Highlighted Research in Geriatric Medical Research

Submitted by NGIG VP External, Natalie Palumbo:

Palumbo, N., Khattab, S., Lawson, A., & Rochon, P. A. (2023). The importance of sex and age disaggregated data. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 71(7), 2339–2342. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.18347

Summary by NGIG VP Research, Rachael Donnelly:

This study investigates the significance of collecting and analyzing sex- and age-disaggregated data in health research, particularly for older adults (aged ≥65 years). Despite global policies emphasizing the need for such data to address the diverse needs of older populations, there remains a gap. Using publicly available data on the disease burden in Canada for the year 2019, the study employed disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a metric. One DALY represented the loss of the equivalent of one year of full health. The focus was on two age groups: 65–69 and 85 and older.

The results revealed variations in the top 10 causes of DALYs based on age group. For those aged 65–69, ischemic heart disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, and diabetes mellitus were the leading causes. Conversely, for those aged 85 and older, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, ischemic heart disease, and stroke took precedence. The magnitude of DALYs also differed, with the 85 and older age group experiencing higher DALYs. Notably, sex-specific patterns emerged, such as men in the 85 and older age category having significantly more DALYs due to trachea, bronchus and lung cancers compared to women.

Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of disaggregated data in understanding shifting disease burdens as individuals age. Diseases impacting older adults in the 65–69 age group differ from those affecting those aged 85 and older. The differences in DALYs between men and women also highlight the complexity of health patterns influenced by both sex and age.