Comprehensive geriatric assessment for community-dwelling elderly in Asia compared with those in Japan: IV. Savannakhet in Laos

Background:  The objective of the present study is to compare the findings of comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA) of community-dwelling elderly people living in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) with those in Japan. Methods:  A cross-sectional, interview- and examination-based study was undertaken. The subjects consisted of community-dwelling elderly people in Songkhon, a rural district in Laos and in Sonobe, a rural town in Kyoto, Japan. Two hundred and ninety-four people aged 60 years and over in Laos and 411 aged 65 years and over in Japan were examined using a common CGA tool. Interviews pertaining to activities of daily living (ADL), medical and social history, quality of life (QOL) and Geriatric Depression Scale as well as anthropometric, and blood chemical examinations were included in the assessment. Results:  All scores for basic and instrumental ADL, intellectual activity and social roles, body mass index, prevalence of hypertension, mean total and HDL cholesterol levels were lower in Laos than in Japan, while prevalence of depression, impaired glucose tolerance and anemia were higher in Laos than in Japan. Conclusion:  Differences in lifestyle and medical status were found between economically developing Laos and highly developed Japan. Almost all comprehensive geriatric functions such as ADL, QOL, mood and nutritional condition in blood chemistry were lower in the elderly in Songkhon than in Kyoto. Of particular note were the higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and anemia and lower prevalence of hypertension in the elderly population in Songkhon district, which should be examined in future studies.