Geriatric Diseases: Management and Epidemiology

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Geriatric Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1990

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. CINTESIS@RISE, Biochemistry Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
2. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3. Porto4Ageing—Competences Centre on Active and Healthy Ageing, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: geriatrics; gerontology; frailty; polypharmacy; treatment adherence; mHealth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ageing populations worldwide present unique challenges and opportunities in managing health and disease. This Special Issue, "Geriatric Diseases: Management and Epidemiology", seeks to advance our understanding of age-related conditions and their broader implications on public health and society. We welcome original research and reviews exploring the epidemiology of geriatric diseases, innovative management strategies, and preventive measures.

Particular emphasis will be placed on multidisciplinary approaches, including integrating clinical care and rehabilitation. Submissions addressing global perspectives, disparities in geriatric care, and the role of technology and personalized medicine in ageing populations are highly encouraged.

This Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for researchers and clinicians to share insights and contribute to the development of clinical practices that improve the quality of life and health outcomes for older adults.

Dr. Luís Midão
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ageing and health
  • older care
  • chronic diseases
  • preventive health strategies
  • multidisciplinary approaches
  • health inequalities
  • innovation in care
  • global ageing challenges
  • epidemiology of ageing
  • quality of life in older adults

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1431 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Assessment of Depression, Activities of Daily Living and Associated Factors in Elderly Individuals Aged 65 Years and Older: Evidence from a Population-Based Study
by Mehmet Emin Arayici, Ali Kose, Suleyman Dolu, Sema Gultekin Arayici, Gizem Gedik, Beyza Nur Kilic and Ozum Erkin
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(8), 2853; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14082853 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 322
Abstract
Background: It is a well-established fact that late-life depression represents a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries experiencing rapid demographic aging. Although its clinical and societal impacts are well-recognized, data on the interplay between depressive symptoms and functional status [...] Read more.
Background: It is a well-established fact that late-life depression represents a significant public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries experiencing rapid demographic aging. Although its clinical and societal impacts are well-recognized, data on the interplay between depressive symptoms and functional status in older populations remain limited for Türkiye. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression among individuals aged 65 years or older, examine its associations with instrumental and basic activities of daily living, and identify key sociodemographic and behavioral correlates. Methods: In this study, data obtained from a population-based survey in 2264 clusters by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) were used, and weighted data were yielded from 6,036,396 adults aged 65 and over. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), categorizing participants as “not depressed”, “mildly depressed”, or “severely depressed”. Functional status was evaluated using the Lawton–Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale and the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), were used to determine the associations of depression with functional impairment and various covariates, including gender, education, marital status, chronic disease, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. Results: Overall, the prevalence of depression in this cohort was 49.9% [95% CI = 48.7–51%], with 36.0% [95% CI = 34.8–37.0%] classified as mild and 13.9% [95% CI = 13.1–14.7%] as severe depression. IADL and ADL scores were negatively correlated with GDS scores (r = −0.416 and r = −0.321, respectively; p < 0.001). In logistic models, lower IADL scores were linked to higher odds of mild (OR = 0.797, 95% CI = [0.796–0.798], p < 0.001) and severe depression (OR = 0.689, 95% CI = [0.688–0.690], p < 0.001). Being semi-dependent or dependent in ADL further escalated depression risk. Female gender, lower education, single/divorced status, chronic disease, and inactivity also emerged as strong predictors. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that depression is highly prevalent among older adults in Türkiye, with functional impairment, unfavorable health behaviors, and sociodemographic vulnerabilities heightening risk. Integrating depression screening into geriatric care—alongside interventions to maintain functional independence—may help mitigate the burden of late-life depression in similar contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Diseases: Management and Epidemiology)
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24 pages, 2785 KiB  
Article
Polypharmacy Prevalence Among Older Adults Based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe: An Update
by Elena Gatt Bonanno, Teodora Figueiredo, Inês Figueiroa Mimoso, Maria Inês Morgado, Joana Carrilho, Luís Midão and Elísio Costa
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(4), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14041330 - 17 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1448
Abstract
Polypharmacy, a common condition among the older population, is associated with adverse outcomes, including higher mortality, falls and hospitalization rates, adverse drug reactions, drug–drug interactions, medication nonadherence, and consequently increased healthcare costs. Background/Objectives: This study aims to explore the prevalence of polypharmacy [...] Read more.
Polypharmacy, a common condition among the older population, is associated with adverse outcomes, including higher mortality, falls and hospitalization rates, adverse drug reactions, drug–drug interactions, medication nonadherence, and consequently increased healthcare costs. Background/Objectives: This study aims to explore the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors among older adults across 27 European countries and Israel. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, we used data from participants aged 65 years or older from Wave 9 of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) database. The variables studied were classified into the following categories: sociodemographic, behavioral factors, physical functioning, physical health, mental health, and living conditions. Results: Our results showed an overall prevalence of polypharmacy of 36.2%, ranging from 25.0 to 51.8%. Slovenia, Greece, and Switzerland were the countries with the lowest prevalence, whereas Portugal, Israel, and Poland were the countries where the prevalence of polypharmacy was the highest. Polypharmacy was shown to be associated with variables from all categories. Conclusions: Polypharmacy is a highly prevalent condition in the older population. Identification of variables associated with polypharmacy, such as those identified in this study, is important to identify and monitor older groups, which are most vulnerable to polypharmacy. Interventions designed to reduce polypharmacy should consider these associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geriatric Diseases: Management and Epidemiology)
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