A few interesting articles of note in the Student BMJ this week. Alot of the articles seem to carry the theme of the ageing population and the impact that this will have on medicine. I was going to write 'burden' there but I think that comes across as quite a derogatory word and that infact we should be thinking about what we can do to help the elderly who may be dependent on us.
One article reads: 'Half of babies born today will live to celebrate their 100th birthday'. This came according to a study in the Lancet:
Christensen K, Doblhammer G et al. Ageing Populations: the challenges ahead. Lancet 2009;374:1196-208
According to report, to meet these challenges it will be necessary to delay disability. At the moment in the UK there are 29 pensioners to every 100 people of working age however it is predicted that by 2050 this ratio will be 60 to every 100. This is a significant demographic change which is made worse by current low birth rates in the UK and low immigration rates. Health care services in many parts are at present 'inherently ageist'' and that this must change. To improve quality of life for older people, there must be a narrowing of the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. The healthcare system must be more prepared for the changes which have been forecast with greater funding put into causes, prevention and treatment of the disabilities that become more common with old age.
Much of the credit for allowing me time to write this goes to my very understanding girlfriend who is very stressed about her ward simulation exercise, which I am not helping very much. Maybe if I'm going to be a doctor I should look after my patients more. My girlfriend would like to note that I always support her and that I make her feel much less stressed and worried about things, so I will likely make an excellent doctor.
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