Clinical spectrum of pulmonary tuberculosis in older patients: comparison with younger patients
Article Abstract:
During the past four decades the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) has declined; however, the proportion of older patients with tuberculosis has increased. In 1953, almost 14 percent of patients with tuberculosis were over 65 years old, but by 1979 the proportion had risen to over 28 percent. Diagnosis of tuberculosis is often missed in the elderly, often being found only at autopsy. The records of 73 patients under 60 years of age were compared with 72 patients aged 60 or older, all of whom were diagnosed with PT, to determine the initial symptoms. It was found that the majority of cases among the elderly represented reactivation of an infection acquired decades before, when tuberculosis was more prevalent. ''Unusual'' patterns of disease were no more common among older patients than among younger ones, contrary to the findings of some other studies. Errors are often made in diagnosing tuberculosis among older patients because of the presence of other infections or cancer. The tuberculin skin test correctly indicated antibodies among most of the younger group, but was positive in only half of the elderly patients. PT may produce the classic symptoms such as night sweats and fever, or may produce no symptoms at all. Elderly patients more often had nonspecific symptoms such as loss of appetite and weight loss, indications which many physicians do not associate with PT, especially in this age group. Cough and shortness of breath are frequently misdiagnosed as chronic lung disease. Although symptoms do not differ a great deal between the younger and older patients, they are more likely to be ascribed to other causes among older patients, and diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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Post-1980 regional migration patterns of the U.S. elderly population
Article Abstract:
It has long been observed that elderly migration patterns have shown increased movement into 10 of the 50 states, especially Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and New Jersey. The changes in these patterns over the past three decades, which examine periods from 1955 to 1995 at five-year intervals, are presented. Reports of the US Decennial Censuses from 1960, 1970, and 1980, along with data from the 1985 US Current Population Survey were analyzed. The elderly population, including individuals aged 65 or more, was evaluated for rates of overall mobility, interstate, interregional and intracountry movement, interregional origin-destination migration streams, and regional net migration patterns. In all regions and during all the time periods examined, overall mobility rates declined. Interstate and interregional migration rates increased up to 1980. A decline in elderly migrants from the Northeast and Midwest was seen between 1980 and 1985, leading to reduced net migration gains in the South, which indicates a departure from previous trends. Discussion of these trends is presented and predictions of future migratory patterns of the elderly in the US are considered. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1990
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The relative deprivation of U.S. elderly households as judged by their housing problems
Article Abstract:
A comparative study of the housing cost in households with old and young people falsifies the theory of elderly households being more deprived. The American Housing Survey provides data for these studies, which are independent of race, income and owner-renter status details.
Publication Name: The Journals of Gerontology, Series B
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 1079-5014
Year: 1995
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