UK | BGS (British Geriatrics Society) has co-signed research funders' statement on inclusion of older people in medical and societal research.
In 2023, the Chief Medical Officer for England’s Annual Report on Health in an Ageing Society identified the need for more research to include older people. The BGS supports this notion wholeheartedly and has joined several other organisations in signing a statement of intent to take action on this issue. We, along with all signatories, commit to integrating and advocating for the integration of older people into health and care research.
The CMO’s report found that relative to the proportion of disease, older adults are disproportionately underrepresented in research. Excluding older people from research is not only unethical, but it can result in treatments that are less effective for the very people who need them most. Many older people live with multiple long-term conditions, and it is vital that this group is included in research studies, including clinical trials.
“Health and care research is crucial in ensuring that older people get the best quality care. Older people, who often live with long-term conditions such as frailty and dementia, have been underserved by research for too long, and it is time that this changed,” said Professor Miles Witham, BSG Vice President for Research and Academic Affairs.
“We welcome this statement, and we will continue to contribute our expertise and advocate for more opportunities for older people to take part in research. By working together with other organisations committed to addressing this area of health inequity, we aim to enable research that will improve everyone’s ability to age well across the UK.”
The underrepresentation of older people in research and clinical trials makes findings less relevant and less effective for the people who need them most. It can also contribute to inequalities in how healthcare is delivered, particularly as more people reach older age with complex health needs, with differences in healthy life expectancy across communities.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said despite often having the highest levels of need, older adults are frequently left out of studies that directly affects their care.
“This exclusion can lead to gaps in evidence, less effective treatments, and care that isn’t properly tailored to those who use services the most. As the population ages, it’s essential that research reflects the people it aims to serve.”
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