Geriatrics & gerontology international
-
Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2013
Comparative StudyThe Frailty Instrument for primary care of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe predicts mortality similarly to a frailty index based on comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Frailty is an emerging concept in primary care, which potentially can provide healthcare commissioners with a clinical focus for targeting resources at an aging population. However, primary care practitioners need valid instruments that are easy to use. With that purpose in mind, we created a Frailty Instrument (FIt) for primary care based on the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The aim of the present study was to compare the mortality prediction of the five-item SHARE-FIt with that of a 40-item Frailty Index (FIx) based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). ⋯ SHARE-FIt is simpler and more usable, and predicts mortality similarly to a more complex FIx based on CGA.
-
Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2013
Use of a laboratory only score system to define trajectories and outcomes of older people admitted to the acute hospital as medical emergencies.
Increasing numbers of older people are admitted to hospital as medical emergencies. They are a heterogeneous population with uncertain trajectories and outcomes. Our aim was to retrospectively characterize subgroups of older inpatients based on their acuity trajectories. ⋯ In older acute medical inpatients, the outcome seemed more driven by specific diagnoses (such as sepsis and renal failure) and comorbidity, than by age. Using the MARS score to retrospectively categorize older inpatients might help to understand their heterogeneity and promote the design of appropriate care pathways.
-
Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2013
Meta AnalysisTai chi and reduction of depressive symptoms for older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.
The aim of the present article was to systematically review the effectiveness of tai chi for reducing depressive symptoms among older adults. Electronic databases were searched through January 2011. Reference lists of systematic reviews and identified studies from the search strategy were also screened. ⋯ The pooled standard mean difference for these studies was -0.27 (95% CI -0.52 to -0.02, P=0.03). Tai chi appeared to have a significant impact on reducing depressive symptoms compared with the waiting list control groups. Further research is recommended with larger sample sizes, more clarity on trial design and the intervention, longer-term follow up, and concomitant economic evaluations.
-
Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2013
Synergistic impact of low serum albumin on intensive care unit admission and high blood urea nitrogen during intensive care unit stay on post-intensive care unit mortality in critically ill elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
To identify intensive care unit (ICU) risk factors for post-ICU 6-month (PI6M) mortality in critically ill elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ Low serum albumin level on ICU admission and high BUN level during ICU stay are two independent risk factors, especially their combination, of PI6M mortality in critically ill elderly patients requiring MV. Furthermore, patients with a reduction in high BUN have a better PI6M survival.