Biomedical subjects

Colleen J Maxwell

Publications and source records attributed to Colleen J Maxwell.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Prevalence and potential consequences of benzodiazepine use in senior citizens: results from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in benzodiazepine use over time, and the association between benzodiazepine use and select outcomes. DESIGN: A five-year longitudinal cohort study in subjects 65 years of age and older. SETTING: Select urban communities and institutions across Canada with senior citizens. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects who were first seen in 1990 to 1991, recontacted in 1996, and agreed to undergo a second clinical examination. Mortality rates were based on the initial 2914 subjects enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Number and type of medications used. Outcomes (mortality, incident institutionalization, change in cognition, depression, function, self-rated health) associated with benzodiazepine use. Logistic regression to predict outcomes and pattern of benzodiazepine use. RESULTS: Mean number of medications being taken by senior citizens increased to 5.8 from 3.9. The proportion of subjects using benzodiazepines at time 1 and time 2 was similar (26.4% versus 25.2%). Affect, self-rated health, cognition, function and incident institutionalization were significantly associated with benzodiazepine use. Subjects with a depressed mood were more likely to be prescribed a benzodiazepine (37%) than an antidepressant (26.9%). CONCLUSION: Benzodiazepines were associated with a number of adverse outcomes. The relative benefits and risks of benzodiazepine use in an older population should be re-examined.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Serum folate levels and subsequent adverse cerebrovascular outcomes in elderly persons.

Recent epidemiologic studies have shown an association between low serum folate levels and risk of vascular disease, including stroke and various types of vascular cognitive impairment. We examined data from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA), a population-based, prospective 5-year investigation of the epidemiology of dementia among Canadians aged 65+ years. The risk of an adverse cerebrovascular event (including vascular dementia, vascular cognitive impairment, or fatal stroke) during follow-up, was assessed according to serum folate quartiles among subjects with no evidence of dementia at baseline (n = 369). After adjusting for certain covariates, including cardiovascular disease and nutritional indices, education, smoking and baseline cognitive status, the risk estimate for an adverse cerebrovascular event associated with the lowest folate quartile compared with the highest quartile was OR 2.42 (95% CI 1.04-5.61). Results from stratified analyses also showed that relatively low serum folate was associated with a significantly higher risk of an adverse cerebrovascular event among female (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.37-11.81) but not male (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.25-4.13) subjects. Among the total sample, there was a consistent trend toward poorer health and cognitive outcomes during follow-up (including mortality, cognitive decline and dementia) among those in the lowest folate quartile compared with the highest quartile. Low serum folate levels are independently associated with a significantly higher risk of an adverse cerebrovascular event, including vascular dementia and stroke death, among older, cognitively vulnerable persons.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mammography utilization in Canadian women aged 50 to 69: identification of factors that predict initiation and adherence.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that predict initiation of mammography and adherence with biennial screening among Canadian women aged 50-69 years. METHODS: Using data from a longitudinal panel of Canadian women interviewed in the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) in 1994/95 and 2 and 4 years later, we estimated the relative risks (RR) of mammography initiation and adherence according to socio-demographic, health and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: Among 505 women with no history of mammography use at baseline, 23.0% and 41.4% initiated mammography by 2 and 4 years, respectively. Urban residence (RR = 2.85) was most strongly associated with initiation by 2 years; younger age (50-54) and lower education also predicted initiation by 2 years. Younger age, birthplace outside Canada, and having a recent (< 2 years) blood pressure check were associated with initiation by 4 years. Among 873 women reporting a recent (< 2 years) mammogram at baseline, 88.7% also reported a recent mammogram within 2 years while 73.0% reported one at both the 2- and 4-year follow-up. Being a non-smoker was the strongest predictor of maintaining adherence both at the 2- (RR = 1.18) and the 4-year (RR = 1.37) follow-up. INTERPRETATION: Previously identified underserved groups of Canadian women (e.g., those with lower educational levels or born outside of Canada) were most likely to initiate mammography. Approximately 1 in 6 women aged 50 to 69 years remained never-users during follow-up, and fewer than half reported recent mammograms at all three survey cycles, suggesting the need to reinforce regular screening participation.

Age Factors↗