Short-term mortality in relation to age and comorbidity in older adults with community-acquired bacteremia: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To assess 30‐day mortality from bacteremia in relation to age and comorbidity and the association between age and mortality with increasing comorbidity. DESIGN: Population‐based cohort study. SETTING: North Jutland County, Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: Adults in medical wards with community‐acquired bacteremia, 1995 to 2004. MEASUREMENTS: Smoothed mortality curves and computed mortality rate ratios (MRRs) using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Two thousand eight hundred fifty‐one patients, 851 aged 15 to 64, 1,092 aged 65 to 79, and 909 aged 80 and older were included. Mortality increased linearly with age. Compared with patients younger than 65, adjusted MRRs in patients aged 65 to 79 and 80 and older were 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2–2.0) and 1.8 (95% CI=1.4–2.3), respectively. Mortality also increased with level of comorbidity. Compared with patients with low comorbidity, adjusted MRRs in patients with medium and high comorbidity were 1.5 (95% CI=1.2–1.8) and 1.7 (95% CI=1.4–2.2), respectively. Regardless of the level of comorbidity, MRRs were consistently higher in older than in younger patients. CONCLUSION: Older age and greater comorbidity predicted mortality, and increasing age‐related comorbidity did not explain the effect of age.     

Medical comorbidity and rehabilitation efficiency in geriatric inpatients

OBJECTIVES: To measure and describe medical comorbidity in geriatric rehabilitation patients and investigate its relationship to rehabilitation efficiency. DESIGN: Prospective, multivariate, within-subject design. SETTING: The Geriatric Rehabilitation inpatient unit of the SCO Health Service in Ottawa, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ten patients, with a mean age of 82 years. MEASUREMENTS: The rehabilitation efficiency ratio, based on gains in functional status achieved with rehabilitation treatment, and the length of stay were computed for all patients. Values were regressed on the scores of the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Geriatric Depression Scale to establish predictive power. RESULTS: The findings suggest that geriatric rehabilitation patients experience considerable medical comorbidity. Sixty percent of patients had impairments across six of the 13 dimensions of the CIRS, whereas 36% of patients had impairments across 11 of the 13 dimensions. In addition, medical comorbidity was negatively related to rehabilitation efficiency. This relationship was significant even after controlling for age, cognitive status, depressive symptoms, and functional independence status at admission. CONCLUSION: Medical comorbidity was a significant predictor of rehabilitation efficiency in geriatric patients. Comorbidity scores >5 were prognostic of poorer rehabilitation outcomes and can serve as an empirical guide in estimating a patient's suitability for rehabilitation. Medical comorbidity predicted both the overall functional change achieved with retabilitation (Functional Independence Measure gains) and the rate at with which those gains were reached (rehabilitation efficiency ratio).     

Bioelectric impedance phase angle is associated with hospital mortality of geriatric patients

Malnutrition is regularly associated with weight loss and changes in body composition, which lead to an increase in disability, complications and mortality. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple and non-invasive bedside body composition analysis technique. In particular, bioelectric impedance phase angle (PA) has been shown to predict prognosis and mortality in several clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of BIA measurements and hospital mortality in multimorbid geriatric patients. The data obtained from the routine clinical admissions of 1071 consecutive patients (783 women and 288 men, age 81.4 ± 8.5 years) to a geriatric hospital unit was analyzed retrospectively. A significant difference of PA (50 kHz) between survivors (4.2 ± 1.1°) and non-survivors (3.6 ± 1.2°; p < 0.001) of the hospital stay could be detected. Subjects with a PA below 3.5° showed a significant fourfold increased hospital mortality of 20% (95% CI = 15-24%) compared to all other subjects (5%; 95% CI = 4-7%). No calculated parameters of BIA reflecting body composition were associated with hospital mortality. Although the extent to which the PA may be regarded as a marker of nutritional state is still controversial, it was associated with hospital mortality in geriatric patients.     

老年综合评估及多学科团队服务在老年共病干预中的应用

目的 探讨住院老年患者通过老年综合评估(CGA)及多学科团队服务(GITS)进行多维度诊疗,为老年患者提供科学、合理的个性化诊疗模式,有效改善共病诊疗效果及生活质量。方法 选取年龄≥60岁的老年科共病患者,分为观察组和对照组。使用自主开发的“老年综合评估软件V2.0”对210例老年患者入院7天内进行老年综合评估,随后观察组根据评估结果给予共病、老年综合征、心理、认知及生活方式等全面综合干预,对照组仅给予共病干预。干预3个月后行第2次老年综合评估,比较观察组与对照组共病及生活质量改善情况。结果 (1)观察组比对照组血压、血糖控制效果更好(P<0.05),观察组比对照组慢性心衰急性加重、慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重发生人数减少(P<0.05)。(2)老年综合征及生活质量：观察组比对照组Barthel指数得分及MMSE得分显著提高(P<0.05),观察组比对照组营养、抑郁、焦虑、跌倒、衰弱均有显著改善(P<0.05),因促眠药物的应用观察组与对照组睡眠障碍均有改善,改善程度无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论 老年患者住院期间进行老年综合评估并结合多学科团队服务,可以及...     

The association between protein-energy malnutrition,malaria morbidity and all-cause mortality in West African children

Both malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) are highly prevalent in young children of sub-Saharan Africa, and the association between PEM and malaria continues to be discussed controversially. We analysed the association between PEM, malaria morbidity and all-cause mortality in a cohort of 709 children aged 6-30 months in a malaria holoendemic rural area of Burkina Faso. Study children were followed over the main malaria transmission period (June-December) in 1999 through longitudinal malaria surveillance complemented by three cross-sectional clinical surveys. There was no association between PEM and malaria morbidity, but malnourished children had a more than two-fold higher risk of dying than non-malnourished children.     

Short-term mortality of bacteraemia in elderly patients with haematological malignancies

Bacterial infections are important complications in patients with haematological malignancies. We compared the outcome of bacteraemia among elderly and younger patients with haematological malignancies, and evaluated the impact of comorbidity on this association using population-based registries from 1992 to 2002. Among 358 patients with an incident haematological malignancy and an episode of bacteraemia, 207 (58%) were older than 60 years and 37 (10%) older than 80 years. The 7-d mortality was 10% among patients younger than 60 years, 21% among patients aged 60-79 years, and 27% for patients older than 80 years. When compared with patients younger than 60 years, the adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9-3.8] for patients aged 60-79 years and 1.6 (95% CI: 0.6-4.2) for patients older than 80 years. The 30-d mortality was 23% among patients younger than 60 years of age, 35% among patients aged 60-79 years, and 54% among patients 80 years or older. Adjusted MRRs were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1-2.7) and 2.3 (95% CI: 1.2-4.3), respectively. We found that increasing age was associated with increased mortality from bacteraemia in patients with haematological malignancies. An increased burden of comorbidity among the elderly did not explain this association.     

Persistent chronic inflammation contributes to the development of cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from a defined population of northwestern Spain

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the contribution of clinical features, routine laboratory markers of inflammation, HLA-DRB1 alleles, and methotrexate therapy to cancer incidence and mortality in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients prospectively followed at the single referral center for an area of Northwestern Spain. METHODS: Patients fulfilling the 1987 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for RA seen at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of Hospital Xeral Calde, Lugo between March and September 1996 were included. HLA-DRB1 phenotype, epidemiological and clinical data from the time of RA diagnosis were assessed at that time. Afterward, patients were prospectively followed and clinical records were examined until the patient's death or September 1, 2005. Presence of histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer was assessed over the extended follow-up in all cases. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-two consecutive patients were assessed. Compared with the general Spanish population, the age- and gender-standardized mortality ratio for cancer was 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.49 to 1.75). Cancer mortality adjusted by age and sex was associated with chronic inflammation determined by C-reactive protein (CRP) (hazard ratio, HR, = 1.15; P < 0.001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (HR = 1.05; P = 0.006). Increased risk of cancer was also associated with CRP (HR = 1.13; P = 0.001), ESR (HR = 1.04; P = 0.02), and the HLA-DRB1*0404 allele (HR = 3.24; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study does not support an increased mortality due to cancer in RA patients from Northwestern Spain. However, the present data indicate that high-grade inflammation contributes to both the risk and the mortality of cancer in RA.     

Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score is the best predictor for severe clinical outcome in the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection

Aged population with comorbidities demonstrated high mortality rate and severe clinical outcome in the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, whether age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score (CCIS) predict fatal outcomes remains uncertain.This retrospective, nationwide cohort study was performed to evaluate patient mortality and clinical outcome according to CCIS among the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. We included 5621 patients who had been discharged from isolation or had died from COVID-19 by April 30, 2020. The primary outcome was composites of death, admission to intensive care unit, use of mechanical ventilator or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The secondary outcome was mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate CCIS as the independent risk factor for death.Among 5621 patients, the high CCIS (≥ 3) group showed higher proportion of elderly population and lower plasma hemoglobin and lower lymphocyte and platelet counts. The high CCIS group was an independent risk factor for composite outcome (HR 3.63, 95% CI 2.45–5.37, P < .001) and patient mortality (HR 22.96, 95% CI 7.20–73.24, P < .001). The nomogram showed that CCIS was the most important factor contributing to the prognosis followed by the presence of dyspnea (hazard ratio [HR] 2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.16–3.83), low body mass index < 18.5 kg/m² (HR 2.36, CI 1.49–3.75), lymphopenia (<0.8 x10⁹/L) (HR 2.15, CI 1.59–2.91), thrombocytopenia (<150.0 x10⁹/L) (HR 1.29, CI 0.94–1.78), anemia (<12.0 g/dL) (HR 1.80, CI 1.33–2.43), and male sex (HR 1.76, CI 1.32–2.34). The nomogram demonstrated that the CCIS was the most potent predictive factor for patient mortality.The predictive nomogram using CCIS for the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may help clinicians to triage the high-risk population and to concentrate limited resources to manage them.     

From the infant to the geriatric patient—Strategies for inhalation therapy in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Inhalation therapy represents the standard of care in children, adolescents as well as in young, middle-aged and geriatric adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, there are only few recommendations for the choice of inhalation devices, which consider both, age-specific limitations in young and geriatric patients. Transition concepts are lacking. In this narrative review, the available device technologies and the evidence for age-specific problems are discussed. Pressurized metered-dose inhalers may be favoured in patients who fulfill all cognitive, coordinative and manual power requirements. Breath-actuated metered-dose inhalers, soft-mist inhalers or the use of add-on devices such as spacers, face masks and valved holding chambers may be suitable for patients with mild to moderate impairments of these variables. In these cases, available resources of personal assistance by educated family members or caregivers should be used to allow metered-dose inhaler therapy. Dry powder inhalers may be reserved for patients with a sufficient peak inspiratory flow and good cognitive and manual abilities. Nebulizers may be indicated in persons who are either unwilling or unable to use handheld inhaler devices. After initiation of a specific inhalation therapy, close monitoring is essential to reduce handling mistakes. An algorithm is developed that considers age and relevant comorbidities to support the decision-making process for the choice of an inhaler device.     

Predictive validity of measures of comorbidity in older community dwellers: the Insufficienza Cardiaca negli Anziani Residenti a Dicomano Study

OBJECTIVES: To compare the ability of five measures of comorbidity to predict mortality and incident disability in basic activities of daily living (BADLs) in unselected older persons. DESIGN: An assessment of the data obtained from the Insufficienza Cardiaca negli Anziani Residenti a Dicomano (ICARe Dicomano) Study, a longitudinal epidemiological survey on heart failure in older people. SETTING: Dicomano, a small, rural town near Florence, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: The entire population aged 65 and older living in Dicomano, Italy, was enrolled in the ICARe Dicomano Study. MEASUREMENTS: At baseline (1995), comorbidity was quantified in 688 participants, based on clinical diagnoses, using disease count (DC), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Index of Co-Existent Diseases (ICED), and Geriatric Index of Comorbidity (GIC), or on drug use, using Chronic Disease Score (CDS). Incident ADL disability was assessed in 1999 and vital status in 2004. RESULTS: Mortality increased with the severity of comorbidity, with hazard ratios around 2 when comparing the highest and the lowest quartiles of DC, CCI, and ICED in Cox regressions adjusted for age, sex, and physical and cognitive performance. Prediction of mortality with GIC and CDS was only borderline significant. All measures predicted incident ADL disability; the strongest risk gradient (hazard ratio = 8.2 between the highest and lowest quartiles) was observed with ICED. Physical and, to a minor extent, cognitive performance added significantly to predicting mortality and incident BADL disability. CONCLUSION: All the measures of comorbidity predicted death and BADL disability in older community dwellers. DC, CCI, and ICED performed better than GIC and CDS. Physical performance measures are strong, independent contributors to the prediction of these outcomes.     

心力衰竭患者6 949例在院30 d病死率危险因素分析

目的:虽然心力衰竭（心衰）的治疗有了很大的进步，但心衰住院患者的在院病死率仍然很高。本项研究主要是调查影响心衰住院患者30 d在院病死率的独立危险因素。方法: 选择1993年1月1日～2007年12月31日15年间心衰住院患者6 949 (男4 344，女2 605)例，用Cox风险模型统计心衰住院患者在院病死率的独立危险因素。结果: 对心衰住院患者在院病死率有显著影响的因素是:老龄 ［HR 1.030，95%CI (1.021-1.039) P=0.000］；疾病包括冠心病、肺心病、心肌梗死、肺炎、脑血管病、消化道出血和肝硬化（P=0.000）,心肌病(P=0.006)、瓣膜性心脏病(P=0.025)、慢性阻塞型肺病(P=0.032)。Kaplan-Meier生成曲线显示共患疾病数目越多，死亡概率越大(HR 1.04, 95%CI 0.74-1.47 到HR 2.88， 95%CI 2.19-3.80,P<0.01)；本研究时段(1998-2002 vs. 1993-1997,HR 0.71 95%CI 0.55-0.93,P<0.05)；(2003-2007 vs. 1993-1997,HR 0.59 95%CI 0.46-0.76,P<0.01)。结论: 老龄、并发疾病、时段是影响心衰住院患者30 d在院病死率的独立危险因素。