Background: Caregiving for elderly individuals is an emerging health issue that affects the quality of life of caregivers. The objective of this study was to explore the difficulties faced by caregivers in providing care to the elderly population. Methodology: This study was conducted using an explanatory mixed-method study design, in which a quantitative component (cross-sectional study) was followed by a qualitative component (in-depth interview). A total of 101 caregivers of the elderly population (with moderate disability level and above) were screened for personal stress using a perceived stress scale. Following quantitative data collection, an in-depth interview was conducted among caregivers selected by purposive sampling using an interview guide to explore the issues faced by caregivers. Results: A total of 384 individuals aged 60 years and above were screened for the level of disability. A total of 101 caregivers who were providing supportive care to elderly people with moderate and severe levels of disability were screened for stress using a perceived stress scale. Around 54% of the caregivers reported high perceived stress and 28% of the caregivers reported moderate stress. In-depth interviews using purposive sampling identified the following themes for caregivers of elderly individuals: frustration about providing continuous care, dealing with personal health problems, feeling anger, and isolation and financial stress. Conclusions: The need for caregiving for the older population is increasing. A significant amount of stress has been reported among caregivers. Frustration about providing continuous care, dealing with personal health problems, and feeling isolation and financial stress were the common challenges reported by the caregivers.
{"title":"Caregiving for elderly population: A mixed-method study conducted in the urban population of Tamil Nadu","authors":"K. Premanandh, M. Rajalakshmi, Reena Mohan","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_53_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_53_22","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Caregiving for elderly individuals is an emerging health issue that affects the quality of life of caregivers. The objective of this study was to explore the difficulties faced by caregivers in providing care to the elderly population. Methodology: This study was conducted using an explanatory mixed-method study design, in which a quantitative component (cross-sectional study) was followed by a qualitative component (in-depth interview). A total of 101 caregivers of the elderly population (with moderate disability level and above) were screened for personal stress using a perceived stress scale. Following quantitative data collection, an in-depth interview was conducted among caregivers selected by purposive sampling using an interview guide to explore the issues faced by caregivers. Results: A total of 384 individuals aged 60 years and above were screened for the level of disability. A total of 101 caregivers who were providing supportive care to elderly people with moderate and severe levels of disability were screened for stress using a perceived stress scale. Around 54% of the caregivers reported high perceived stress and 28% of the caregivers reported moderate stress. In-depth interviews using purposive sampling identified the following themes for caregivers of elderly individuals: frustration about providing continuous care, dealing with personal health problems, feeling anger, and isolation and financial stress. Conclusions: The need for caregiving for the older population is increasing. A significant amount of stress has been reported among caregivers. Frustration about providing continuous care, dealing with personal health problems, and feeling isolation and financial stress were the common challenges reported by the caregivers.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131113412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indian aging population is increasing steadily and tremendously imposing a major impact on global implications and challenges in medicine and nursing world. The problem faced by the elderly population is numerous and alarming for the nation, society, health-care system, and family caregivers of the elderly. Falls are estimated to be the second-most leading cause of mortality worldwide among elderly and are considered geriatric giants. Falls are the resultant of complex interaction among various risk factors such as biological, behavioral, socioeconomic, environmental, intergenerational bonding, cultural practices, and ethnicity. These risk factors either alone or in combination cause falls among elderly. Falls are very much preventable among elderly at the primordial and primary prevention levels itself. Timely intervention with multicomponent falls preventive approach for the elderly at the community level has resulted not only decrease in the rate of falls and falls-related injuries among them but also proved to be most effective and relevant in terms of cost-effectiveness, time-consumption, and labor intensiveness for the health-care system, families, society, and community.
{"title":"Falls are preventable: A multicomponent falls preventive approach for elderly","authors":"Monika Kankarwal, K. Prakash","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_49_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_49_22","url":null,"abstract":"Indian aging population is increasing steadily and tremendously imposing a major impact on global implications and challenges in medicine and nursing world. The problem faced by the elderly population is numerous and alarming for the nation, society, health-care system, and family caregivers of the elderly. Falls are estimated to be the second-most leading cause of mortality worldwide among elderly and are considered geriatric giants. Falls are the resultant of complex interaction among various risk factors such as biological, behavioral, socioeconomic, environmental, intergenerational bonding, cultural practices, and ethnicity. These risk factors either alone or in combination cause falls among elderly. Falls are very much preventable among elderly at the primordial and primary prevention levels itself. Timely intervention with multicomponent falls preventive approach for the elderly at the community level has resulted not only decrease in the rate of falls and falls-related injuries among them but also proved to be most effective and relevant in terms of cost-effectiveness, time-consumption, and labor intensiveness for the health-care system, families, society, and community.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114378948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aim: The current study aimed to analyze the etiology and the clinical spectrum of acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) and the predictors of in-hospital mortality in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 94 elderly (≥60 years of age) hospitalized patients with ASS for clinical profile, etiologies, and predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results: Mean age of onset of ASS was 67.63 ± 11.48 years. The main seizure type was focal seizure in 62 (59.7%) cases, followed by tonic-clonic seizures in 30 (31.9%) cases. The most common aetiologies in ASS were stroke in 61.7%, followed by infective cause in 30.9% of cases. In-hospital mortality in the ASS in the elderly was 21 (22.3%) in our series, and stroke was the most common cause of mortality. Conclusion: Stroke was the most common etiology of ASS in the elderly and was also related to mortality. It is necessary for us to analyze the causes of ASS in the elderly, to reduce in hospital mortality.
{"title":"Clinical profile and etiological spectrum of acute symptomatic seizures in the elderly populace","authors":"A. Verma, Alok Kumar, D. Sachan","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_62_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_62_22","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The current study aimed to analyze the etiology and the clinical spectrum of acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) and the predictors of in-hospital mortality in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 94 elderly (≥60 years of age) hospitalized patients with ASS for clinical profile, etiologies, and predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results: Mean age of onset of ASS was 67.63 ± 11.48 years. The main seizure type was focal seizure in 62 (59.7%) cases, followed by tonic-clonic seizures in 30 (31.9%) cases. The most common aetiologies in ASS were stroke in 61.7%, followed by infective cause in 30.9% of cases. In-hospital mortality in the ASS in the elderly was 21 (22.3%) in our series, and stroke was the most common cause of mortality. Conclusion: Stroke was the most common etiology of ASS in the elderly and was also related to mortality. It is necessary for us to analyze the causes of ASS in the elderly, to reduce in hospital mortality.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127924947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yamini Ajmera, A. Chakrawarty, M. Anwar, M. Khan, P. Chatterjee, S. Dey
Background: Delirium is a complex, reversible neuropsychiatric disorder that frequently occurs in the geriatric age group in acute care settings with multifactorial etiology and numerous knowledge gaps in the pathogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to establish an association between leptin levels and delirium in patients aged 60 years and above admitted under the geriatric medicine department of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in consecutively admitted patients to the geriatric ward. Patients were assessed for delirium within 24 h of admission and daily thereafter until they were discharged from the hospital or died using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) or CAM-intensive care unit with subsequent division into delirium and nondelirium groups. Serum leptin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Two hundred patients were recruited in the study. The mean age of participants was found to be 73.1 ± 8.8 years. Prevalence rates of delirium at the time of admission and incidence rates during hospital stay were found to be 20% and 5%, respectively. The occurrence of delirium was also found to be significantly associated with mortality (32.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.001). Serum leptin levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with delirium (2.58 ± 1.01 ng/mL vs. 10.72 ± 1.46 ng/mL, P = 0.03). Multivariable regression analysis revealed delirium to significantly correlate positively with age (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.63 (1.07–2.47), P = 0.021) and negatively with leptin levels (OR: 0.94 (0.90–0.99), P = 0.018). Conclusion: Delirium is a frequently occurring condition in hospitalized older adults with high mortality rates. Leptin might serve as a potential predictor of delirium owing to its probable role in the pathophysiological processes of delirium.
背景:谵妄是一种复杂的、可逆性的神经精神障碍,常见于急性护理机构的老年年龄组,病因多因素,发病机制存在许多知识空白。目的:探讨某三级医院老年内科收治的60岁及以上患者瘦素水平与谵妄的关系。材料与方法:对连续入住老年病房的患者进行前瞻性观察研究。患者入院后24小时内及此后每天评估谵妄,直至出院或死亡,采用神志不清评估法(CAM)或CAM-重症监护病房,随后分为谵妄组和非谵妄组。采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清瘦素水平。结果:200名患者被纳入研究。参与者的平均年龄为73.1±8.8岁。入院时谵妄的患病率和住院期间谵妄的发生率分别为20%和5%。谵妄的发生也与死亡率显著相关(32.5%比8.7%,P = 0.001)。谵妄患者血清瘦素水平明显降低(2.58±1.01 ng/mL vs. 10.72±1.46 ng/mL, P = 0.03)。多变量回归分析显示,谵妄与年龄呈正相关(比值比[OR]: 1.63 (1.07-2.47), P = 0.021),与瘦素水平负相关(比值比[OR]: 0.94 (0.90-0.99), P = 0.018)。结论:谵妄是住院老年人的常见病,死亡率高。瘦素可能在谵妄的病理生理过程中发挥作用,因此可能作为谵妄的潜在预测因子。
{"title":"Leptin as a predictor of delirium in geriatric inpatients: An observational study","authors":"Yamini Ajmera, A. Chakrawarty, M. Anwar, M. Khan, P. Chatterjee, S. Dey","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_51_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_51_22","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Delirium is a complex, reversible neuropsychiatric disorder that frequently occurs in the geriatric age group in acute care settings with multifactorial etiology and numerous knowledge gaps in the pathogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to establish an association between leptin levels and delirium in patients aged 60 years and above admitted under the geriatric medicine department of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in consecutively admitted patients to the geriatric ward. Patients were assessed for delirium within 24 h of admission and daily thereafter until they were discharged from the hospital or died using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) or CAM-intensive care unit with subsequent division into delirium and nondelirium groups. Serum leptin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Two hundred patients were recruited in the study. The mean age of participants was found to be 73.1 ± 8.8 years. Prevalence rates of delirium at the time of admission and incidence rates during hospital stay were found to be 20% and 5%, respectively. The occurrence of delirium was also found to be significantly associated with mortality (32.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.001). Serum leptin levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with delirium (2.58 ± 1.01 ng/mL vs. 10.72 ± 1.46 ng/mL, P = 0.03). Multivariable regression analysis revealed delirium to significantly correlate positively with age (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.63 (1.07–2.47), P = 0.021) and negatively with leptin levels (OR: 0.94 (0.90–0.99), P = 0.018). Conclusion: Delirium is a frequently occurring condition in hospitalized older adults with high mortality rates. Leptin might serve as a potential predictor of delirium owing to its probable role in the pathophysiological processes of delirium.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126791417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.4103/0974-3405.365785
A. Mathur
{"title":"The economic case for integrated care for older people","authors":"A. Mathur","doi":"10.4103/0974-3405.365785","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-3405.365785","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125253479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Context: Health of the elderly will be an important issue in defining the health status of a population in coming years. There is a paucity of information with regard to quality of life (QOL) among malnourished elderly. Aims: To assess the QOL among malnourished elderly in a rural field practice areas of tertiary care hospital, Puducherry, and to find the sociodemographic factors associated with QOL among malnourished elderly population. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study in the rural field areas of Government Medical College of Puducherry. Subjects and Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, the study was conducted among 225 malnourished elderly (>60 years) from April to June 2019 using multistage random sampling technique. Sociodemographic data were obtained using a semistructured questionnaire. Malnutrition was screened using Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and QOL was assessed using World Health Organization QOL-BREF questionnaire. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the study participants' age was 69.89 + 6.3 years. 57.8% of them were female, 81.3% were unemployed, and 73.3% were dependent on their old age pension for their livelihood. QOL of malnourished elderly was poor in all the domains when compared to those without malnourished and this is found to be statistically significant. In binomial logistic regression analysis, the presence of comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.4 and 95% confidence interval: 1.3–4.4), unemployed (AOR: 4.8; 1.4–15.9), and living without family (AOR: 0.2; 0.06–0.7) revealed the statistically significant association with low QOL score among malnourished elderly. Conclusions: The mean score of QOL among malnourished elderly was below average in all four domains in which psychosocial domain was badly affected.
{"title":"Quality of life among malnourished elderly population in rural Puducherry, South India","authors":"Aruljothi Sivapushani, Prakash Mathiyalagen, Premnath Dhasaram, Thirunavukarasu Sivadamien","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_52_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_52_22","url":null,"abstract":"Context: Health of the elderly will be an important issue in defining the health status of a population in coming years. There is a paucity of information with regard to quality of life (QOL) among malnourished elderly. Aims: To assess the QOL among malnourished elderly in a rural field practice areas of tertiary care hospital, Puducherry, and to find the sociodemographic factors associated with QOL among malnourished elderly population. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study in the rural field areas of Government Medical College of Puducherry. Subjects and Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, the study was conducted among 225 malnourished elderly (>60 years) from April to June 2019 using multistage random sampling technique. Sociodemographic data were obtained using a semistructured questionnaire. Malnutrition was screened using Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and QOL was assessed using World Health Organization QOL-BREF questionnaire. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the study participants' age was 69.89 + 6.3 years. 57.8% of them were female, 81.3% were unemployed, and 73.3% were dependent on their old age pension for their livelihood. QOL of malnourished elderly was poor in all the domains when compared to those without malnourished and this is found to be statistically significant. In binomial logistic regression analysis, the presence of comorbidity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.4 and 95% confidence interval: 1.3–4.4), unemployed (AOR: 4.8; 1.4–15.9), and living without family (AOR: 0.2; 0.06–0.7) revealed the statistically significant association with low QOL score among malnourished elderly. Conclusions: The mean score of QOL among malnourished elderly was below average in all four domains in which psychosocial domain was badly affected.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"97 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131734417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: The elderly population in India is steadily increasing and it is expected to triple in 2050 as of the census 2011. Drastic improvements in health care made betterment in physical health but their subjective well-being remains unaccounted. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) among elderly and to compare the differences in QoL among elderly population residing in homes and in old age homes. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study among elderly above the age of 60 years residing with families and other 40 elderly population residing in old age homes. A questionnaire-based interview was conducted using a standard semistructured World Health Organization-BREF QoL questionnaire. Results: In the study, most of the participants 45 (56.3%) were male and 35 (43.8%) belonged to the age group of 70–79 years with a mean (standard deviation) age of 73.96 (7.44) years. The study found that there is nil significant difference in QoL among elderly living in old age homes and in family setups. The domain scores of psychological, social, and environmental domains showed a slight nonsignificant increase in elderly among old age homes. Conclusion: The study showed nil significant difference in QoL score in all domains for the elderly. The concept of QoL needs to be looked into with more preference to psychological, social, and environmental domains.
{"title":"A comparative study on quality of life of elderly among those living with families and in old age homes in a District in South India","authors":"Nawin Vignesh, N. George, S. Hemadharshini","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_40_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_40_22","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The elderly population in India is steadily increasing and it is expected to triple in 2050 as of the census 2011. Drastic improvements in health care made betterment in physical health but their subjective well-being remains unaccounted. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) among elderly and to compare the differences in QoL among elderly population residing in homes and in old age homes. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study among elderly above the age of 60 years residing with families and other 40 elderly population residing in old age homes. A questionnaire-based interview was conducted using a standard semistructured World Health Organization-BREF QoL questionnaire. Results: In the study, most of the participants 45 (56.3%) were male and 35 (43.8%) belonged to the age group of 70–79 years with a mean (standard deviation) age of 73.96 (7.44) years. The study found that there is nil significant difference in QoL among elderly living in old age homes and in family setups. The domain scores of psychological, social, and environmental domains showed a slight nonsignificant increase in elderly among old age homes. Conclusion: The study showed nil significant difference in QoL score in all domains for the elderly. The concept of QoL needs to be looked into with more preference to psychological, social, and environmental domains.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"53 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116008048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Upinder Kaur, Bisweswar Ojha, Ashutosh Kumar Singh, S. Chakrabarti
Introduction: Despite the rampant use of antimicrobials in health-care settings, the safety and clinical outcome data of antimicrobials are scarce in the elderly population. The main aim of this study is to assess the prescription pattern, therapeutic gains, and adverse reactions resulting out of antimicrobial use in elderly outpatients. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted for 7 months from June 2019 to December 2019 in elderly patients visiting the geriatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital of North India. Primary outcomes included clinical improvement as well as the incidence and type of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) observed with antimicrobial use. Results: Of 110 participants recruited, 107 were assessed for clinical outcomes. The common indications of antimicrobial use were lower respiratory tract infection (48.6%), urinary tract infection (18.7%), and worm infestations (14%). Macrolides (57%) and beta-lactams (43%) were the commonly prescribed individual antimicrobials. Outcome-wise, clinical improvement was seen in 91.3%, 88.5%, and 14.3% of patients receiving beta-lactams, macrolides, and antiprotozoals, respectively. ADRs occurred in 17.7% of participants and gastrointestinal disturbance was the commonly reported ADR. Beta-lactams and macrolides were responsible for the majority of ADRs, in 19.6% and 13.1% of participants, respectively. No association of antimicrobial-associated clinical responses or ADRs was observed with demographics and underlying comorbidities. Conclusions: Elderly patients with respiratory tract infections showed improvement with empirical extended-spectrum beta-lactams and azithromycin therapy. The response was suboptimal to empirically selected antiprotozoal therapy. Elderly patients are at increased risk of ADRs. Close to one out of every five elderly prescribed beta-lactams may develop ADR to the antimicrobial agent. Larger clinical studies are required to predict the risk factors of ADRs and poor responsiveness to antimicrobials.
{"title":"Patterns and outcomes of empirical antimicrobial use in elderly outpatients: A pilot observational study from North India","authors":"Upinder Kaur, Bisweswar Ojha, Ashutosh Kumar Singh, S. Chakrabarti","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_55_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_55_22","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Despite the rampant use of antimicrobials in health-care settings, the safety and clinical outcome data of antimicrobials are scarce in the elderly population. The main aim of this study is to assess the prescription pattern, therapeutic gains, and adverse reactions resulting out of antimicrobial use in elderly outpatients. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted for 7 months from June 2019 to December 2019 in elderly patients visiting the geriatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital of North India. Primary outcomes included clinical improvement as well as the incidence and type of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) observed with antimicrobial use. Results: Of 110 participants recruited, 107 were assessed for clinical outcomes. The common indications of antimicrobial use were lower respiratory tract infection (48.6%), urinary tract infection (18.7%), and worm infestations (14%). Macrolides (57%) and beta-lactams (43%) were the commonly prescribed individual antimicrobials. Outcome-wise, clinical improvement was seen in 91.3%, 88.5%, and 14.3% of patients receiving beta-lactams, macrolides, and antiprotozoals, respectively. ADRs occurred in 17.7% of participants and gastrointestinal disturbance was the commonly reported ADR. Beta-lactams and macrolides were responsible for the majority of ADRs, in 19.6% and 13.1% of participants, respectively. No association of antimicrobial-associated clinical responses or ADRs was observed with demographics and underlying comorbidities. Conclusions: Elderly patients with respiratory tract infections showed improvement with empirical extended-spectrum beta-lactams and azithromycin therapy. The response was suboptimal to empirically selected antiprotozoal therapy. Elderly patients are at increased risk of ADRs. Close to one out of every five elderly prescribed beta-lactams may develop ADR to the antimicrobial agent. Larger clinical studies are required to predict the risk factors of ADRs and poor responsiveness to antimicrobials.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125856412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) secondary to hematological malignancy is well-known and common in the elderly. AIHA associated with infection is less commonly reported in the elderly. We are reporting a case of AIHA in an elderly female with comorbidities, probably secondary to Gram-negative infection. The case was admitted and treated during the peak of the second wave of the COVID pandemic. The treatment of AIHA also had an impact on the progress and outcome of the underlying disease, leading to readmission in a short span of time. The patient also developed a thrombotic complication known to be associated with AIHA.
{"title":"Sepsis-induced autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the elderly","authors":"D. Thangam, S. Deepa, P. Kumar, P. Manikandan","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_61_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_61_22","url":null,"abstract":"Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) secondary to hematological malignancy is well-known and common in the elderly. AIHA associated with infection is less commonly reported in the elderly. We are reporting a case of AIHA in an elderly female with comorbidities, probably secondary to Gram-negative infection. The case was admitted and treated during the peak of the second wave of the COVID pandemic. The treatment of AIHA also had an impact on the progress and outcome of the underlying disease, leading to readmission in a short span of time. The patient also developed a thrombotic complication known to be associated with AIHA.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126545079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gunjan Jain, Sunny Singhal, L. Goyal, Ankita Agarwal, Ajay Mathur
Musculoskeletal pain is a common and debilitating symptom in older adults. However, its importance is often underestimated. In this review article, we discuss its proper evaluation and management. Pain evaluation includes detailed history taking, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory investigations. Management of musculoskeletal pain requires a multidomain approach including nonpharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical modalities. A step-wise approach recommended by the World Health Organization can be used for pain management. Common musculoskeletal conditions causing pain are osteoarthritis, low-back pain, gout, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and fibromyalgia.
{"title":"Chronic musculoskeletal pain in older people","authors":"Gunjan Jain, Sunny Singhal, L. Goyal, Ankita Agarwal, Ajay Mathur","doi":"10.4103/jiag.jiag_66_22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_66_22","url":null,"abstract":"Musculoskeletal pain is a common and debilitating symptom in older adults. However, its importance is often underestimated. In this review article, we discuss its proper evaluation and management. Pain evaluation includes detailed history taking, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory investigations. Management of musculoskeletal pain requires a multidomain approach including nonpharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical modalities. A step-wise approach recommended by the World Health Organization can be used for pain management. Common musculoskeletal conditions causing pain are osteoarthritis, low-back pain, gout, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and fibromyalgia.","PeriodicalId":350641,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics","volume":"63 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120811908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}