The American journal of medicine
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Hip fractures associated with underlying osteoporosis result in significant morbidity and mortality in elderly patients and increase the risk for future fractures. Several underlying modifiable contributors may be identified, while osteoporosis itself is amenable to a number of effective treatments. Other interventions can further reduce the risk of falls and second fractures. This paper reviews evaluation and management options after fragility (low trauma) hip fractures in the geriatric population.
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We examined the effects of sex on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes. There is evidence that women are more likely to survive cardiac arrest than men. However, few large studies have examined these sex differences in detail. It is unknown whether the female survival advantage is age-specific or whether sex affects neurologic outcomes after cardiac arrest events. ⋯ Our results suggest that men have a higher 1-month survival rate after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest because of a higher frequency of ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia presentation compared with women. Although patients of both sexes with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest initially presenting with ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia exhibited similar overall survival rates, the rate of survival with favorable neurologic outcome was significantly higher for women than men in the group aged 40 to 59 years.
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The impact of abnormal spirometric findings on risk for incident heart failure among older adults without clinically apparent lung disease is not well elucidated. ⋯ Abnormal spirometric findings in older adults without clinical lung disease are associated with increased heart failure risk.
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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used to assess glycemic control in patients with diabetes. While underuse of HbA1c testing has been well studied, potential overuse is poorly characterized. ⋯ Repeat HbA1c testing appears to occur somewhat more frequently than is warranted.