LC 3.12 Epidemiology of Ageing

Question 1

What is epidemiology?

Answer 1

The application of knowledge regarding distribution and determinants or mortality and morbidity in populations.

Question 2

What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?

Answer 2

Prevalence = amount of disease (%)
Incidence = new disease per 1000

Question 3

How does incidence and prevalence of disease change with age?

Answer 3

Both increase

Question 4

What decreases prevalence in diseases of old-age?

Answer 4

Death (most diseases of ageing are incurable)

Question 5

How has prevalence of dementia changed over time? Why?

Answer 5

It has decreased (even though ageing population means more people with dementia, prevalence means proportion)

• Better vascular control
• Better education

Question 6

How has prevalence of diabetes changed over time?

Answer 6

Increased

Question 7

What is the median number of conditions for over 85s?

Answer 7

4-5

Question 8

What are signs of frailty?

Answer 8

• Weight loss
  
  • Exhaustion
  • Muscle weakness
  • Slow speed

Question 9

Is the gap in life expectancy between males and females increasing or decreasing? Why?

Answer 9

Decreasing, due to improved management of CVD

Question 10

Which country has the highest life expectancy?

Answer 10

Japan

Question 11

What has caused the increases in life expectancy?

Answer 11

First declines in early and mid-life mortality, then declines in later life mortality after 1950