Proximity to death is associated with frequency of GP contacts in the oldest old: the Leiden 85-plus study

Age and Ageing
Jeanet W BlomJacobijn Gussekloo

Abstract

the relationship between proximity to death and the amount of care provided by general practitioners (GPs) is largely unknown. to examine the influence of the proximity to death on the frequency and length of GP contacts in the oldest old. this population-based follow-up study included 599 inhabitants of Leiden, the Netherlands. At ages 85-90 years, the frequency and length of GP contacts during the previous year were collected. the influence of age and proximity to death on contact frequency and time was analysed with linear mixed modelling. in a model including 'age' alone, mean contact frequency during surviving years increased with 0.25 contacts/year [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.45, P = 0.019] and mean contact time with 11.04 min/year (95% CI: 5.42-16.67, P < 0.001). In a model including 'age' and 'proximity to death', those who died compared with those who survived had 11.94 contacts (95% CI: 10.86-13.01) more that year and 323 min (95% CI: 294-353, P < 0.001) more time, with no effect of 'age'. the observed increase in utilisation of GP care of the oldest old depends more on the proximity to death and less on age alone. Being old only results in a small increase in the GP's workload.

References

Nov 2, 1999·Health Economics·P ZweifelM Meiers
Jan 5, 2002·European Journal of Public Health·G P WestertG A van den Bos
Dec 24, 2002·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Zhou YangSally C Stearns
Jan 1, 2003·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·A Bootsma-van der WielR G J Westendorp
Sep 12, 2003·The New England Journal of Medicine·James LubitzHarold Lentzner
Mar 17, 2004·Journal of Health Economics·Meena Seshamani, Alastair M Gray
Apr 7, 2004·Health Economics·Meena Seshamani, Alastair Gray
May 20, 2004·Health Services Research·Berhanu Alemayehu, Kenneth E Warner
Jun 20, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Johan J PolderHans van Oers
Feb 22, 2007·Health Economics·Andreas WerblowPeter Zweifel
Oct 16, 2007·Health Economics·Baoping Shang, Dana Goldman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.