New evidence from BRC researchers highlights the need for greater inclusion of older adults in clinical research.
A study published recently in Age and Ageing has revealed that adults aged over 85 remain under-represented in UK clinical research, despite being among the highest users of healthcare services.
Using data from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Year of Birth Project, a team including Clinical Associate Professor of Stroke Medicine at the University of Leicester, Dr Jatinder Minhas analysed participation from more than 455,000 people recruited to NIHR portfolio studies between 2022 and 2024.
Dr Minhas said: “We found that while people aged 65 to74 represented the largest age group recruited to research studies, those aged over 85 accounted for just 3.2% of participants.
“This means geriatric medicine has one of the worst ratios of clinical trial evidence to patient numbers. As this age group makes up the majority of the hospital inpatient population, and a high proportion of health and social care expenditure, this lack of clinical trial evidence relating to this age group is a substantial missed opportunity.
“At worst, this represents inherent ageism in clinical research and will lead to clinical practice recommendations that are not relevant to the main consumers of health care.”
The researchers conclude that the study highlights the ongoing need to design and deliver inclusive research that enables people of all ages to participate, helping ensure future innovations benefit everyone.
At the NIHR BRC Leicester, we’re committed to supporting research that is accessible and representative of all ages.
Find out more about this report here: https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/55/5/afag143/8696324
And read more our work on Research Inclusion here: Inclusion – NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre