Prolonged ileus in traumatic pelvic ring injury patients who underwent arterial angio-embolization: A retrospective study

Paralytic ileus occurs in up to 18% of the patients with pelvic bone fractures. The aim of this study is to determine if massive bleeding requiring arterial angio-embolization is related with the duration of ileus in patients with traumatic pelvic ring injuries. This retrospective study included 25 patients who underwent arterial angio-embolization for traumatic pelvic ring injuries. Data were collected from prospectively maintained databases of two independent hospitals. Demographic characteristics (such as age, sex, body mass index, and Charlson Comorbidity Index), cause of trauma, and severity of pelvic injuries were similar in the non-prolonged and prolonged ileus groups. As expected, the prolonged ileus group had a significantly longer duration of ileus than the non-prolonged ileus group (8.0 ± 4.2 days vs 1.2 ± 0.4 days, respectively; P < .001). The mortality rate was higher in the prolonged ileus group (20% vs 0%), but it was not significantly different (P = .13). Interestingly, the prolonged ileus group received significantly higher amounts of packed red blood cell transfusions (6.1 ± 2.1 units vs 3.8 ± 2.5 units; P = .02). The amount of packed red blood cell transfusions was associated with a greater risk of prolonged ileus development (P = .03, odds ratio = 2.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.08–3.88). This study supports the idea that the duration of the ileus is related with the amount of bleeding caused by the traumatic pelvic ring injury. In order to prevent further complications, conservative treatments of the ileus should be considered.     

Rapid resting heart rate: a simple and powerful predictor of osteoporotic fractures and mortality in older women

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether resting heart rate is associated with several types of osteoporotic fractures, mortality, and cause-specific mortality in older women. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four communities across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: We prospectively assessed resting pulse rate in 9,702 women aged 65 and older enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. MEASUREMENTS: Resting pulse was measured in the supine position. Hip, humerus, pelvis, rib, ankle, and wrist fractures were identified by self-report and validated by radiographs. Incident vertebral fractures were assessed by quantitative morphometry. Cause-specific mortality was assessed from death certificates and hospital discharge summaries. RESULTS: Women with resting heart rates of greater than 80 beats per minute (bpm) (n = 1,140 (12%)) had an adjusted 1.6-fold (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.0) increased risk of either a hip, pelvis, or rib fracture and a 1.9-fold (95% CI = 1.4-2.5) increased risk of vertebral fracture. A heart rate of 80 bpm or greater was also associated with 1.4-fold (95% Cl = 1.2-1.5) increased all-cause mortality and 1.5-fold (95% CI = 1.2-2.1) increased coronary heart disease mortality. Investigating resting heart rate as a continuous variable, we detected a general pattern of increasing risks with higher heart rate that could not be explained by age, weight, poor health, physical activity, hyperthyroidism, or smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Older women with resting heart rates of 80 bpm or more have an increased risk of several osteoporotic fractures and of mortality that is not explained by other risk factors. Heart rate may be a simple tool for assessing risk of fracture and of death from coronary heart disease in older women.     

Body mass index and all‐cause mortality in older adults: A scoping review of observational studies

In older age, body composition changes as fat mass increases and redistributes. Therefore, the current body mass index (BMI) classification may not accurately reflect risk in older adults (65+). This study aimed to review the evidence on the association between BMI and all‐cause mortality in older adults and specifically, the findings regarding overweight and obese BMI. A systematic search of the OVID MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted between 2013 and September 2018. Observational studies examining the association between BMI and all‐cause mortality within a community‐dwelling population aged 65+ were included. Seventy‐one articles were included. Studies operationalized BMI categorically (n = 60), continuously (n = 8) or as a numerical change/group transition (n = 7). Reduced risk of mortality was observed for the overweight BMI class compared with the normal BMI class (hazard ratios [HR] ranged 0.41‐0.96) and for class 1 or 2 obesity in some studies. Among studies examining BMI change, increases in BMI demonstrated lower mortality risks compared with decreases in BMI (HR: 0.83‐0.95). Overweight BMI classification or a higher BMI value may be protective with regard to all‐cause mortality, relative to normal BMI, in older adults. These findings demonstrate the potential need for age‐specific BMI cut‐points in older adults.     

Social participation and incident disability and mortality among frail older adults: A JAGES longitudinal study

Background

Frailty is the highest risk factor for incident disability and mortality. Social participation is a modifiable factor for reducing adverse outcomes among independent older adults. However, the association between social participation and incident disability and mortality among frail older adults remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the association between various social activities and incident disability and mortality.

Methods

This nationwide prospective cohort study (The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study) recruited older adults with frailty, aged 65 years and older (N = 9090) who were followed up for 6 years (2010–2016). We examined incident disability and all-cause mortality at the end of the follow-up period. Frailty was assessed using the Kihon Checklist. The independent variable was social participation in 2010, grouped into the following seven categories: hobby groups, sports groups or clubs, volunteer groups, senior citizens' clubs, industries, neighborhood communities, and paid work.

Results

The incidence of disability among participants was 19.5% (1770) and that of mortality was 19.2% (1753). Belonging to sports groups or clubs (Hazard Ratios [HR] = 0.74; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.57, 0.98) or hobby groups (HR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.60, 0.98) was significantly associated with a lower risk of incident disability. Meanwhile, hobby groups (HR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.56, 0.83), sports groups or clubs (HR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.57, 0.88), volunteer groups (HR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.88), and senior citizens' club (HR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.61, 0.90) were associated with lower risk of incident mortality.

Conclusions

Social participation was associated with a lower risk of incident disability and mortality, not only in healthy older adults but also in frail older adults who are at higher risk of incident disability and mortality. This suggests that frail older adults should be encouraged to participate in all the seven types of social participation examined in this study, as this may lower the risk of subsequent disability and mortality.     

应用全盆底重建术治疗老年女性重度盆腔器官脱垂临床分析

目的 评价全盆底重建术治疗老年女性重度盆腔器官脱垂的疗效.方法 回顾性分析34例POP-QⅢ～Ⅳ期盆腔器官脱垂行全盆底重建术的老年患者临床资料,评价该手术疗效及对患者生活质量的影响.结果 所有手术均安全顺利进行,未见膀胱、直肠等损伤;手术时间（105±31.2） min,出血（185.4±65.9） mL;所有患者术后4～5d后均自主排尿.随访2年,复发率为0（0/34）;PFIQ评分由术前的（84.3±22.6）分降至术后2年的（11.2±6.5）分,PFDI评分由术前的（75.8±19.4）分降至术后2年的（12.4±5.3）分.结论 全盆底重建术用于纠正老年女性重度盆腔器官脱垂,手术安全,术后生活质量改善明显,值得临床推广应用.     

“Yubi‐wakka” (finger‐ring) test: A practical self‐screening method for sarcopenia,and a predictor of disability and mortality among Japanese community‐dwelling older adults

Aim

We developed a simple self‐screening method, the “Yubi‐wakka (finger‐ring)” test to assess sarcopenia swiftly. This prospective cohort study aimed to examine the validity of this test as a practical method among community‐dwelling older adults for identifying sarcopenia, and for predicting disability and mortality.

Methods

We followed 1904 older adults, and analyzed associations between this “Yubi‐wakka” test result at baseline in 2012 and sarcopenia at baseline, new‐onset sarcopenia followed until 2014, and new‐certification for the long‐term care insurance and mortality followed until 2016. The “Yubi‐wakka” test checks whether the maximum non‐dominant calf circumference is bigger than the individual's own finger‐ring circumference, which is formed by the thumb and forefinger of both hands. We divided participants into three groups, “bigger,” “just fits” and “smaller” based on a comparison between the calf and finger‐ring circumference.

Results

Of 1904 participants (mean age 72.8 ± 5.4 years), 53% were grouped as “bigger,” 33% were in “just fits” and 14% were in “smaller.” Relative to “bigger,” the test results statistically associated with sarcopenia (“just fits” OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.1 and “smaller” OR 6.6, 95% CI 3.5–13), by multivariate analyses. The test results also increased the risk of new‐onset sarcopenia (“just fits” HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.8 and “smaller” HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.8–6.4). Furthermore, the “smaller” had 2.0‐ and 3.2‐fold increased risks for needing long‐term care insurance services and mortality, respectively.

Conclusions

The “Yubi‐wakka” test is an extremely practical method to identify older adults at risk of sarcopenia, disability and mortality. This test might contribute to increased primary prevention for sarcopenia by serving as an early wake‐up call for older adults against becoming sarcopenic. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 224–232 .