original article
The Effect of the Treatment on the Risk Factors of Arteriosclerotic Diseases in the Elderly: Investigating the Specific Health Checkup
2015 Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 41-45
Details
2015 Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 41-45
Few reports exist on the outcome of health checkups in the elderly. We conducted an investigation of the specific health checkup to clarify whether or not the risk factors of arteriosclerotic diseases in the elderly had been treated.
The subjects consisted of 478 elderly people selected from a larger group of 638 participants aged 65 years and older who underwent the specific health checkup at our hospital’s Health Care Center from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 (this study). The investigation items were blood pressure, blood tests [triglyceride level, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HbA1c (NGSP)], changes in the condition, and therapeutic regimen.
(1) Dyslipidemia [triglyceride level ≥ 150mg/dL or HDL cholesterol < 40mg/dL or LDL cholesterol ≥ 140mg/dL]: 38.4% were indicated as having had dyslipidemia the preceding year. A total of 22.8% (p < 0.01) underwent drug therapy from the preceding year onwards, and among these, improvement was observed in 47.6% regarding this study. (2) Hypertension [systolic blood pressure ≥ 140mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥ 90mmHg]: 34.7% were indicated as having had hypertension the preceding year. A total of 59.0% underwent drug therapy from the preceding year onwards, and among these, improvement was observed in 40.8% regarding this study. (3) Diabetes [HbA1c (NGSP) ≥ 6.5%]: 6.9% were indicated as having had diabetes the preceding year. A total of 60.6% underwent drug therapy from the preceding year, and among these, improvement was observed in 20.0% regarding this study.
It was suggested that commencing active treatment against dyslipidemia in the elderly and carrying out appropriate control of hypertension and diabetes were necessary. A specific advantage of being able to understand the outcome of patients who have not undergone treatment, which is unknown in actual clinical practice, may be achieved by conducting follow-ups regarding the status of the health checkup.
