Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31930341›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2020

Are Advances in Survival Among the Oldest Old Seen Across the Spectrum of Health and Functioning?

Mikael Thinggaard, Bernard Jeune, Merete Osler, James W Vaupel, Matt McGue, Kaare Christensen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mikael ThinggaardDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C.
Bernard JeuneDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C.
Merete OslerCenter for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, Denmark.
James W VaupelInterdisciplinary Center on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C.
Matt McGueDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C.
Kaare ChristensenDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C.

Funding

TRAJECTORIES OF MORTALITY IN CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANSP01AG008761 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES · PI ROACH, DEBORAH A · 1990 to 2008
$17.5M
NIA NIH HHS P01 AG008761
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMortality rates have been reduced by half over the last 60 years for nonagenarians, and the progress is continuing. The greater survival might be due to overtreatment of severely physically and cognitively disabled individuals, which is a big concern for societies and individuals.

methodsThe study population comprised two Danish birth cohorts: the 1905 Cohort and the 1915 Cohort. At age 95, all from the two cohorts who were still alive and living in Denmark were invited to participate in a health survey that used the same assessment instrument. A total of 2,670 (56.8%) persons participated in the two surveys and survival was assessed through a 7.3-year follow-up period during which 2,497 (93.5%) had died, and with virtually no loss to follow-up.

resultsDespite the increasing chance of surviving to age 95, the 1915 Cohort had significantly better health and functioning than the 1905 Cohort. The survival advantage in the 1915 Cohort continued in the follow-up period after age 95: Median survival length was 2.4 months longer, p = .011. This advantage was not statistically associated with different levels of activities of daily living, physical performance, cognitive functioning, self-rated health and life satisfaction. However, the advantage tended to be more pronounced among people with better health.

conclusionsLife span and health increases among the oldest old. The improvement in survival for 95-year olds born in 1915 compared with 1905 was seen across the whole spectrum of health and functioning, with a tendency towards bigger improvement among those in good health.

Indexed as

Geriatric AssessmentHealth Status IndicatorsAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesDenmarkFemaleHealth SurveysHumansLongevityMaleMortalitySurvival AnalysisCohort effectsImprovementNonagenariansSpectrum of Health

Identifiers

PMID31930341
PMCPMC7662172

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.