 geriatric inpatients those 50 (17 males and 33 females) with the lowest S-Mg values took part in a double blind comparison between supplementation with a magnesium chloride and a placebo solution during three weeks. The daily dose was 12.5 mmol MgCl2. The tolerance of the solution was tested in 30 young healthy individuals and was found to be good. During treatment with magnesium ...
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Penbutolol (Hoe 893d), a long-acting non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, was given once daily to 23 patients with primary hypertension, WHO Stages I-II. The dose (50-100mg) needed to achieve the therapeutic goal, i.e. supine... more
Penbutolol (Hoe 893d), a long-acting non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, was given once daily to 23 patients with primary hypertension, WHO Stages I-II. The dose (50-100mg) needed to achieve the therapeutic goal, i.e. supine diastolic BP less than 95 mm Hg, was titrated individually. On a daily dose of penbutolol 83 +/- 19 mg (mean +/- SD) blood pressure (BP, mean +/- SD) fell from 180 +/- 21/112 +/- 8 mmHg on placebo to 154 +/- 25/94 +/- 14 mmHg. 18 patients who reached the therapeutic goal (responders) continued in a double blind, cross-over study versus placebo, during which the supine BP fell on average 20/10 mmHg on the same dose of penbutolol, and 2/1 mmHg on placebo. Plasma concentrations (mean +/- SD) of free 0.10 +/- 0.07 microgram/ml) and total (2.02 +/- 1.39 microgram/ml) penbutolol did not differ between responders and nonresponders, and were not correlated with the fall in BP. Side effects were mild and mostly well tolerated. One patient developed dermatitis and another an elevation of liver enzymes.
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Summary of the Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone (EPRZ) assessment form. (DOCX 42 kb)
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consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure levels in subjects with and without such treatment are presented. The prevalence of treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including /3-blockers and diuretics for other Indications)... more
consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure levels in subjects with and without such treatment are presented. The prevalence of treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including /3-blockers and diuretics for other Indications) increased from 2 % at age 50 years to 37 % at 79 years of age among the men and from 1 % at 38 years to 61 % at 79 years of age among the women. The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure in untreated subjects increased from 138/91 mm Hg at age 50 years to 159/91 mm Hg at age 70 years in the men and from 123/79 mm Hg at age 38 years to 168/93 mm Hg at age 70 years in the women. At age 79 years the mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 155/83 mm Hg in the men and 161785 mm Hg in the women. In a longitudinal follow-up of reexamined subjects, there was an increase in systolic blood pressure levels up to age 75 years and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure after age 75 years in both sexes. (Hypertension 8: 1044-1049, 1986) KEY WORDS • blood pr...
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The prevalence of balance symptoms (vertigo, dizziness, and dysequilibrium) was investigated in an epidemiological study of elderly people, the longitudinal and cross-sectional gerontological and geriatric population study from Göteborg,... more
The prevalence of balance symptoms (vertigo, dizziness, and dysequilibrium) was investigated in an epidemiological study of elderly people, the longitudinal and cross-sectional gerontological and geriatric population study from Göteborg, Sweden (H70). Three different age cohorts were studied, one at age 70, one at age 75 and one at ages 79, 82, 85, 88 and 90 years. Altogether 2011 participants answered the questionnaire at 3197 occasions. The overall prevalence of balance problems at age 70 was 36% (women) and 29% (men). Balance symptoms were more common among women than men, and increased with increasing age. At ages 88–90 years the corresponding values were 51–45%.. The most common symptom was poor balance/general unsteadiness (11–41%). Rotatory symptoms occurred in 2–17%. Other types of symptoms were less common. Precipitating factors were rising from supine to sitting position in 17–40%. Balance symptoms in a side position were uncommon, but occurred more often when tilting the ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate whether the acute care of frail elderly patients in a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) unit is superior to the care in a conventional acute medical care unit. This is a clinical,... more
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the acute care of frail elderly patients in a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) unit is superior to the care in a conventional acute medical care unit. This is a clinical, prospective, randomized, controlled, one-center intervention study. This study was conducted in a large county hospital in western Sweden. The study included 408 frail elderly patients, aged ≥75 years, in need of acute in-hospital treatment. The patients were allocated to the intervention group (n=206) or control group (n=202). Mean age of the patients was 85.7 years, and 56% were female. This organizational form of care is characterized by a structured, systematic interdisciplinary CGA-based care at an acute elderly care unit. The primary outcome was the change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 3 months after discharge from hospital, measured by the Health Utilities Index-3 (HUI-3). Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, rehospitalizations, and...
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SCAG-S : beteendeskattningsskala for geriatriska och psykogeriatriska patienter : en svensk version
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Vasopressin of value as a drug in psychogeriatric medicine? : Evaluation of a double blind trial.
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The drug consumption has been studied in two 70-year-old cohorts within the frames of the longitudinal population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg, Sweden". The first cohort has been followed for 12 years and the second,... more
The drug consumption has been studied in two 70-year-old cohorts within the frames of the longitudinal population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg, Sweden". The first cohort has been followed for 12 years and the second, which was born 5 years later, for 5 years. In the first cohort the proportion of men and women on drug treatment increased from 61 and 77% at age 70 to 90 and 97% at age 82. The average number of drugs among those on treatment increased from 3.1 (men) and 3.4 (women) to 3.9 and 5.4, respectively. The most common drugs at age 70 were anxiolytics (20 and 29%), diuretics (15 and 29%), analgesics (12 and 20%), and digitalis (13 and 14%) and at 82 years of age analgesics (39 and 56%), anxiolytics (27 and 49%), diuretics (26 and 42%), and laxatives (19 and 28%). The second examined cohort used more drugs mainly at age 75 than the first cohort. The longitudinal follow-up of the first cohort indicated an overmortality mainly among men on drug treatment at ages 70 and 75. The patients' knowledge of the indications for the treatment was often weak and at age 82, 25% of the patients were unaware of the indications for one or more of the drugs.
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We compared three representative population samples aged 70 (n = 312), 75 (n = 486) and 81 (n = 404) years. Anaemia defined either as blood haemoglobin concentration below the corresponding health-related lower reference limits or... more
We compared three representative population samples aged 70 (n = 312), 75 (n = 486) and 81 (n = 404) years. Anaemia defined either as blood haemoglobin concentration below the corresponding health-related lower reference limits or according to WHO was, in the total study groups, more common at age 81. Anaemia of unknown cause was rare, but somewhat more common at age 81. Mean blood haemoglobin concentrations in subsamples without definable disorders were significantly lower at age 81 than at ages 70 and 75, whereas the lower health-related reference limits did not differ significantly. White blood cell counts tended to be lower and iron deficiency was somewhat more common at age 81. No significant differences were found in platelet counts or in the prevalence of low plasma cobalamin concentrations. These results indicate a fall in blood haemoglobin with advancing age. The arbitrary WHO criteria for anaemia are clinically applicable at age 70-81.
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In the longitudinal population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg" (H 70) at the second follow-up in 1980-81, 112 women and 93 men were examined concerning their hygiene abilities such as visiting the toilet and taking a... more
In the longitudinal population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg" (H 70) at the second follow-up in 1980-81, 112 women and 93 men were examined concerning their hygiene abilities such as visiting the toilet and taking a bath. These elderly people were interviewed about their locomotor function, needs of technical aids and personal assistance available at home. An examination of their functional ability was performed in accordance with a standardized test in two bathrooms, one with a bathtub and the other one with a shower area. Recordings of heart rate and subjectively perceived exertion were made during the test. Almost all were able to stand in front of the washbasin when washing themselves. Climbing in, sitting down and getting out of the bathtub required relatively high levels of effort, and almost one in five had difficulties. Only a few subjects needed personal assistance for getting out of the bathtub. There were large intraindividual variations of heart rate an...
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In the population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg" 45.5% of the probands were found to have an increased exertional dyspnea or to be short of breath at the medical examination. We have found it interesting to... more
In the population study "70-year-old people in Göteborg" 45.5% of the probands were found to have an increased exertional dyspnea or to be short of breath at the medical examination. We have found it interesting to estimate to what extent a subjective experience of dyspnea at the age of 70 is related to disease and whether it is available for treatment. Out of these probands, 64% of the males and 48% of the females suffered from cardiac failure or pulmonary disease, compared to 48% of males, and 24% of females without dyspnea. Among dyspnoic probands without cardiac failure and pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease was significantly more common than in probands without dyspnea. Probands with dyspnea but without cardiopulmonary disease felt less healthy and were more tired than others, although an objective health screening showed no difference between the two groups. They also had a significantly lower peak flow rate. A dyspnea that was not statistically related to disease was found in 30% of the males and 43% of the females. During a 5-year follow-up there was no statistically significant difference in mortality between dyspnoic probands without cardiopulmonary disease and others.
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There has been reported a decline in renal function with age, a decline that seems to accelerate after the age of 50. A systemically chosen sample of 70- and 75-year-old probands from the study '70-year-olds in Göteborg'... more
There has been reported a decline in renal function with age, a decline that seems to accelerate after the age of 50. A systemically chosen sample of 70- and 75-year-old probands from the study '70-year-olds in Göteborg' have previously been examined with respect to GFR. The present study is a longitudinal follow-up of GFR in the previously examined 75-year-old probands at age 79. Renal tubular water absorption was also determined. In order to make a longitudinal comparison, S-creatinine was determined in a subsample of 166 probands, who had attended the study at 70, 75 and 79 years of age, by using frozen sera from these three examinations. S-creatinine increased slightly but statistically significant in both sexes between 70 years and 79 years of age. The reference values for EDTA clearance at age 79 calculated as M +/- 2 SD were 46-94 ml/min X 1.73 m2 BSA without any difference between the sexes. There was no change in GFR between 75 years and 79 years of age. We did not find any correlation between EDTA clearance and creatinine clearance. The tubular water reabsorption for probands without disorders was 843 +/- 92.6 (range 709-982). The results suggest that the renal filtration rate at age 79 is still good and that the ageing of the tubular function is not as pronounced as that of the GFR.
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Vascular causes of dementia may be more common than supposed. Vascular factors may also have a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease, but the role of hypertension in the development of dementia is unclear. As part of the... more
Vascular causes of dementia may be more common than supposed. Vascular factors may also have a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease, but the role of hypertension in the development of dementia is unclear. As part of the Longitudinal Population Study of 70-year-olds in Göteborg, Sweden, we analysed the relation between blood pressure and the development of dementia in the age intervals 70-75, 75-79, and 79-85 years in those non-demented at age 70 (n = 382). The sample was followed up for 15 years and examined repeatedly with a comprehensive investigation, including a psychiatric and physical examination. a Participants who developed dementia at age 79-85 had higher systolic blood pressure at age 70 (mean 178 vs 164 mm Hg, p = 0.034) and higher diastolic blood pressure at ages 70 (101 vs 92, p = 0.004) and 75 (97 vs 90, p = 0.022) than those who did not develop dementia. For subtypes of dementia, higher diastolic blood pressure was recorded at age 70 (101, p = 0.019) for those developing Alzheimer's disease and at age 75 (101, p = 0.015) for those developing vascular dementia than for those who did not develop dementia. Participants with white-matter lesions on computed tomography at age 85 had higher blood pressure at age 70 than those without such lesions. Blood pressure declined in the years before dementia onset and was then similar to or lower than that in non-demented individuals. Previously increased blood pressure may increase the risk for dementia by inducing small-vessel disease and white-matter lesions. To what extent the decline in blood pressure before dementia onset is a consequence or a cause of the brain disease remains to be elucidated.
Research Interests: Computed Tomography, Dementia, Medicine, Brain, Humans, and 15 moreHypertension, Blood Pressure, Lancet, Aged, Longitudinal Studies, Longitudinal Study, Physical examination, Population Study, Elsevier, Alzheimer Disease, Age of Onset, Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Small Vessel Disease, and Medical and Health Sciences
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A representative systematic selection of 30% of all 70-year-olds (1148 persons) in Göteborg were invited to a population study. The participation rate was 85%. Sixteen per cent of the men and 25% of the women reported dryness in the mouth... more
A representative systematic selection of 30% of all 70-year-olds (1148 persons) in Göteborg were invited to a population study. The participation rate was 85%. Sixteen per cent of the men and 25% of the women reported dryness in the mouth (sex. diff. P less than 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the number of drugs consumed by the subjects and subjective dryness (in both sexes P less than 0.001). Intake of drugs from the groups of anticholionergics, antihistamines, sedatives, hypnotics or phenothiazines respectively seemed to have the highest predicative value for dryness in the mouth (men P less than 0.05 and women P less than 0.01). There was also a positive correlation between subjective dryness and number of definable diseases in both sexes (P less than 0.01). In a consecutive sample (fifty-eight men and fifty-three women) a study of salivary flow, direct pH and buffer effect were performed. The mean value of unstimulated salivary secretion was in men 0.25 and in women 0.18 ml/min. Corresponding figures for stimulated secretion was 1.65 and 1.04 ml/min (sex. diff. P less than 0.01). A significantly lower unstimulated secretion was noted in women with subjective dryness (P less than 0.01). A negative significant correlation were found between dental invalidity, according to Eichner's classification, and stimulated secretion when drug treatment had been considered (men P less than 0.05 and women P less than 0.01). Only weak relations were noted between salivary secretions and drug treatment. Only intake of drugs with diuretic effect were negatively correlated to stimulated secretion (P less than 0.01). Diseases of the circulatory system were correlated to subjective dryness (P less than 0.01).
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Research Interests: Neurology, Dementia, Mortality, Medicine, Sweden, and 15 moreHumans, Old Age, Cerebrovascular Disease, Vascular dementia, Risk factors, Aged, Odds ratio, Risk Factors, Population Study, Cerebrovascular Disorders, White Matter Lesions, Transient ischaemic attack, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Gene frequency, and Medical and Health Sciences
To ascertain whether atrial natriuretic peptides could be used as prospective and independent predictors of total mortality in an elderly population. Atrial natriuretic peptides, ANP(1-98) and ANP(99-126), were measured in 541 subjects... more
To ascertain whether atrial natriuretic peptides could be used as prospective and independent predictors of total mortality in an elderly population. Atrial natriuretic peptides, ANP(1-98) and ANP(99-126), were measured in 541 subjects from the 85-year-old population of Gothenburg, Sweden. Before the study cardiovascular disorders such as congestive heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and atrial fibrillation were defined. Total mortality was recorded during the prospective 60-month follow-up period. Individuals aged 85 years from the population of Gothenburg, Sweden, were visited once at home and made one visit to Vasa Hospital. Sixty-month mortality in relation to circulating concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptides. Circulating concentrations of ANP(1-98) and ANP(99-126) were significantly correlated with 60-month mortality in the total study population (ANP(1-98), P < 0.001: ANP(99-126), P < 0.01). In subjects with cardiovascular disorders, 60-month mortality was significantly correlated with increased concentrations of ANP(1-98) (P < 0.01) and ANP(99-126) (P < 0.05). In subjects with no defined cardiovascular disorder, 60-month mortality was significantly correlated with increased ANP(1-98) concentrations (P < 0.01). In the elderly population, atrial peptides predict mortality in subjects with defined cardiovascular disorders as well as in the total population and may predict future cardiovascular disorder.
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To study the relationship of brain natriuretic peptide concentrations to ageing, and whether brain natriuretic peptide could reflect current disease states in the general elderly population. Brain natriuretic peptide was measured in two... more
To study the relationship of brain natriuretic peptide concentrations to ageing, and whether brain natriuretic peptide could reflect current disease states in the general elderly population. Brain natriuretic peptide was measured in two population samples from the general population. Five hundred forty-five 85-year-old subjects from the longitudinal population study '70-year-old people in Gothenburg, Sweden' were investigated in respect to cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease, and 191 subjects from the 40-year-old male population were examined. To study the influence of ageing on circulating brain natriuretic peptide and the association between concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide and common disease states in the elderly. Brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were significantly increased in relation to ageing (P < 0.001). Brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were significantly increased in elderly with congestive heart failure (P < 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (P < 0.001) and renal dysfunction (P < 0.001) but not in hypertension. In multivariate analysis, brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were predictive for ischaemic heart disease (P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (P < 0.01), renal dysfunction (P < 0.01), congestive heart failure (P < 0.05) and treatment with beta-adrenergic blockers (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide are increased in healthy elderly compared to middle-aged individuals. In the elderly, measurements of brain natriuretic peptide may provide prognostic information, due to the augmented secretion in cardiovascular diseases commonly seen in this population. It remains to be determined whether routine measurements of circulating brain natriuretic peptide will be of value in predicting current cardiovascular disease for the individual patient.
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The association between blood pressure levels and mortality up to 11 years has been studied in two representative samples of men and women (1951 people in total) from the longitudinal population study 'seventy-year-old people in... more
The association between blood pressure levels and mortality up to 11 years has been studied in two representative samples of men and women (1951 people in total) from the longitudinal population study 'seventy-year-old people in Göteborg, Sweden'. We found a significant association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressures (MAP) and mortality after 6 years when data from both sexes were pooled. After 11 years, the mortality in the 10% of subjects who had the highest blood pressures at the age of 70 (greater than or equal to 190/105 for men and greater than or equal to 200/105 for women) was 30% higher among the men and 50-60% higher among the women than in the 75% of subjects with the lowest blood pressures. There was no difference between SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in this respect. A significant association between blood pressure and mortality remained when background factors such as treatment for hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits were kept constant.
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In a randomized double-blind study (N = 562), a traditional treatment schedule, starting antihypertensive treatment in elderly hypertensive patients (60 to 75 years old) with 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide once daily and doubling the dose... more
In a randomized double-blind study (N = 562), a traditional treatment schedule, starting antihypertensive treatment in elderly hypertensive patients (60 to 75 years old) with 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide once daily and doubling the dose if a satisfactory response was not achieved, was compared with antihypertensive treatment of 100 mg of metoprolol once daily, adding 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide for patients whose response was not satisfactorialy achieved with metoprolol alone. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced with both regimens. The frequency rates of responders (diastolic blood pressure, less than or equal to 95 mm Hg) in the metoprolol group and the hydrochlorothiazide group were 50% and 47% after four weeks and 65% and 61% after eight weeks, respectively. There were no significant differences in total symptom score or single symptoms between the regimens, but significantly more patients had hypokalemia and hyperuricemia with the hydrochlorothiazide regimen. Thus, we conclude that beginning antihypertensive treatment with 100 mg of metoprolol once daily and adding a small dose of hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg) in patients whose response is not satisfactory with metoprolol alone appears to be effective and safe in elderly hypertensive patients.
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The prevalence of mental disorders was studied in a representative sample of 85-year-old living in Gothenburg, Sweden, (n=494). All subjects were examined by a psychiatrist, whose diagnoses were defined according to the DSM-III-R... more
The prevalence of mental disorders was studied in a representative sample of 85-year-old living in Gothenburg, Sweden, (n=494). All subjects were examined by a psychiatrist, whose diagnoses were defined according to the DSM-III-R criteria. In the sample, the prevalence of dementia was 29.8%, and of any other mental disorder was 24.3%. Psychotic disorders were present in 4.7%, depressive disorders in 12.6%, and anxiety disorders in 10.5%. Anxiety disorders were more common in women than in men. Of all subjects, 42.5% used a psychotropic drug (men 30.1%, women 47.6%, p<0.001), 34.2% used anxiolytic-sedatives, 14.0% used antidepressants, and 5.7% used neuroleptics. Women used significantly more anxiolytic-sedatives and antidepressants than did men. Of those with no mental disorders, 29.1% used a psychotropic drug. Although the prescription of psychotropic drugs was high, only one fifth of those with depressive disorders received antidepressant drug therapy and one tenth of those wit...
Research Interests: Dementia, Sweden, Humans, Female, Male, and 15 moreMental Disorders, Social Environment, Incidence, Mental Disorder, Psychogeriatrics, Aged, Institutionalization, Urban Population, Geriatric Assessment, Psychotropic Drugs, Cross Sectional Studies, Drug Utilization, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests: Aging, Brain, Humans, Hypertension, Blood Pressure, and 15 moreBody Mass Index, Clinical Sciences, Brain atrophy, Aged, Longitudinal Studies, Atrophy, Brain Structure, Health surveys, Geriatric Assessment, Alzheimer Disease, General Population, Blood Pressure Measurement, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
This report is based on three different representative population samples of a total of 1304 men (50-79 years old) and 1246 women (38-79 years old) observed for up to 12 years. Subjects' consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood... more
This report is based on three different representative population samples of a total of 1304 men (50-79 years old) and 1246 women (38-79 years old) observed for up to 12 years. Subjects' consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure levels in subjects with and without such treatment are presented. The prevalence of treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including beta-blockers and diuretics for other indications) increased from 2% at age 50 years to 37% at 79 years of age among the men and from 1% at 38 years to 61% at 79 years of age among the women. The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure in untreated subjects increased from 138/91 mm Hg at age 50 years to 159/91 mm Hg at age 70 years in the men and from 123/79 mm Hg at age 38 years to 168/93 mm Hg at age 70 years in the women. At age 79 years the mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 155/83 mm Hg in the men and 161/85 mm Hg in the women. In a longitudinal follow-up of reexamined subjects, there was an incre...
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Research Interests: Kidney diseases, Mortality, Medicine, Ischaemic heart disease, Multivariate Analysis, and 15 moreHumans, Congestive Heart Failure, Female, Male, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Biological markers, Population Study, Predictive value of tests, General Population, Creatinine, Brain Natriuretic Peptide, and Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
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A representative sample (n = 486) of a 75-year-old population was studied, and probands with defined laboratory aberrations were re-investigated. Anaemia was present in 6% of the men and 3% of the women; in 17/22 anaemic subjects a cause... more
A representative sample (n = 486) of a 75-year-old population was studied, and probands with defined laboratory aberrations were re-investigated. Anaemia was present in 6% of the men and 3% of the women; in 17/22 anaemic subjects a cause was found. The prevalence of plasma cobalamin concentrations less than 130 pmol/l was 6%, of iron deficiency approximately 6%. Divergences in white blood cell and platelet counts were rare. The observed haematological aberrations were almost always caused by disease. Reference intervals for haematological components were calculated in the total study group and two reference sample groups after exclusions based on anamnestic and/or laboratory screening criteria or anamnestic criteria and/or verified disease. The lower reference limits for B-Hb and P-B12 in a group obtained after exclusions based on anamnestic and screening data were considered to be minimum values for healthy subjects. The WHO criteria for anaemia were applicable.
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Research Interests: Epidemiology, Sex, Cardiovascular disease, Medicine, Humans, and 15 moreAge, Female, Male, Central Nervous System, Aged, Longitudinal Studies, Age Factors, Drug Therapy, Population Study, Drug Utilization, Drug treatment, Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, Macho, Population surveillance, and Drug prescriptions
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To study the influence of age on renal and haemodynamic effects of the calcium antagonist felodipine. Eight young (mean age 27 years) and eight elderly (mean age 75 years) healthy normotensive subjects were given felodipine intravenously... more
To study the influence of age on renal and haemodynamic effects of the calcium antagonist felodipine. Eight young (mean age 27 years) and eight elderly (mean age 75 years) healthy normotensive subjects were given felodipine intravenously for 120 min aiming at close to therapeutic plasma level concentration. Renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) was estimated from para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) clearance 51CrEDTA clearance was used to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and used in the calculations of fractional excretion (FE) of electrolytes. Impedance cardiography was performed to assess stroke volume and for the calculation of cardiac output and ejection fraction. At the end of felodipine infusion, the concentration of felodipine was on average 10.0 nmol x l(-1) in young and 12.0 nmol x l(-1) in elderly subjects (NS). During felodipine infusion blood pressure (BP) decreased from 138/76 to 120/68 in elderly subjects. The BP in young subjects was 126/74 at basal and 125/70 after infusion of felodipine. The systemic and renal vascular resistance decreased to a similar extent in young and elderly subjects after felodipine infusion. Felodipine caused a decrease in systemic vascular resistance from 25.6 to 23.3 in elderly and from 23.8 to 21.8 in the young subjects. Mean values for RVR at baseline and during infusion of felodipine were significantly higher in the elderly (10.1-15.1) than in the young subjects (5.4-6.7). Felodipine reduced RVR by 10% in the young and by 12% in the elderly at the end of infusion. The young subjects had 31% higher GFR than the elderly subjects at the start of infusion. Felodipine infusion did not affect GFR. There were no effects on stroke volume and ejection fraction. An initial natriuretic effect was found after infusion of felodipine in the young subjects. The fractional excretion of all electrolytes tended to increase after both felodipine and placebo, more in the elderly than in the young subjects. The effects of felodipine on central and renal haemodynamics previously observed in young and middle-aged subjects also seem to exist in the elderly. Volume expansion seems to increase the excretion of electrolytes more in elderly than in young people, and therefore the effect of felodipine on natriuresis is more evident in young subjects.