The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In coming decades the proportion of very elderly people living in the Western world will dramatically increase. This forthcoming "grey epidemic" will lead to an explosion of chronic diseases. In order to anticipate booming...

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Main Authors: Matheï Catharina, Legrand Delphine, Olivier Pierre-Alexandre, Mekouar Hassan, Rezzoug Nawel, Wallemacq Pierre, Pasquet Agnes, Vaes Bert, Van Pottelbergh Gijs, Degryse Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-06-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/10/39
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spelling doaj-b631ccced7e046ceae3f44282672c1222020-11-25T02:50:12ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182010-06-011013910.1186/1471-2318-10-39The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in BelgiumMatheï CatharinaLegrand DelphineOlivier Pierre-AlexandreMekouar HassanRezzoug NawelWallemacq PierrePasquet AgnesVaes BertVan Pottelbergh GijsDegryse Jan<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In coming decades the proportion of very elderly people living in the Western world will dramatically increase. This forthcoming "grey epidemic" will lead to an explosion of chronic diseases. In order to anticipate booming health care expenditures and to assure that social security is funded in the future, research focusing on the relationship between chronic diseases, frailty and disability is needed. The general aim of the BELFRAIL cohort study (BF<sub>C80+) </sub>is to study the dynamic interaction between health, frailty and disability in a multi-system approach focusing on cardiac dysfunction and chronic heart failure, lung function, sarcopenia, renal insufficiency and immunosenescence.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The BF<sub>C80+ </sub>is a prospective, observational, population-based cohort study of subjects aged 80 years and older in three well-circumscribed areas of Belgium. In total, 29 general practitioner (GP) centres were asked to include patients aged 80 and older. Only three exclusion criteria were used: severe dementia, in palliative care and medical emergency. Two sampling methods for the recruitment of patients were used. Between November 2, 2008 and September 15, 2009, 567 subjects were included in the BF<sub>C80+ </sub>study. Every study participant was invited to undergo four study visits. The GP recorded background variables and medical history and performed a detailed anamnesis and clinical examination. The clinical research assistant performed an extensive examination including performance testing, questionnaires and technical examinations. Echocardiography was performed at home by a cardiologist. A blood sample was collected in the morning. Follow-up reporting of hard outcome measures including mortality, hospitalization and morbidity was organized. A second data collection is planned after 18 months.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The BF<sub>C80+ </sub>was designed to acquire a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of chronic diseases in the very elderly and to study the dynamic interaction between health, frailty and disability in a multi-system approach. The wide variety of dimensions investigated in the BF<sub>C80+ </sub>will enable us not only to investigate in depth the relationship between the different physiological systems but also to initiate new research questions based on this unique database of community-dwelling elderly.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/10/39
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Matheï Catharina
Legrand Delphine
Olivier Pierre-Alexandre
Mekouar Hassan
Rezzoug Nawel
Wallemacq Pierre
Pasquet Agnes
Vaes Bert
Van Pottelbergh Gijs
Degryse Jan
spellingShingle Matheï Catharina
Legrand Delphine
Olivier Pierre-Alexandre
Mekouar Hassan
Rezzoug Nawel
Wallemacq Pierre
Pasquet Agnes
Vaes Bert
Van Pottelbergh Gijs
Degryse Jan
The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
BMC Geriatrics
author_facet Matheï Catharina
Legrand Delphine
Olivier Pierre-Alexandre
Mekouar Hassan
Rezzoug Nawel
Wallemacq Pierre
Pasquet Agnes
Vaes Bert
Van Pottelbergh Gijs
Degryse Jan
author_sort Matheï Catharina
title The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
title_short The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
title_full The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
title_fullStr The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
title_full_unstemmed The BELFRAIL (BF<sub>C80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in Belgium
title_sort belfrail (bf<sub>c80+</sub>) study: a population-based prospective cohort study of the very elderly in belgium
publisher BMC
series BMC Geriatrics
issn 1471-2318
publishDate 2010-06-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In coming decades the proportion of very elderly people living in the Western world will dramatically increase. This forthcoming "grey epidemic" will lead to an explosion of chronic diseases. In order to anticipate booming health care expenditures and to assure that social security is funded in the future, research focusing on the relationship between chronic diseases, frailty and disability is needed. The general aim of the BELFRAIL cohort study (BF<sub>C80+) </sub>is to study the dynamic interaction between health, frailty and disability in a multi-system approach focusing on cardiac dysfunction and chronic heart failure, lung function, sarcopenia, renal insufficiency and immunosenescence.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The BF<sub>C80+ </sub>is a prospective, observational, population-based cohort study of subjects aged 80 years and older in three well-circumscribed areas of Belgium. In total, 29 general practitioner (GP) centres were asked to include patients aged 80 and older. Only three exclusion criteria were used: severe dementia, in palliative care and medical emergency. Two sampling methods for the recruitment of patients were used. Between November 2, 2008 and September 15, 2009, 567 subjects were included in the BF<sub>C80+ </sub>study. Every study participant was invited to undergo four study visits. The GP recorded background variables and medical history and performed a detailed anamnesis and clinical examination. The clinical research assistant performed an extensive examination including performance testing, questionnaires and technical examinations. Echocardiography was performed at home by a cardiologist. A blood sample was collected in the morning. Follow-up reporting of hard outcome measures including mortality, hospitalization and morbidity was organized. A second data collection is planned after 18 months.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The BF<sub>C80+ </sub>was designed to acquire a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of chronic diseases in the very elderly and to study the dynamic interaction between health, frailty and disability in a multi-system approach. The wide variety of dimensions investigated in the BF<sub>C80+ </sub>will enable us not only to investigate in depth the relationship between the different physiological systems but also to initiate new research questions based on this unique database of community-dwelling elderly.</p>
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/10/39
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