Increased prevalence of loneliness and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

BACKGROUND: Older adults have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and related preventative measures undertaken during the pandemic. Given clear evidence of the relationship between loneliness and health outcomes, it is imperative to better understand if, and how, loneliness has changed for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whom it has impacted most. METHOD: We used "pre-pandemic" data collected between 2015-2018 (n = 44,817) and "during pandemic" data collected between Sept 29-Dec 29, 2020 (n = 24,114) from community-living older adults participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Weighted generalized estimating equations estimated the prevalence of loneliness pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. Lagged logistic regression models examined individual-level factors associated with loneliness during the pandemic. RESULTS: We found the adjusted prevalence of loneliness increased to 50.5% (95% CI: 48.0%-53.1%) during the pandemic compared to 30.75% (95% CI: 28.72%-32.85%) pre-pandemic. Loneliness increased more for women (22.3% vs. 17.0%), those in urban areas (20.8% vs. 14.6%), and less for those 75 years and older (16.1% vs. 19.8% or more in all other age groups). Loneliness during the pandemic was strongly associated with pre-pandemic loneliness (aOR 4.87; 95% CI 4.49-5.28) and individual level sociodemographic factors [age < 55 vs. 75 + (aOR 1.41; CI 1.23-1.63), women (aOR 1.34; CI 1.25-1.43), and no post-secondary education vs. post-secondary education (aOR 0.73; CI 0.61-0.86)], living conditions [living alone (aOR 1.39; CI 1.27-1.52) and urban living (aOR 1.18; CI 1.07-1.30)], health status [depression (aOR 2.08; CI 1.88-2.30) and having two, or ≥ three chronic conditions (aOR 1.16; CI 1.03-1.31 and aOR 1.34; CI 1.20-1.50)], health behaviours [regular drinker vs. non-drinker (aOR 1.15; CI 1.04-1.28)], and pandemic-related factors [essential worker (aOR 0.77; CI 0.69-0.87), and spending less time alone than usual on weekdays (aOR 1.32; CI 1.19-1.46) and weekends (aOR 1.27; CI 1.14-1.41) compared to spending the same amount of time alone]. CONCLUSIONS: As has been noted for various other outcomes, the pandemic did not impact all subgroups of the population in the same way with respect to loneliness. Our results suggest that public health measures aimed at reducing loneliness during a pandemic should incorporate multifactor interventions fostering positive health behaviours and consider targeting those at high risk for loneliness.

Comparisons of disease cluster patterns, prevalence and health factors in the USA, Canada, England and Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Identification of those who are most at risk of developing specific patterns of disease across different populations is required for directing public health policy. Here, we contrast prevalence and patterns of cross-national disease incidence, co-occurrence and related risk factors across population samples from the U.S., Canada, England and Ireland. METHODS: Participants (n = 62,111) were drawn from the US Health and Retirement Study (n = 10,858); the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing (n = 36,647); the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 7938) and The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (n = 6668). Self-reported lifetime prevalence of 10 medical conditions, predominant clusters of multimorbidity and their specific risk factors were compared across countries using latent class analysis. RESULTS: The U.S. had significantly higher prevalence of multimorbid disease patterns and nearly all diseases when compared to the three other countries, even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, income, employment status, education, alcohol consumption and smoking history. For the U.S. the most at-risk group were younger on average compared to Canada, England and Ireland. Socioeconomic gradients for specific disease combinations were more pronounced for the U.S., Canada and England than they were for Ireland. The rates of obesity trends over the last 50 years align with the prevalence of eight of the 10 diseases examined. While patterns of disease clusters and the risk factors related to each of the disease clusters were similar, the probabilities of the diseases within each cluster differed across countries. CONCLUSIONS: This information can be used to better understand the complex nature of multimorbidity and identify appropriate prevention and management strategies for treating multimorbidity across countries.

Potentially Inappropriate Drug Duplication in a Cohort of Older Adults with Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent use of 2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, loop diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or anticoagulants is considered potentially inappropriate by Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment criteria. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine drug duplication in a cohort of older adults with dementia. METHODS: Cohort entry for Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program beneficiaries was the date an International Classification of Diseases ninth edition or 10th edition code for dementia was recorded in accessed databases between March 1, 2005, and March 31, 2015. Medication dispensation and sociodemographic data were captured from the Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program database between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2015. Duplication was considered when 2 drugs from the same class were dispensed such that the supply in the patient's possession could overlap for more than 30 days. We reported number of cases of duplication and duration of overlap. Sex differences in drug duplication were assessed with bivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: In the cohort of 28,953 Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program beneficiaries with dementia, we documented concurrent use in 101 (1.7%) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs users (mean duration = 75.6 days), 95 (1.0%) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors users (mean duration = 146.6 days), 5 (0.07%) loop diuretic users (mean duration = 530.6 days), 183 (2.0%) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor users (mean duration = 123.9 days), and 160 (3.5%) anticoagulant users (mean duration = 63.6 days). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug pairs were most commonly celecoxib with naproxen or diclofenac. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors duplication was most commonly sertraline with citalopram. No sex differences in risk for drug duplication were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Drug duplication was identified in a cohort of older adults with dementia and is a feasible target for intervention. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2021; 82:XXX-XXX).

Worsened Ability to Engage in Social and Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Older Adults' Mental Health: Longitudinal Analysis From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background and Objectives: Restrictions implemented to mitigate the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected older adults' ability to engage in social and physical activities. We examined mental health outcomes of older adults reporting worsened ability to be socially and physically active during the pandemic. Research Design and Methods: Using logistic regression, we examined the relationship between positive screen for depression (10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale) or anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Scale) at the end of 2020 and worsened ability to engage in social and physical activity during the first 6-9 months of the pandemic among older adults in Canada. Interactions between ability to participate in social and physical activity and social participation pre-COVID (2015-2018) and physical activity were also examined. We analyzed data collected before and during the COVID pandemic from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a nationally representative longitudinal cohort: pre-pandemic (2015-2018), COVID-Baseline survey (April to May 2020), and COVID-Exit survey (September to December 2020). Results: Of the 24,108 participants who completed the COVID-Exit survey, 21.96% (n = 5,219) screened positively for depression and 5.04% (n = 1,132) for anxiety. Worsened ability to participate in social and physical activity was associated with depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.67-2.04]; OR = 2.46 [95% CI 2.25-2.69]), respectively, and anxiety (OR = 1.66 [95% CI 1.37-2.02] and OR = 1.96 [95% CI 1.68-2.30]). Fully adjusted interaction models identified a buffering effect of social participation and the ability to participate in physical activity on depression (χ2 [1] = 8.86, p = .003 for interaction term). Discussion and Implications: Older adults reporting worsened ability to participate in social and physical activities during the COVID-19 pandemic had poorer mental health outcomes than those whose ability remained the same or improved. These findings highlight the importance of fostering social and physical activity resources to mitigate the negative mental health impacts of future pandemics or other major life stressors that may affect the mental health of older adults.

The impact of social vulnerability on the survival of the fittest older adults.

BACKGROUND: even older adults who are fit experience adverse health outcomes; understanding their risks for adverse outcomes may offer insight into ambient population health. Here, we evaluated mortality risk in relation to social vulnerability among the fittest older adults in a representative community-dwelling sample of older Canadians. METHODS: in this secondary analysis of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, participants (n = 5,703) were aged 70+ years at baseline. A frailty index was used to grade relative levels of fitness/frailty, using 31 self-reported health deficits. The analysis was limited to the fittest people (those reporting 0-1 health deficit). Social vulnerability was trichotomised from a social vulnerability scale, which consisted of 40 self-reported social deficits. RESULTS: five hundred and eighty-four individuals had 0-1 health deficit. Among them, absolute mortality risk rose with increasing social vulnerability. In those with the lowest level of social vulnerability, 5-year mortality was 10.8%, compared with 32.5% for those with the highest social vulnerability (adjusted hazard ratio 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.3, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: a 22% absolute mortality difference in the fittest older adults is of considerable clinical and public health importance. Routine assessment of social vulnerability by clinicians could have value in predicting the risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults.

Body mass index and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the dose-response relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cause-specific mortality among Canadian adults. METHODS: The sample includes 10,522 adults 18-74 years of age who participated in the Canadian Heart Health Surveys (1986-1995). Participants were divided into 5 BMI categories (< 18.5, 18.5-24.9, 25-29.9, 30-34.9, and > or = 35 kg/m2). Multivariate-adjusted (age, sex, exam year, smoking status, alcohol consumption and education) hazard ratios for all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: There were 1,149 deaths (402 CVD; 412 cancer) over an average of 13.9 years (range 0.5 to 19.1 years), and the analyses are based on 145,865 person-years. The hazard ratios (95% CI) across successive BMI categories for all-cause mortality were 1.25 (0.83-1.90), 1.00 (reference), 1.06 (0.92-1.22), 1.27 (1.07-1.51) and 1.65 (1.29-2.10). The corresponding hazard ratios for CVD mortality were 1.30 (0.60-2.83), 1.00 (reference), 1.57 (1.22-2.01), 1.72 (1.27-2.33) and 2.09 (1.35-3.22); and for cancer, the hazard ratios were 1.02 (0.48-2.21), 1.00 (reference), 1.14 (0.90-1.44), 1.34 (1.01-1.78) and 1.82 (1.22-2.71). There were significant linear trends across BMI categories for all-cause (p = 0.0001), CVD (p < 0.0001) and cancer mortality (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate significant relationships between BMI and mortality from all causes, CVD and cancer. The increased risk of all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality associated with an elevated BMI was significant at levels above 30 kg/m2; however, overweight individuals (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) also had an approximately 60% higher risk of CVD mortality.

A Prescribing Cascade of Proton Pump Inhibitors Following Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults With Dementia.

Introduction: Prescribing cascade refers to use of a medication to treat a drug-related adverse event. Prescribing cascades increase medication use, cost, and risk of adverse events. Objective: Our objective was to use administrative health data to identify whether use of medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale was associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing consistent with a prescribing cascade in older adults with dementia. Method: The cohort was comprised of Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare beneficiaries identified to have dementia and medication dispensation data recorded between 1 April 2010, or cohort entry and 31 March 2015. Anticholinergic medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale (ACB) were abstracted. A look back period of 365 days identified if a PPI had been dispensed preceding anticholinergic dispensation. PPI initiation within 30, 60, 90, or 180 days of the anticholinergic medication was assessed. Demographic description of those dispensed anticholinergic medications or PPIs were reported. Risk factors for the prescribing cascade were investigated with logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards modelling including a sex-stratified analysis. Results: We identified 28,952 Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia and prescription dispensation data. Anticholinergic medications were frequently dispensed with 63.4% of the cohort dispensed at least one prescription for an anticholinergic medication. The prescribing cascade defined as up to 180-days between anticholinergic medication inititation and PPI dispensation, occurred in 1,845 Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia (incidence 6.4%). Multivariate regression showed those experiencing the prescribing cascade after initiating any anticholinergic were younger (OR 0.98, 95%CI [0.97-0.98]), less likely to live in an urban location (OR 0.82, 95%CI [0.74-0.91]), or to be men (OR 0.74, 95%CI [0.67-0.82]). Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk of starting a PPI within 180 days when initiating any medication from the ACB (HR 1.38, 95%CI [1.29-1.58]). Discussion: Regression modelling suggested that anticholinergic medications increased the risk of PPI dispensation consistent with a prescribing cascade in the cohort. The identification of the prescribing cascade in this population of older Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program beneficiaries with dementia using administrative health data highlights how routinely collected health data can be used to identify prescribing cascades.

Influenza vaccination uptake among Canadian adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal study on Aging (CLSA).

INTRODUCTION: Understanding how influenza vaccine uptake changed during the 2020/2021 influenza season compared to previous pre-pandemic seasons is a key priority, as is identifying the relationship between prior influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine willingness. METHODS: We analyzed data from a large, nationally representative cohort of Canadian residents aged 50 and older to assess influenza vaccination status three times between 2015 and 2020. We investigated: 1) changes in self-reported influenza vaccine uptake, 2) predictors of influenza vaccine uptake in 2020/2021, and 3) the association between influenza vaccination history and self-reported COVID-19 vaccine willingness using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 23,385 participants analyzed for aims 1-2, influenza vaccination increased over time: 14,114 (60.4%) in 2015-2018, 15,692 (67.1%) in 2019/2020, and 19,186 (82.0%; combining those already vaccinated and those planning to get a vaccine) in 2020/2021. After controlling for socio-demographics, history of influenza vaccination was most strongly associated with influenza vaccination in 2020/2021 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 147.9 [95% CI: 120.9-180.9]); this association remained after accounting for multiple health and pandemic-related factors (aOR 140.3 [95% CI: 114.5-171.8]). To a lesser degree, those more concerned about COVID-19 were also more likely to report influenza vaccination in fall 2020, whereas those reporting a very negative impact of the pandemic were less likely to get vaccinated. Among 23,819 participants with information on COVID-19 vaccine willingness during the last quarter of 2020 (aim 3), prior influenza vaccination was most strongly associated with willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR 15.1 [95% CI: 13.5-16.8] for those who had received influenza vaccine at all previous timepoints versus none). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis highlights the importance of previous vaccination in driving vaccination uptake and willingness. Efforts to increase vaccination coverage for influenza and COVID-19 should target individuals who do not routinely engage with immunization services regardless of demographic factors.

Pneumococcal vaccination uptake and missed opportunities for vaccination among Canadian adults: A cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

INTRODUCTION: In Canada, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended to all adults aged ≥65 and those <65 who have one or more chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Understanding vaccine uptake and its determinants among eligible groups has important implications for reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease. METHODS: Using data from a large national cohort of Canadian residents aged ≥47 years between 2015-2018, we calculated self-reported pneumococcal vaccine uptake among eligible groups, estimated associations between key factors and non-vaccination, assessed missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) and examined risk factors for MOV. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for relevant associations were estimated through logistic regression. RESULTS: 45.8% (95% CI: 45.2-46.5) of 22,246 participants aged ≥65 and 81.3% (95% CI: 80.5-82.0) of 10,815 individuals aged 47-64 with ≥1 CMC reported never having received a pneumococcal vaccine. Receipt of influenza vaccination in the previous year was associated with the lowest odds of pneumococcal non-vaccination (aOR = 0.14 [95% CI: 0.13-0.15] for older adults and aOR = 0.23 [95% CI: 0.20-0.26] for those aged 47-64 with ≥1 CMC). Pneumococcal vaccine uptake was also more likely in case of contact with a family doctor in the previous year (versus no contact), increased with age and varied widely across provinces. Among individuals recently vaccinated against influenza, 32.6% (95% CI: 31.9-33.4) of those aged ≥65 and 71.1% (95% CI: 69.9-72.3) of those aged 47-64 with ≥1 CMC missed an opportunity to get a pneumococcal vaccine. Among individuals who had contact with a family doctor, 44.8% (95% CI: 44.1-45.5) of those aged ≥65 and 80.4% (95% CI: 79.6-81.2) of those aged 47-64 with ≥1 CMC experienced a MOV. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumococcal vaccine uptake remains suboptimal among at-risk Canadian adults who are eligible for vaccination. Further research is needed to clarify the reasons behind missed opportunities for vaccination and adequately address the main barriers to pneumococcal vaccination.

Comorbidity and persistence of disease-modifying therapy use in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Comorbidity decreases the likelihood of initiating disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our objective was to characterize the relationship between comorbidity and initial DMT persistence along with reasons for DMT discontinuation. METHODS: We identified individuals with relapsing remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome starting a platform DMT (interferon-ß, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide) as initial therapy in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia from 2001 to 2016. Cases were identified using a clinic database for the only clinic providing specialty MS care in a province with universal publicly-funded health care. Comorbidity was determined by linkage of MS cases to provincial health administrative data using validated case definitions for mental health disorder, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, chronic lung disease, ischemic heart disease, epilepsy, and inflammatory bowel disease. Cox proportional hazards models explored the relationship between comorbidity, as a count or individual comorbidities, and time to discontinuation of initial DMT. Logistic regression models explored reasons for DMT discontinuation. RESULTS: Among 1464 individuals starting platform therapy as initial DMT, the median duration on first DMT was 4 years (95% CI 4 - 4). Comorbidity count (0, 1, ≥2) was not associated with time to discontinuation of initial DMT. However, the presence of a mental health disorder was associated with an increased hazard of discontinuing DMT (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.44). Comorbidity count was not associated with discontinuation for lack of efficacy or lack of tolerability after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSION: Individuals with mental health comorbidity may have unique challenges that affect persistence on DMT after treatment initiation.

Neuropathologic burden and the degree of frailty in relation to global cognition and dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that degree of frailty and neuropathologic burden independently contribute to global cognition and odds of dementia. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of older adults living in Illinois. Participants underwent an annual neuropsychological and clinical evaluation. We included 625 participants (mean age 89.7 ± 6.1 years; 67.5% female) who died and underwent autopsy. We quantified neuropathology using an index measure of 10 neuropathologic features: ß-amyloid deposition, hippocampal sclerosis, Lewy bodies, tangle density, TDP-43, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, arteriolosclerosis, atherosclerosis, and gross and chronic cerebral infarcts. Clinical consensus determined dementia status, which we coded as no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. A battery of 19 tests spanning multiple domains quantified global cognition. We operationalized frailty using a 41-item frailty index. We employed regression analyses to model relationships between neuropathology, frailty, and dementia. RESULTS: Both frailty and a neuropathology index were independently associated with global cognition and dementia status. These results held after controlling for traditional pathologic measures in a sample of participants with Alzheimer clinical syndrome. Frailty improved the fit of the model for dementia status (χ2[2] 72.64; p < 0.0001) and explained an additional 11%-12% of the variance in the outcomes. CONCLUSION: Dementia is a multiply determined condition, to which both general health, as captured by frailty, and neuropathology significantly contribute. This integrative view of dementia and health has implications for prevention and therapy; specifically, future research should evaluate frailty as a means of dementia risk reduction.

The impact of statins on health services utilization and mortality in older adults discharged from hospital with ischemic heart disease: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality and is associated with significant utilization of health care resources, especially in the elderly. Numerous randomized trials have established the efficacy of cholesterol reduction with statin medications in decreasing mortality in high-risk populations. However, it is not known what the effect of the utilization of these medications in complex older adults has had on mortality and on the utilization of health services, such as physician visits, hospitalizations or cardiovascular procedures. METHODS: This project linked clinical and hospital data from the Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes in Nova Scotia (ICONS) database with administrative data from the Population Health Research Unit to identify all older adults hospitalized with ischemic heart disease between October 15, 1997 and March 31, 2001. All patients were followed for at least one year or until death. Multiple regression techniques, including Cox proportional hazards models and generalized linear models were employed to compare health services utilization and mortality for statin users and non-statin users. RESULTS: Of 4232 older adults discharged alive from the hospital, 1629 (38%) received a statin after discharge. In multivariate models after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, and propensity score, statins were associated with a 26% reduction in all- cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.88). However, statin use was not associated with subsequent reductions in health service utilization, including re-hospitalizations (HR, 0.98, 95% CI 0.91-1.06), physician visits (relative risk (RR) 0.97, 95% CI 0.92-1.02) or coronary revascularization procedures (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.97-1.36). CONCLUSION: As the utilization of statins continues to grow, their impact on the health care system will continue to be important. Future studies are needed to continue to ensure that those who would realize significant benefit from the medication receive it.

Ascertainment of chronic diseases in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA), systematic review.

ABSTRACTStandard clinical diagnostic procedures are often inappropriate and frequently not feasible to apply in population-based studies, yet ascertaining accurate disease status is essential. We conducted a systematic review to identify algorithms, criteria, and tools used to ascertain 17 chronic diseases, and assessed the feasibility of developing algorithms for the CLSA. Of the 29,616 citations screened, 668 papers met all inclusion criteria. We determined that the information included in a disease algorithm will differ by condition type. The diagnosis of some symptomatic conditions, such as osteoarthritis and arthritis, will require substantiation by clinical criteria (e.g., x-rays, bone density measurement) while other conditions, such as depression, will rely solely on self-report. Asymptomatic conditions, such as hypertension, are more difficult to ascertain by self-report and will require additional physiologic measures (e.g., blood pressure) as well as laboratory measures (e.g., glucose). This pilot study identified the tools necessary to develop disease ascertainment algorithms.

Accessing health care utilization databases for health research: a Canadian longitudinal study on aging feasibility study.

ABSTRACTOne of the keys to the success of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) will be the leveraging of secondary data sources, particularly health care utilization (HCU) data. To examine the practical, methodological, and ethical aspects of accessing HCU data, one-on-one qualitative interviews were conducted with 53 data stewards and privacy commissioners/ombudsmen from across Canada. Study participants indicated that obtaining permission to access HCU data is generally possible; however, they noted that this will be a complex and lengthy process requiring considerable and meticulous preparatory work to ensure proper documentation and compliance with jurisdictional variations along legislative and policy lines.

Exploring the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a large longitudinal population-based study in Canada.

ABSTRACTSuccessful recruitment and retention for population-based longitudinal studies requires understanding facilitators and barriers to participation. This study explored Canadians' views regarding one such study, the proposed Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Focus groups of participants > or =40 years of age were held in six proposed CLSA data collection sites (Halifax, Montreal, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver) to discuss participating in a long-term study of healthy aging. There was fundamental support for longitudinal research on health and aging. Altruism was a key motivation to participation, and universities were viewed as credible parties to conduct such studies. Participants had few worries about providing biological samples but expressed concern about potential misuse of genetic materials, commercialization of participant data, and privacy issues. These findings have already informed current, and will inform future, work on the CLSA, and will also provide useful information to researchers who undertake other population-based longitudinal studies.

The Canadian community health survey as a potential recruitment vehicle for the Canadian longitudinal study on aging.

ABSTRACTThe goal of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is to recruit 50,000 participants aged 45 to 85 years of age and follow them for at least 20 years. The sampling and recruitment processes for a study of this scope and magnitude present important challenges. Statistics Canada was approached to collaborate with the CLSA with the goal of determining whether the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) could be used as a recruitment vehicle for the CLSA. In this pilot study conducted in 2004, it was determined that 63.8 per cent and 75.8 per cent of the respondents agreed to share their contact information and their survey responses with the CLSA, respectively. The most commonly reported concerns were confidentiality/privacy issues, lack of interest, and commitment issues. This pilot study identified some challenges to the use of the CCHS as a recruitment vehicle for the CLSA.

Telephone-administered cognitive tests as tools for the identification of eligible study participants for population-based research in aging.

ABSTRACTAs part of its recruitment process, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) will face the challenge of screening out individuals who are sufficiently impaired in their ability to provide informed consent. In the process of developing the design of the CLSA, a review of the literature was performed with the goal of identifying currently existing telephone cognitive screening tools that can be used to identify eligible study participants for population-based research on aging. We identified 12 telephone screening tools, four of which were based on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and eight that were based on other face-to-face screening tools. Characteristics - including the constructs measured, the length of time for administration, the scoring/classification scheme, and any information regarding the validation of each tool - were extracted and summarized.

Feasibility of biological specimen collection for the Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA) biorepository.

ABSTRACTBiological specimen collection is an integral part of many longitudinal epidemiological studies. It is important to achieve high participant satisfaction for continuing involvement, and high sample quality for accurate biomarker measurement. We conducted a study to evaluate these issues on the sample collection proposed for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). There were 85 participants recruited, and 65 attended either a hospital laboratory or private laboratory. Approximately 100 mL of blood and a random urine specimen were collected from each participant for a total of 2,108 sample aliquots. Quality standards were met for more than 90 per cent of samples and were similar for samples collected in both laboratories. More than 90 per cent of participants rated satisfaction with the collection as being good or excellent, and 84 per cent would be willing to repeat the collection in one to three years.

The Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA).

ABSTRACTCanadians are living longer, and older persons are making up a larger share of the population (14% in 2006, projected to rise to 20% by 2021). The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a national longitudinal study of adult development and aging that will recruit 50,000 Canadians aged 45 to 85 years of age and follow them for at least 20 years. All participants will provide a common set of information concerning many aspects of health and aging, and 30,000 will undergo an additional in-depth examination coupled with the donation of biological specimens (blood and urine). The CLSA will become a rich data source for the study of the complex interrelationship among the biological, physical, psychosocial, and societal factors that affect healthy aging.

Exercise: a potential contributing factor to the relationship between folate and dementia.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether exercise confounds the relationship between folate and cerebrovascular events, all-cause dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Multiple centers in Canada. PARTICIPANTS: In the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, 466 people reported exercise levels, had folate measurements, and were not demented at baseline. After 5 years, 194 had adverse cerebrovascular events, and 65 had dementia (Alzheimer's disease in 47). MEASUREMENTS: Associations between folate and cerebrovascular outcomes were examined using logistic regression in the presence and absence of exercise and other confounders. RESULTS: Folate was associated with greater risk of Alzheimer's disease (odds ratio (OR)=2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01-4.54) and cerebrovascular outcomes (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.11-3.78) in adjusted analyses before the inclusion of exercise and neared significance with all-cause dementia (OR=1.80, 95% CI=0.94-3.45). After the inclusion of exercise, the association between folate and dementia and Alzheimer's disease was 29% and 25% lower, respectively, and neither association was any longer significant (Alzheimer's disease: OR=1.91, 95% CI=0.89-4.11; all-cause dementia: OR=1.62, 95% CI=0.84-3.15). Exercise was a significant confounder in the relationship between folate and Alzheimer's disease (P=.03) and dementia (P=.003) but not cerebrovascular outcomes (P=.64). Unlike folate, exercise was significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.19-0.98) and dementia (OR=0.35, 95% CI=0.17-0.72) in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: Exercise seems to account for much of the relationship between folate and incident dementia and Alzheimer's disease.