Age and ageing
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Review Meta Analysis
Risk factors for incident delirium among older people in acute hospital medical units: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
delirium affects up to 40% of older hospitalised patients, but there has been no systematic review focussing on risk factors for incident delirium in older medical inpatients. We aimed to synthesise data on risk factors for incident delirium and where possible conduct meta-analysis of these. ⋯ we identified risk factors consistently associated with incident delirium following admission. These factors help to highlight older acute medical inpatients at risk of developing delirium during their hospital stay.
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Observational Study
Development and validation of a delirium predictive score in older people.
delirium is frequently under diagnosed in older hospitalised patients. Predictive models have not been widely incorporated in clinical practice. ⋯ This simple predictive model highlights functional status and a proxy for dehydration as a useful tool for identifying older patients that may benefit from close monitoring and preventive care for early diagnosis of delirium.
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chronic dyspnoea is common in older people and is often of cardiac or pulmonary aetiology. Information on the exact prevalence and distribution of underlying causes is scarce. Our aim was to review the literature on prevalence and underlying causes of dyspnoea in the older population. ⋯ dyspnoea is very common in older people, but estimates vary considerably between studies. Only one study describes the underlying causes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The provision of care for residents dying in U.K. nursing care homes.
to identify the care currently provided to residents dying in U.K. nursing care homes. ⋯ nursing care homes have established links with some external healthcare providers. These links included the GP, palliative care nurses and physiotherapy. As dependency of resident increase with 56% residents dying within a year of admission these links need to be expanded. The provision of health care that meets the needs of future nursing care home residents needs to be 'proactively' obtained rather than left to chance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of telecare on the quality of life and psychological well-being of elderly recipients of social care over a 12-month period: the Whole Systems Demonstrator cluster randomised trial.
home-based telecare (TC) is utilised to manage risks of independent living and provide prompt emergency responses. This study examined the effect of TC on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depressive symptoms over 12 months in patients receiving social care. ⋯ TC potentially contributes to the amelioration in the decline in users' mental HRQoL over a 12-month period. TC may not transform the lives of its users, but it may afford small relative benefits on some psychological and HRQOL outcomes relative to users who only receive UC. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register: ISRCTN 43002091.