Effectiveness of Comanagement Model: Geriatric Medicine and Vascular Surgery

ObjectivesOlder surgical patients frequently develop postoperative complications due to their frailty and multiple comorbidities. Geriatric medicine consultation helps to optimize risk factors and improve outcomes in patients with hip fracture. This study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes before and after comanagement model implementation between geriatric medicine (Geriatric Surgical Service) and vascular surgery services.DesignThis was a case-control study involving emergency vascular surgical patients who were comanaged by vascular surgery, geriatric medicine, and geriatric nursing services.Settings and ParticipantsThis study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Singapore from 2015 to 2018 with acute vascular surgical patients aged older than 65 years.MethodsA retrospective cohort of 135 patients from 2013 to 2014 (control group) who fulfilled the criteria for the comanagement model was compared with a prospective cohort of 348 patients who were comanaged by a geriatric surgical service from 2015 to 2018, and a further subgroup analysis of patients between 2015 and 2016 (n = 150) (early intervention group) and between 2017 and 2018 (n = 198) (late intervention group) was performed.ResultsComanaged patients had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (11.6 vs 20.8 days, P = .001), reduced nosocomial infections (3% vs 12% for urinary tract infection, P = .003) and decreased 30-day readmission rates (22% vs 34%, P = .011). A trend of a decreased incidence of fluid overload was noted in patients comanaged with the geriatric surgical service (3% vs 7%, P = .073). Subgroup analysis showed progressive reductions in the length of stay (15.4 vs 11.6 days, P = .001), 30-day readmission rate (35% vs 22%, P = .01), and nosocomial urinary tract infection (8% vs 3%, P = .003) between the early intervention group and the late intervention group. Although they were not statistically significant, reductions were also observed in the delirium rate (13% vs 11%) and other postoperative medical complications in the early intervention group and the late intervention group.Conclusion and ImplicationsDespite having increasing comorbidities, older vascular surgical inpatients had a significantly shorter length of stay, reduced nosocomial infections, and decreased 30-day readmission rates through a comanagement model with vascular surgery and geriatric medicine services. Improvements in outcomes were observed over time as the model of care evolved. Geriatric medicine intervention in the perioperative period improves the outcomes of older acute vascular surgical patients.     

Prognostic Interplay of Functional Status and Multimorbidity Among Older Patients Discharged From Hospital

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic weight of multimorbidity and functional impairment over long-term mortality among older patients discharged from acute care hospitals.DesignA prospective multicenter observational study.Setting and ParticipantsOur series consisted of 1967 adults aged ≥65 years consecutively admitted to acute care wards in Italy, in the context of the Report-AGE project.MethodsAfter signing a written informed consent, all patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment by Inter-RAI Minimum Data Set acute care. The primary endpoint of the present study was long-term mortality. Patients were grouped into 3 functional clusters and 3 disease clusters using the K-medians cluster analysis. The association of functional clusters, disease clusters, and Charlson score categories with long-term mortality was investigated through Cox regression analysis and the intercluster classification agreement was further estimated. Finally, the additive effect of either disease clusters or Charlson score on predictive ability of functional clusters was assessed by using changes in Harrell’s C-index and categorical Net Reclassification Index (NRI).ResultsFunctional clusters, disease clusters, and Charlson score were significant predictors of long-term mortality, but the interclassification agreement was poor. Functional clusters predicted mortality with greater accuracy [C-index 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65–0.68] compared with disease clusters (C-index 0.54, 95% CI 0.53–0.56), and Charlson score (C-index 0.58, 95% CI 0.56–0.59). Adding multimorbidity (NRI 0.23, 95% CI 0.14–0.31) or Charlson score (NRI 0.13, 95% CI 0.03–0.20) to functional cluster model slightly improved the accuracy of prediction.Conclusions and ImplicationsFunctional impairment may better predict prognosis compared with multimorbidity, which may be relevant to optimally address individuals’ needs and to design tailored preventive interventions.     

Scoping Review of Randomized Trials With Discontinuation of Medicines in Older Adults

ObjectivesTo map the randomized trial evidence describing the feasibility of discontinuing active medications with potential adverse effects in older patients.DesignScoping review with systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library.Setting and ParticipantsRandomized trials investigating discontinuation of a single medicine or medicine class in patients with mean age ≥65 years.MethodsWe extracted trial characteristics including study design and assessed bias. As proxies for the “feasibility of discontinuation,” we extracted the “dropout rate” and “disease recurrence rate.”ResultsWe identified 40 trials investigating discontinuation of symptomatic (n = 26), preventive (n = 6), or both preventive and symptomatic medicines (n = 8) against psychiatric (n = 10), neurologic (n = 9), musculoskeletal (n = 8), cardiovascular (n = 5), respiratory (n = 4), and urologic diseases (n = 4). Five discontinuation designs were used, 75% (30/40) of trials were placebo-controlled, and 48% (19/40) of trials had bias disfavoring discontinuation. The dropout rate was similar between the discontinuation group and the continuation group in 79% of the trials (30/38), whereas disease recurrence was similar in 72% (23/32) of the trials. In 42% (13/31) of trials reporting both dropout rate and disease recurrence rate, the differences between groups were statistically insignificant and less than 10%; these trials investigated discontinuation of cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease in various settings (n = 3), alendronate for osteoporosis (n = 3), glucosamine for osteoarthritis, lithium as adjunct for unipolar depression, statins for cardiovascular disease in patients with limited life expectancy, droxidopa for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, tamsulosin for lower urinary tract symptoms, sertraline for major depressive episode, and fentanyl patch for low back or osteoarthritis pain.Conclusions and ImplicationsWe identified 40 randomized trials using a variety of designs investigating discontinuation of both symptomatic and preventive medicines in older patients. Discontinuation of medicines seems feasible for most of the investigated medicines. This scoping review can guide clinical practice and future trials on deprescribing.     

依托咪酯在高龄心脏病患者非心脏手术麻醉诱导中的应用

目的对比观察依托咪酯与咪唑安定在高龄心脏病患者行非心脏手术麻醉诱导中对血流动力学的影响。方法选择36例患者，随机均分为两组。治疗组以乳剂依托咪酯复合芬太尼诱导，对照组以咪唑安定复合芬太尼诱导，分别记录诱导前、用药后3min、插管前和插管后3min的心率（HR）、收缩压（SBP）和舒张压（DBP）变化。结果麻醉诱导给药3min后，对照组HR，SBP，DBP与麻醉诱导前相比均有明显下降（P〈0．01），且SBP及DBP下降幅度明显大于治疗组（P〈0．051；插管后3min，SBP及DBP均未恢复正常，与诱导前相比仍有明显下降（P〈0.05）。治疗组仅在插管时HR，SBP和DBP有短暂下降（P〈0．05）：插管后3min，HR，SBP，DBP均恢复接近正常（P〉0．05）。结论乳剂依托咪酯复合芬太尼进行麻醉诱导，对高龄心脏病患者的血流动力学影响轻微，行非心脏手术时较咪唑安定更安全、平稳。     

Association between Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and Depression after Ischemic Stroke

Background: Malnutrition is associated with poor outcomes after stroke. However, the association between malnutrition and post-stroke depression (PSD) remains unelucidated. We aimed to explore the association between geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and depression after ischemic stroke. Methods: In total, 344 patients with ischemic stroke were included in this analysis. The GNRI was calculated from serum albumin level, weight, and height at admission. Malnutrition was defined using the GNRI cutoff points. A lower GNRI score indicates an elevated nutritional risk. The outcome was depression, measured 14 days after ischemic stroke. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between the GNRI and risk of PSD. Results: A total of 22.9% developed PSD 14 days after stroke. The mean GNRI was 99.3 ± 6.0, and 53.8% of the patients had malnutrition. After adjusting for covariates, baseline malnutrition was not associated with risk of PSD (OR, 0.670; 95%CI, 0.370–1.213; p = 0.186). The restricted cubic splines revealed a U-shaped association between the GNRI and PSD. Compared to moderate GNRI, higher GNRI (OR, 2.368; 95%CI, 0.983–5.701; p = 0.085) or lower GNRI (OR, 2.226; 95%CI, 0.890–5.563; p = 0.087) did not significantly increase the risk of PSD. Conclusion: A low GNRI was not associated with an increased risk of depression after ischemic stroke.     

养老机构膳食营养服务的困境与对策

膳食营养服务是养老机构服务中的痛点与难点。目前,养老机构的膳食营养服务缺乏标准的引领,尚未形成有效的运作体系;机构内部的管理规章制度不全面、不协调,加上缺乏必要的服务技术、人才和质量评估,膳食营养服务是被投诉的焦点和老年人最不满意的服务。因此,加快标准制定,引导养老机构膳食营养服务体系的建立,协调和系统化机构内部的各项规章制度、强化技术和人才要素,推进膳食营养服务质量的评估,才能满足不同需求老年人的精准营养要求,从而促进老年人的健康老龄化,提升养老机构膳食营养服务的能力与水平,使养老机构的膳食营养服务高质量地发展。     

老年心血管病合并焦虑抑郁症患者心律失常的动态心电图分析

目的 探讨动态心电图监测下,老年心血管病患者伴焦虑抑郁症与心律失常的关系.方法 选取2011-01至2012-08期间我院收治的伴焦虑抑郁症的老年心血管病患者80例作为观察组,以不伴有焦虑抑郁症的老年心血管病患者70例作为对照组,观察动态心电图监测下的心律失常发生情况,阐明焦虑抑郁症与心律失常之间的关系.结果 观察组患者心律失常检出率明显高于对照组,数据分析发现其差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）.结论 通过动态心电图对伴焦虑抑郁症老年心血管病患者进行监测,可明显发现心血管病患者其焦虑抑郁症患者与心律失常的发生密切相关,具有广泛的应用前景,值得在临床上推广使用.     

老年健康综合评估量表的研制

目的研制适用于医院、养老机构及社区的老年健康综合评估量表。方法拟定量表条目池,通过Delphi专家咨询、小样本预试验形成初始量表。采用初始量表对300例老年人进行调查,对调查结果采用临界比值法、克朗巴赫系数法、相关系数法和因子分析法筛选条目,形成正式量表。结果正式量表包括躯体功能、生活自理能力、社会功能、精神心理状况4个维度,37个条目,4个因子累积方差贡献率为66.466%,量表总的克朗巴赫系数为0.955。结论编制的老年健康综合评估量表具有良好的信效度,适合于老年人的健康综合评估。     

农村空巢老人抑郁及社会支持现状的调查

目的 了解农村空巢老人抑郁及社会支持现状。方法 采用整群分层抽样的方法,选取山东省泗水县空巢老人82例（空巢组）、非空巢老人76例（对照组）作为调查对象,应用自制一般资料问卷、老年抑郁量表（GDS）及社会支持量表（SSRS）调查两组抑郁及社会支持现状。结果 空巢组GDS得分高于对照组,SSRS得分低于对照组,差异有显著性（t=2.651、10.443,P〈0.05）。空巢组不同年龄段SSRS得分均低于对照组,差异有显著性（t=5.313-7.205,P〈0.01）。结论 农村空巢老人抑郁发生率较高,应建立健全社会支持系统,采取针对性措施,促进其身心健康。