Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Feb 2016
Combined association of leisure-time physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption with depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese: Results of a national cohort study.
To determine the independent and combined associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and fruit and vegetable consumption with subsequent new depressive symptoms in Taiwanese aged ≥53 years. ⋯ The simultaneous presence of several good lifestyle habits increases the beneficial effect of reducing the risk of developing depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, older adults are encouraged to have as many good lifestyle habits as possible to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Feb 2016
Multicenter StudyImpact of acute geriatric care in elderly patients according to the Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment criteria in northern France.
In France, over 20% of hospitalizations of elderly people are a result of adverse drug events, of which 50% are considered preventable. Tools have been developed to detect inappropriate prescriptions. The Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START) criteria are innovative and adapted to French prescriptions. This is one of the first French prospective studies to evaluate the impact of acute geriatric care on prescriptions at discharge in elderly patients using the STOPP/START criteria. ⋯ Acute geriatric hospitalization in France improves prescriptions in terms of potentially inappropriate medication, but has no impact on potential prescription omissions. Further studies must be carried out to see if STOPP/START could be used as a tool in French prescription.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2016
Assessing a conceptual model of over-the-counter medication misuse, adverse drug events and health-related quality of life in an elderly population.
The objectives of the present study were to test Spilker's quality of life model in the elderly population consuming over-the-counter (OTC) medications. It was hypothesized that OTC medication misuse increases adverse drug events (ADEs), ADEs as a result of OTC medication misuse decrease health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the impact of OTC medication misuse on patients' HRQoL is fully medicated by ADEs associated with OTC medications. ⋯ Misuse of OTC medications is highly associated with ADEs. ADEs are capable of decreasing the physical health of elderly patients.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Dec 2015
Inappropriate use of urinary catheters among hospitalized elderly patients: Clinician awareness is key.
To investigate incidence, reasons, risk factors and outcomes for inappropriate use of urinary catheters in hospitalized elderly patients. ⋯ The study highlights a considerable percentage of inappropriate use of urinary catheters and its association with adverse outcomes in hospitalized elderly patients. Efforts to improve quality of documentation by clinicians and to emphasize catheterization education for patients and caregivers are necessary to reduce the incidence of inappropriate urinary catheter use. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 1235-1241.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Dec 2015
Comparative StudyCorrelation between the serum eicosapentanoic acid-to-arachidonic acid ratio and the severity of cerebral white matter hyperintensities in older adults with memory disorder.
The relationships of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), to stroke and cardiovascular events have been studied extensively. The present study was undertaken to analyze the relationships of the severity of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) to the blood polyunsaturated fatty acids level and the ratio of serum EPA level to the serum arachidonic acid (AA) level (EPA/AA ratio) among older adults. ⋯ These results suggest that the serum EPA/AA ratio have an important role in the formation and progression of WMH.