Article Synopsis |  | Australia’s ageing population is an object of concern amongst scholars, health and social service providers, and policy makers. Despite the trend of growth in the elderly segment, few prospective studies have exclusively examined the elderly. Current information available concerning vascular risk factors in the elderly is incomplete and contradictory.
This report describes the study rationale for the Dubbo Study, an investigation which will attempt to upgrade the minimal data available on the elderly population. The goals of the study were to identify predictors of mortality, hospitalisation, and placement on long-term care facilities, and to study factors for chronic diseases and for disability in the elderly. The target population included all non-institutionalised citizens 60 years and over domiciled in the Dubbo Local Government Area and comprised 1693 men and 2167 women. The attendance rate was 73% of this. Clinical, biochemical and sociological data are reported at baseline and these results are the subject of further reports found on this website. |