The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Mar 2006
Editorial CommentFrailty and the foolishness of Eos.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2006
Comparative StudyLong-term effects of analgesics in a population of elderly nursing home residents with persistent nonmalignant pain.
Little is known about the long-term effects of analgesics on functional status and well-being of nursing home residents with chronic pain. ⋯ The use of long-acting opioids may be a relatively safe option in the management of persistent nonmalignant pain in the nursing home population, yielding benefits in functional status and social engagement.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialMulticomponent geriatric intervention for elderly inpatients with delirium: a randomized, controlled trial.
Delirium is a common syndrome with poor prognosis affecting elderly inpatients. Treatment is mainly based on common sense with wide variations in practice. We investigated whether intensified, multicomponent geriatric treatment could improve the prognosis of delirious patients. ⋯ Faster alleviation of delirium and improved cognition justify good, comprehensive geriatric care for these patients although treatment produced no significant improvements in hard endpoints of prognosis.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2006
Association between delirium resolution and functional recovery among newly admitted postacute facility patients.
Delirium is common among hospitalized elders and may persist for months. The adverse impact of delirium on independence may increasingly occur in the postacute care (PAC) setting. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between delirium resolution and functional recovery in skilled nursing facilities specializing in PAC. ⋯ Resolution of delirium among PAC patients appears to be a prerequisite for functional recovery. Delirium resolution within 2 weeks without recurrence is associated with excellent functional recovery. Effective strategies to resolve delirium promptly and prevent its recurrence in the PAC setting will likely benefit patient rehabilitation and functional recovery.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Dec 2005
Are preoperative depressive symptoms associated with postoperative delirium in geriatric surgical patients?
Delirium is common in older surgical patients and predicts negative health outcomes. Whether depressive symptoms are prevalent and predict the development of postoperative delirium in elderly surgical patients has not been investigated. Our study aimed to examine the prevalence and prognostic importance of preoperative depressive symptoms in older surgical patients. ⋯ Preoperative screening for the presence of depressive symptoms can be performed easily in elderly patients, and yields useful prognostic information relating to postoperative delirium.