A multi-dimensional perspective on the gender gap in health among older adults in India and China:Application of a new ageing measure

A continuous rise of female life expectancy above that of males among older adults in India and China may give the impression that the relative gender gap in health in these countries is decreasing. However, given the systemic gender bias against older females in these countries across multiple dimensions of health, a fuller understanding of the gender gap in health calls for a multi-dimensional perspective. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations which accommodates multiple dimensions related to physical, intellectual and general health. We use the MOAT to evaluate the multi-dimensional gender gap in India and China by differencing the MOAT for females with that of males. Females in both countries have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, indicating an earlier advent of ‘old age’ for females. The multi-dimensional estimates of the gender gap are also higher than the estimates based on only one dimension of health. A considerable level of variation is also observed in the gender gap across provinces. The study illustrates the need to understand the gender gap in health in India and China from a multi-dimensional perspective and provides an innovative way to quantify such a gap. Province-specific as well as health dimension-specific interventions are vital in reducing the gender gap among older adults in these countries.<br/

A multi-dimensional measure of population ageing accounting for Quantum and Quality in life years:An application of selected countries in Europe and Asia

Population ageing measured through a fixed old-age threshold like 60+ or 65+ ignores the other important dimensions of ageing. There has been changes among the older persons in multiple dimensions that corresponds to quantity of life years lived as well as the quality of life. The existing multi-dimensional measures also consider the characteristics within a fixed old-age threshold framework which does not account for significant improvements in life expectancy over the years. We propose a new Multidimensional Old Age Threshold (MOAT) measure that accommodates different dimensions of quantity and quality of older persons. We achieve this through a modified framework of the Characteristic Approach. Our measure incorporates a forward-looking approach to measure ageing and specifies an old-age threshold for different countries after accounting for different dimensions of life expectancy, health and human capital. This method is more suitable for comparison across countries with distinct demographic and health achievements. The empirical application of our method using selected countries from Europe and Asia shows that the relative performance of countries differs in terms of MOAT in comparison to estimates based on existing measures, primarily due to the inclusion of the quality dimensions. Countries that have better performance in life expectancy, health and human capital have higher values of MOAT and a lower ‘burden’ of older persons in a cross-country perspective in comparison to the existing measures

Comparison of Population Aging in Europe and Asia Using a Time-Consistent and Comparative Aging Measure

Objective: We compare population aging in Europe and Asia using a measure that is both consistent over time and appropriate for cross-country comparison. Method: Sanderson and Scherbov proposed to estimate the old-age threshold by the age at which the remaining life expectancy (RLE) equals 15 years. We propose an adjustment of this measure, taking into account cross-national differences in the exceptionality of reaching that age. Results: Our old-age threshold was lower than 65 years in 2012 in Central Asia, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, and many Eastern European countries. These populations also experienced a higher share of elderly compared with the RLE15 method. Our method revealed more geographical diversity in the shares of elderly. Both methods exhibited similar time trends for the old-age thresholds and the shares of elderly. Discussion: Our prospective and comparative measure reveals higher population aging estimates in most Asian and Eastern European countries and more diversity in aging

Epistaxis and persistent sneezing in a Labrador Retriever dog with poorly differentiated invasive nasal squamous cell carcinoma

A Labrador Retriever was presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkala with the complaint of nasal bleeding and sneezing for the last one month. Occasional left-unilateral epistaxis, persistent sneezing and facial swelling were the characteristic clinical features. Radiograph revealed mild rarefaction of bones at the cranial tip of maxilla. Biopsy and histopathology revealed pleomorphic squamous epithelial cells with feeble intercellular bridges, poor keratinization, prominent nucleoli and mitotic figures. This article reports a case of invasive nasal squamous cell carcinoma in a dog with epistaxis, persistent sneezing and facial swelling