Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jul 2012
Multicenter StudyDevelopment and validation of a prognostic index for 2-year mortality in Chinese older residents living in nursing homes.
There is no mortality prediction index for Chinese nursing home older residents. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a 2-year mortality prognostic index for them. ⋯ Our prognostic index had satisfactory discrimination and calibration in an independent sample of Chinese nursing home older residents. It can be used to identify older residents with a high risk for poor outcomes, who need a different level of care.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jul 2012
Cancer-associated ischemic stroke is associated with elevated D-dimer and fibrin degradation product levels in acute ischemic stroke with advanced cancer.
Although several studies have reported various causes of ischemic stroke in patients with cancer, only a few have evaluated the clinical relevance of ischemic stroke pathogenesis to cancer. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of cancer-associated ischemic stroke. ⋯ In acute ischemic stroke, the cancer-associated ischemic stroke is associated with elevated D-dimer and fibrin degradation products, even after controlling hypertension, hyperlipidemia and advanced cancer (clinical stage IV).
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyPsychiatric diagnosis in the elderly referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service in a general geriatric hospital in Japan.
Because depression is a common disorder in later life, elderly patients with delirium can be misdiagnosed as having depression. This study aimed to compare psychiatric diagnoses in the elderly made by referring doctors and psychiatrists. ⋯ The referring doctors in this survey had an insufficient level of diagnostic accuracy for psychiatric disorders. Delirium and psychoactive substance-use disorders were often misdiagnosed as depression.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2012
ReviewToward the realization of a better aged society: messages from gerontology and geriatrics.
1. ⋯ The subcommittee for aging, thus, provided the following proposal: 1 Development and promotion of systems that enable elderly people to participate socially and make a contribution using an interdisciplinary approach among the various areas, including nursing science, nursing care, study of social welfare, social science, psychology, economics, religion and ethics, as well as medical sciences; 2 Promotion of gerontology, reform and enhancement of geriatrics in undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong education; 3 Building geriatric medical centers in each area, and accumulating large-scale evidence of geriatric diseases and geriatrics; and 4 Structural development and promotion of home-based care and multidisciplinary care. Through implementation of the above measures, Japan is expected to function as a successful example for the rest of the world.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyMedication prescription among elderly patients admitted through an acute assessment unit.
This study assessed medication use patterns and polypharmacy in patients who were admitted through an acute assessment unit (AAU) and stratified results according to patient age. This study also examined risk factors associated with polypharmacy and consequences of polypharmacy, namely prescription writing errors, drug-drug interaction and geriatric syndrome. ⋯ This study showed that polypharmacy and renal impairment are prevalent amongst elderly patients admitted through an AAU. Polypharmacy in the elderly is attributable to greater comorbidities and is associated with an increased risk of adverse consequences. To avoid inappropriate medication use and improve the quality of prescription among those with polypharmacy, careful review of elderly patients' drugs is needed while they are in the AAU.