Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research最新文献

Background: This study investigated the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency among patients admitted for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to osteoarthritis and identified factors contributing to adrenal insufficiency.

Methods: We divided the patients into two groups based on the results of preoperative standard-dose short synchronous stimulation tests: group 1 (adrenal insufficiency) and group 2 (normal adrenal function). We also assessed the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency and compared the numbers of patients who received oral steroids, the frequency of previous steroid injection use, and the frequency of systemic symptoms of steroid depletion such as fatigue and loss of appetite between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to adrenal insufficiency.

Results: The prevalence of adrenal insufficiency was 60.0% (120/200). Group 1 had higher numbers of previous steroid injections (12.8±10.2 vs. 6.8±7.9) and patients taking oral steroids (18/120 vs. 3/80) (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). The frequency of systemic symptoms of steroid depletion, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, was also higher in group 1 (94/120 vs. 42/80, p<0.001). Recent steroid injections and loss of appetite were associated with adrenal insufficiency (p=0.002 and p=0.009, respectively).

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a high prevalence of adrenal insufficiency in Korean patients hospitalized for TKA due to end-stage osteoarthritis. Recent steroid injections were causally related to the development of adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, adrenal function should be assessed preoperatively to prevent postoperative complications related to adrenal insufficiency.

Background: Challenges of polypharmacy and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in older patients require further investigation. This retrospective study analyzed the progression of polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden in older patients in a primary care setting before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This 3-year cross-sectional study (2019, 2020, and 2021) comprised a dynamic cohort of individuals aged ≥75 years, who attended the Arrabal Primary Care Center in Zaragoza, Spain. Older patients with polypharmacy (≥5 medications) were identified according to their electronic health records. We collected demographic and clinical data, including medication prescriptions, diagnoses, and anticholinergic risks, and performed descriptive and statistical analyses.

Results: This study included a total of 1,928 patients with a mean age of 83.52±0.30 years. Over the 3-year study period, the mean number of medications prescribed increased, from 9.4 in 2019 to 10.4 in 2021. The prevalence of excessive polypharmacy (≥10 medications) increased from 39% in 2019 to 45% in 2021. The most commonly prescribed drugs were anilides, proton pump inhibitors, benzodiazepine derivatives, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Women had a higher prevalence of illnesses and anticholinergic drug prescriptions than men.

Conclusion: The results of this study highlighted an upward trend in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy among older patients in primary care settings. Future research should focus on optimizing medication management and deprescribing strategies and minimizing the adverse effects of polypharmacy in this population.

Background: Although the relationship between medication status, symptomatology, and outcomes has been evaluated, data on the prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and the association of polypharmacy and PIMs with swallowing function during follow-up are limited among hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with dysphagia.

Methods: In this 19-center cohort study, we registered 467 inpatients aged ≥65 years and evaluated those with the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) scores ≤8 between November 2019 and March 2021. Polypharmacy was defined as prescribing ≥5 medications and PIMs were identified based on the 2023 Updated Beers Criteria. We applied a generalized linear regression model to examine the association of polypharmacy and PIMs with FILS score at discharge.

Results: We analyzed 399 participants (median age, 83.0 years; males, 49.8%). The median follow-up was 51.0 days (interquartile range, 22.0-84.0 days). Polypharmacy and PIMs were present in 67.7% of and 56.1% of patients, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, neither polypharmacy (β = 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.04-0.13, p=0.30) nor non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (β = 0.09; 95% CI, -0.02-0.19; p=0.10) were significantly associated with FILS score at discharge.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated a high proportion of polypharmacy and PIMs among inpatients aged ≥65 years with dysphagia. Although these prescribed conditions were not significantly associated with swallowing function at discharge, our findings suggest the importance of regularly reviewing medications to ensure the appropriateness of prescriptions when managing older inpatients.

The sit-to-stand test is an essential tool used to assess lower limb function and muscle strength in older adults and various patient populations, and also plays a role in sarcopenia screening. Among its forms, the five-time sit-to-stand test (FTSST) is widely used, with previous studies suggesting cutoff values of >10 seconds and >11 seconds for the sitting-to-standing and standing-to-sitting transitions, respectively. The 30-second and 1-minute sit-to-stand tests (30STS and 1MSTS, respectively) also provide comprehensive assessments. While much of the current research on sarcopenia focuses on the FTSST, there is a burgeoning need for an in-depth exploration of the 30STS and 1MSTS. Studies on these tests are vital to refine the criteria for sarcopenia, establish accurate cutoff values, and enhance diagnostic precision and treatment effectiveness. This need highlights the importance of further research into the 30STS and 1MSTS for refining the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia.

Background: While multidimensional and interdisciplinary assessment of older adult patients improves their short-term outcomes after evaluation in the emergency department (ED), this assessment is time-consuming and ill-suited for the busy environment. Thus, identifying patients who will benefit from this strategy is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to identify older adult patients suitable for a different ED approach as well as independent variables associated with poor short-term clinical outcomes.

Methods: We included all patients ≥65 years attending 52 EDs in Spain over 7 days. Sociodemographic, comorbidity, and baseline functional status data were collected. The outcomes were 30-day mortality, re-presentation, hospital readmission, and the composite of all outcomes.

Results: During the study among 96,014 patients evaluated in the ED, we included 23,338 patients ≥65 years-mean age, 78.4±8.1 years; 12,626 (54.1%) women. During follow-up, 5,776 patients (24.75%) had poor outcomes after evaluation in the ED: 1,140 (4.88%) died, 4,640 (20.51) returned to the ED, and 1,739 (7.69%) were readmitted 30 days after discharge following the index visit. A model including male sex, age ≥75 years, arrival by ambulance, Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3, and functional impairment had a C-index of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.82) for 30-day mortality.

Conclusion: Male sex, age ≥75 years, arrival by ambulance, functional impairment, or severe comorbidity are features of patients who could benefit from approaches in the ED different from the common triage to improve the poor short-term outcomes of this population.

Background: The practice of safe emergency medicine requires accurate and adequate assessments. However, screening for cognitive deficits is not performed regularly in the emergency department (ED). This study aimed to determine factors influencing the frequency of cognitive testing by ED doctors.

Methods: This study included all doctors working in the EDs of three teaching hospitals. A 17-item online survey instrument that collected information on sex, experience, perceived prevalence, perception, and practice of cognitive assessment was distributed through electronic mail and data messaging services.

Results: Of the 210 participants, 72 were male. The estimated mean with standard deviation prevalence of cognitive impairment in older patients in the ED was 39.5%±19.7%. Among the participating ED doctors, 75.8% performed cognitive testing up to 10% of the time. Moreover, the participants ranked cognitive impairment the lowest compared to the other four chronic conditions in terms of its impact on hospitalization outcomes. Multiple linear regression revealed that the doctors' perceptions of the responsible personnel and the importance of cognitive testing, as well as their lack of expertise, were independently associated with the frequency of testing.

Conclusion: Lack of expertise, perception of the importance of cognitive testing, and lack of consensus on which discipline is responsible for performing cognitive testing in older patients in the ED were the limiting factors in performing cognitive testing in the ED. Improving perception and awareness of the importance of cognitive assessment as a screening tool could improve the detection and overall management of older patients.

Background: Individuals with frailty are susceptible to adverse events. Although a psychological correlation with frailty has been observed, few studies have investigated the link between stress and frailty. This study examined the association between perceived stress and frailty in older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included participants recruited between September 2021 and January 2022. The Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to measure stress levels, while the frailty status was assessed using the Korean Frailty Index. Loneliness, depression, and satisfaction were measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale, respectively. We used multinomial logistic regression to compare the variables between frail and robust participants.

Results: Among 862 study participants (mean age, 73.62 years; 65.5% women), the mean PSS-10 score was 15.26, 10.8% were frail, 22.4% were pre-frail, and 66.8% were robust. Perceived stress was significantly associated with pre-frailty (crude odds ratio [OR]=1.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.093-1.204) and frailty (crude OR=1.417; 95% CI, 1.322-1.520). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, we examined the associations between perceived stress and prefrailty (adjusted OR=1.140; 95% CI, 1.084-1.199) and frailty (adjusted OR=1.409; 95% CI, 1.308-1.518). After adjusting for all variables, including loneliness, depression, and satisfaction, perceived stress was significantly associated with frailty (adjusted OR=1.172; 95% CI, 1.071-1.283), however, insufficient statistical evidence was observed for pre-frailty (adjusted OR=1.022; 95% CI, 0.961-1.086).

Conclusion: Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with frailty in older adults. Stress management efforts may help improve frailty in this population.

D-dimer level, along with a clinical probability tool that uses the Wells score, is commonly used to exclude deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Age-adjusted D-dimer values are routinely used in clinical practice to increase the negative predictive value and avoid unnecessary Doppler ultrasound imaging. We describe a patient with a low pre-test probability of DVT upon admission and a negative D-dimer level based on age-adjusted values who was later diagnosed with DVT. Our experiences with this case highlight that the geriatric population is unique and, at times, frail.