The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2003
The value of cardiac enzymes in elderly patients presenting to the emergency department with syncope.
Most patients admitted to the hospital from the emergency department (ED) with syncope do not have a myocardial infarction (MI), yet a common practice is to draw serial cardiac enzymes. ⋯ Cardiac enzymes may be of little additional value if drawn routinely on elderly patients with syncope who are admitted to the hospital from the ED, unless they have other signs or symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2003
Risk factors for early and late mortality in hospitalized older patients: the continuing importance of functional status.
Prognostic information collected at hospital admission may be useful in defining care objectives and in deciding on therapy for older people. The aim of our study was to identify admission risk factors for in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. ⋯ A complete functional and clinical evaluation at hospital admission permits identification of patients at higher risk of early and long-term mortality.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Nov 2003
Time to ambulation after hip fracture surgery: relation to hospitalization outcomes.
To test the hypothesis: Time to ambulation (walking) after hip fracture surgery impacts the frequency of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. ⋯ Delayed ambulation after hip fracture surgery is related to the development of new onset delirium and pneumonia postoperatively as well as to increased length of hospital stay. Early ambulation after hip fracture surgery should be encouraged.