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Biomedical subjects

B Steen

Publications and source records attributed to B Steen.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Dyspnea in 70-year-old people.

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.

Aged↗

Intake of protein in geriatric long-term care patients.

Twenty-nine chronically diseased patients with an average age of 84 years living in a long-term care nursing hospital were examined. Urinary nitrogen was determined in 24-hour urinary samples to estimate protein intake. The average estimated intake of protein was 47 g (range 32-63 g), corresponding to 0.87 per kg body weight (range 0.57-1.14 g). Ten patients showed an intake of less than 0.8 g per kg body weight, regarded to be a too low protein intake considering the age and chronic diseases of the patients.

Aged↗

Prevalence and treatment of hypomagnesemia in the elderly studies in a representative in 70-year-old population and in geriatric patients.

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 chloride, S-Mg increased 0.09 plus or minus 0.08 mmol/l (p smaller than 0.001) and during treatment with placebo 0.08 plus or minus 0.09 mmol/l (p smaller than 0.01). The difference between the two groups was not significant. S-potassium, however, increased significantly more in the patients treated with magnesium chloride (p smaller than 0.01). The increase in the treatment group was 0.31 plus or minus 0.32 mmol/l compared to a decrease of 0.02 plus or minus 0.42 mmol/l in the placebo group.

Adult↗

Plasma lipid changes in the female in aging and the menopause. Results from three population studies.

Postabsorbtive plasma lipid levels have been analyzed in studies of the female population in the Swedish city of Gothenburg. The population samples cover the ages 15, 23, 30, 38, 40, 45, 46, 50, 54, 60 and 70. In some groups data are available from both cross-sectional and prospective longitudinal studies. Cross-sectional studies showed a successive increase in total plasma cholesterol from 15 to 54 years of age. Longitudinal studies showed a further increase at least up to 60 years of age. The triglyceride level remained rather constant between 15 and 30 years of age, then increased but was again rather similar in the 40--50-year olds and reached the highest level in the 60- and 70-year samples. The total phospholipid curve was approximately parallel with the cholesterol curve at younger ages but nearer the cholesterol curve at higher ages. The composition of the plasma phospholipid fraction apparently changed at the ages around the menopause, mainly due to an increase in the proportions of lecithin and lysolecithin. Data available allowed considerations concerning possible influences on plasma lipids by age, by changes in dietary habits and body composition, as well as by gonadal steroid hormones.

Adolescent↗

Digitalis therapy in a 70-year-old population.

In the population study "70-year-old people in Gothenburg" 14% of the probands were found to be undergoing treatment with digitalis, 6% with digoxin, 6% with digitoxin and 2% with other glycosides. A comparison between results of the interview method and those of S-digoxin analyses indicates that the interview method was acceptable. As far as can be judged from S-digoxin analyses, only about 60% of the treated patients were on a dosage considered to be effective and free from obvious risks of side-effects. Out of the 130 70-year-olds who were on digitalis treatment, 37% had obvious symptoms of heart disease requiring such treatment, 34% lacked symptoms of arrhythmia and/or congestive failure but had heart volumes larger than those used as reference values in younger age groups, and 29% had no symptoms indicating digitalis treatment. At least 13% of the population had indications for digitalis therapy and about 75% of those apparently needing digitalis were on such treatment. Thus both over- and underdiagnosis of heart disease requiring digitalis therapy were common in this age group.

Age Factors↗

Orthostatic tests in 85 geriatric patients in in-patient long-term care.

Pathological orthostatic heart rate and systolic blood pressure responses are common in geriatric patients in long-term in-patient care. The distribution of these pathological types of response differs markedly from that of earlier investigated patients (2), with a higher prevalence of asympathicotonic and vasovagal responses and a lower prevalence of sympathicotonic responses in this material.

Aged↗

Plasma levels and effect on heart rate and blood pressure of metoprolol after acute oral administration in 12 geriatric patients.

Metoprolol, a cardioselective beta-blocking agent, has been given orally to 12 geriatric patients with moderate hypertension. Drug levels of metoprolol as well as the effect of the drug on resting heart rate and BP were studied. Metoprolol was given in a dose of 20 mg, and 8 of the 12 patients also received a 50 mg dose. After the 20 mg dose the peak drug plasma concentration varied between 5 and 80 ng/ml (mean 33), and after the 50 mg dose between 14 and 212 ng/ml (mean 111). This variation is much greater than that seen in earlier studies on healthy volunteers and on a group of non-geriatric hypertensive patients. Plasma half-life of metoprolol averaged about 3.5 hours after both the 20 mg and the 50 mg dose; this does not differe from the plasma half-life in earlier studies in younger age groups. The variability observed in the study might be explained multifactorially, e.g. by different body weight, absorption and/or first-pass effect of the drug.

Administration, Oral↗