New systematic review shows increased risk of most medical diseases among older offenders
In a newly published systematic review and meta-analysis, from CAPS, the prevalence of medical health problems and mental disorders among older offenders is studied.
The meta-analysis shows a higher risk of several medical conditions, namely; high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, and arthritis diseases among older offenders, in relation to non-offender older adults.
This meta-analysis reveals several important and major shortcomings in existing international research. The most important of these shortcomings is that very few studies have included a comparison group when studying how common various medical diseases and mental problems among older offenders is. Therefore, it is very difficult to say whether the risk is increased, or not. Although much indicates that many diseases are overrepresented among older offenders, much more research is needed with comparison groups and not least follow-up studies (longitudinal studies) that can find out, to what extent, and not least why this excess risk seems to exist.
The meta-analysis, written by Carmen Solares Canal and colleagues, was recently published in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Read the article in full text via the link below.
Contact: Carmen Solares Canal
Read more: Solares, C., Dobrosavljevic, M., Larsson, H., Cortese, S. & Andershed, H. (2020). The mental and physical health of older offenders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 118, 440-450.