Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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The Federated Council for Internal Medicine recommended in 1981 "increased emphasis on geriatric medicine in the medical school curriculum, the medical residency, and continuing medical education." In the same year the first examination for a Certificate of Special Competence in Geriatric Medicine was held in Canada. This was the culmination of a process begun in 1974 to establish the subject as a subspecialty within Internal Medicine. ⋯ Thirty-nine individuals sat for the examination in its first five years of whom 26 were successful. These now form a nucleus of well-qualified internist-geriatricians who are developing academic programs in geriatric medicine in Canadian Medical Schools.
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We studied attitudes of health professionals toward life-sustaining treatment. A patient management questionnaire sent to staff physicians and nurses in 183 Oregon nursing homes consisted of eight patient sketches which varied age, mental status, and enjoyment of life. Respondents were asked whether they would favor tube-feeding to correct malnutrition in each case. ⋯ Both professions also showed a significant (P less than .001) tendency to give younger patients higher preferences for tube-feeding. Physicians showed a significant (P less than .001) influence of patient mental status upon preferences, while patient mental status did not affect nurses' preferences. Identifiable clinical factors appear to influence attitudes of physicians and nurses toward tube-feeding decisions.
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Fifty patients, over 60 years of age, were evaluated for mental status change at the time of hip fracture. Specifically, demographic and historical data were gathered and patients were given an assessment battery to evaluate depression and cognitive impairment during hospitalization for femoral fracture. ⋯ These data provide the first systematically accumulated baseline data for patients in the immediate post-hip fracture period. Patients will be reassessed at three-month intervals to quantify mental status change and to evaluate its effects on morbidity, mortality, and rehabilitative success.
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The in-hospital mortality associated with acute myocardial infarction rises markedly with advancing age. It is not established whether the elderly may benefit from early surgical repair of postinfarction cardiogenic shock due to ventricular septal defect (VSD), acute severe mitral regurgitation (MR), or left ventricular power failure. Eighteen consecutive patients between the ages of 66 and 79 (mean, 72 years) and in cardiogenic shock underwent surgical repair, most with counterpulsation support, within one week of developing VSD, MR, or left ventricular power failure. ⋯ These patients have all been able to live and function independently after cardiac operation. The authors conclude that older patients with postinfarction cardiogenic shock may benefit from early operation and that advanced age does not preclude successful surgical outcome. Furthermore, operation may result in excellent long-term quality of life.