Lieto is a rural district in the southwestern part of Finland, near the city of Turku. Its population is about 14,500, with 11 % aged 65 years or over. Previously mainly an agricultural area, Lieto has been transformed since the Second World War into a commuter and partly industrialized community with a growing population.

The study on the elderly of Lieto is a longitudinal study of clinical epidemiology on those of 65 years of age or over. The purpose is to study general illnesses and diseases among the elderly with a particular interest in the diseases of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Clinical characteristics, epidemiology, and the effects for functioning abilities and a quality of life in an unselected elderly population are of special concern.

The first data collection was accomplished in 1990-91. All those having been born in or prior to 1926 and living in Lieto had been invited to participate. Altogether 1196 persons (488 men and 708 women) or 93% of those invited participated.

The second data collection was launched in March 1998 and concluded in July of 1999. A total of 1500 elderly persons having been born in or prior to 1933 were invited to join in, and 1260 participated. Depending on the needed examinations, 3-5 visits to the Lieto municipal health center were required per participant.

Suomenkielinen kotisivu

Publications

2005

36. Eskelinen SI, Isoaho RE, Kivelä S-L, Irjala KM. Actual practice vs. guidelines in laboratory monitoring of older patients with primary hypothyroidism in primary care. Aging Clin Exp Res 2005. In press.

35. Salminen M, Isoaho R, Vahlberg T, Ojanlatva A, Kivelä S-L. Effects of a health advocacy, counselling, and activation programme on depressive symptoms in older coronary heart disease patients. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005. In press.

2004

34. Wasén E, Isoaho R, Mattila K, Vahlberg T, Kivelä S-L, Irjala K. Estimation of glomerular filtration rate in the elderly: a comparison of creatinine-based formulae with serum cystatin C. J Intern Med 2004;255:1-9.

33. Löppönen MK, Isoaho R, Räihä IJ, Vahlberg TJ, Loikas SM, Takala TI, Puolijoki H, Irjala KM, Kivelä S-L. Undiagnosed diseases in patients with dementia - a potential target group for intervention. Dement Geriatr Cong Disord 2004;18:321-29.

32. Wasén E, Isoaho R, Mattila K, Vahlberg T, Kivelä S-L, Irjala K. Renal impairment associated with diabetes in the elderly. Diabetes Care 2004;27:2648-53

31. Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, Koponen H, Hakko H, Viilo K, Haapea M, Kivelä S-L, Isoaho R. Sedative drug use in the home-dwelling elderly. Ann Pharmacother 2004;38:2017-2022

2003

30. Loikas S, Löppönen M, Suominen P, Møller J, Irjala K, Isoaho R, Pelliniemi T-T. RIA for serum holotranscobalamin: method evaluation in the clinical laboratory and reference interval. Clin Chem 2003;49(3):455-62.

29. Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, Koponen H, Kivelä S-L, Isoaho R. A model to classify the sedative load of drugs. Research letter. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2003;18:542-4.

28. Wasén E, Isoaho R, Mattila K, Vahlberg T, Kivelä S-L, Irjala K. Serum cystatin C in the aged: relationships with health status. Am J Kidney Dis 2003;42:36-43.

27. Hartikainen S, Ahto M, Löppönen M, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Ojanlatva A, Kivelä S-L, Isoaho R. Change in the prevalence of coronary heart disease among Finnish elderly men and women in the 1990s. Scand J Prim Health Care 2003;21:178-81.

26. Löppönen M, Räihä I, Isoaho R, Vahlberg T, Kivelä S-L. Diagnosing cognitive impairment and dementia in primary health care - a more active approach is needed. Age and ageing 2003;32:1-7.

2002

25. Wendelin-Saarenhovi ML, Isoaho RE, Hartiala JJ, Helenius HY, Kivelä S-L, Löppönen MK, Hietanen E. Ambulatory blood pressure characteristics in normotensive and treated hypertensive older people. J Hum Hypertens 2002;16:177-84.

24. Wasén E, Suominen P, Isoaho R, Mattila K, Virtanen A, Kivelä S-L, Irjala K. Serum cystatin C as a marker of kidney dysfunction in an elderly population. Clin Chem 2002;48:1138-40.

23. Takala TI, Suominen P, Isoaho R, Kivela S-L, Löppönen M, Peltola O, Irjala K. Iron-replete reference intervals to increase sensitivity of hematologic and iron status laboratory tests in the elderly. Clin Chem 2002;48:1586-9

22. Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, Veijola J, Kivelä S-L, Isoaho R. Use of medications and polypharmacy are increasing among the elderly. J Clin Epidemiol 2002;55:809-17.

21. Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, Koponen H, Kivelä S-L, Isoaho R. Psychotropics among the home-dwelling elderly-increasing trends. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2002;17:874-83.

20. Järvenpää T, Rinne JO, Räihä I, Koskenvuo M, Löppönen M, Hinkka S, et al. Characteristics of two telephone screens for cognitive impairment. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2002;13:149-55.

19. Wendelin-Saarenhovi M, Isoaho RE, Hartiala JJ, Helenius HY, Kivelä S-L, Löppönen MK, Puolijoki H, Hietanen EK. Ambulatory blood pressure and left ventricular mass in older age. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2002;62:569-78.

2001

18. Räihä I, Isoaho R, Ojanlatva A, Viramo P, Sulkava R, Kivelä S-L. Poor performance in the Mini-Mental State Examination due to causes other than dementia. Scand J Prim Health Care 2001;19:34-38.

17. Wendelin-Saarenhovi M, Isoaho R, Hartiala J, Helenius H, Kivelä S-L, Hietanen E. Long-term reproducibility of ambulatory blood pressure in unselected elderly subjects. Clin Physiol 2001;21:316-322.

1999

16. Ahto M, Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Sulkava R, Kivelä S-L. Cognitive impairment among elderly coronary heart disease patients. Gerontology 1999;45:87-95.

15. Koivisto A-L, Isoaho R, von Hertzen L, Töyrylä M, Laippala P, Kivelä S-L, Saikku P. Chlamydial antibodies in an elderly Finnish population. Scand J Infect Dis 1999;31:135-139.

14. von Hertzen L, Isoaho R, Kivelä S-L, Saikku P. Relation of Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies to ischaemic heart disease. Letters. Br Med J 1999;319:1575-76.

1998

13. Ahto M, Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Romo M, Kivelä S-L. Functional abilities of elderly coronary heart disease patients. Aging Clin and Exp Res 1998;10:127-136.

12. Ahto M, Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Romo M, Kivelä S-L. Social functioning of elderly coronary heart disease patients. Letter to the Editor. Scand J Soc Med 1998;26:121-123.

11. Ahto M, Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Romo M, Kivelä S-L. Prevalence of coronary heart disease, associated manifestations and electrocardiographic findings in elderly Finns. Age Ageing 1998;27:729-737.

1997

10. Sankilampi U, Isoaho R, Bloigu A, Kivelä S-L, Leinonen M. Effect of age, sex and smoking habits on pneumococcal antibodies in an elderly population. Int J Epidemiol 1997;26:420-427.

9. Leistevuo T, Isoaho R, Klaukka T, Kivelä S-L, Huovinen P. Prescription of antimicrobial agents to the elderly in relation to the type of infection. Age Ageing 1997;26:345-351.

8. Kurtti P, Isoaho R, von Hertzen L, Kivelä S-L, Leinonen M. Influence of age, gender and smoking on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis antibody titers in an elderly population. Scand J Infect Dis 1997;29:485-489.

7. Ahto M, Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Laippala P, Romo M, Kivelä S-L. Coronary heart disease and depression in the elderly - a population-based study. Fam Pract 1997;14:436-445.

1996

6. von Hertzen L, Isoaho R, Leinonen M, Koskinen R, Laippala P, Töyrylä M, Kivelä S-L, Saikku P. Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Epidemiol 1996;25:658-664.

5. Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Huhti E, Laippala P, Kivelä S-L. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Int Psychogeriatr 1996;8:113-125.

1995

4. Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Huhti E, Laippala P, Kivelä S-L. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and self-maintaining functions in the elderly - a population-based study. Scand J Prim Health Care 1995;13:122-127.

3. Isoaho R, Keistinen T, Laippala P, Kivelä S-L. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and symptoms related to depression in elderly persons. Psychol Rep 1995;76:287-297.

1994

2. Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Huhti E, Kivelä S-L, Tala E. Prevalence of asthma in elderly Finns. J Clin Epidemiol 1994;47:1109-1118.

1. Isoaho R, Puolijoki H, Huhti E, Kivelä S-L, Laippala P, Tala E. Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in elderly Finns. Respir Med 1994;88:571-580.