Article Synopsis |  | In August 1988, a new prospective study of the elderly was initiated in the central-western NSW town of Dubbo. The goals of the Dubbo Study are to identify predictors of mortality, hospitalisation and placement in long-term care, with special risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The previous report described the study rationale, reasons for selection of the study site, methods and measures, participation rates and demography.
This report describes the expanded baseline findings of the Dubbo study, including: demographic, educational and economic data; tobacco and alcohol use, self medication and other habits; prescribed medication and in study diagnoses; medical contacts and past diagnoses; psychosocial variables, functional health and social support; heights and weights.
The baseline findings show that non-institutionalised elderly of Dubbo appear to be an adequately resourced, healthy group. However, their general health tends to decline with age, but their psychological states adjust to these ‘normal’ age changes to reach positive levels of well-being even at older ages. |