Arch Intern Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomized crossover study of silver-coated urinary catheters in hospitalized patients.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for 30% to 40% of nosocomial infections resulting in morbidity, mortality, and increased length of hospital stay. ⋯ The risk of infection declined by 21% among study wards randomized to silver-coated catheters and by 32% among patients in whom silver-coated catheters were used on the wards. Use of the more expensive silver-coated catheter appeared to offer cost savings by preventing excess hospital costs from nosocomial UTI associated with catheter use. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3294-3298.
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High rates of low health literacy among elderly populations along with a high prevalence of chronic conditions may lead to increased levels of depression symptomatology. We sought to determine whether older adults with inadequate health literacy were more likely to report depressive symptoms and whether health literacy was an independent predictor of depression symptomatology. ⋯ Although individuals with inadequate health literacy were more than twice as likely to report depressive symptoms, this was mostly explained by their worse health status. The strong relation between depression symptoms and poor health status suggests the need to research interventions to improve mental and physical health concurrently. The influence of particular interventions on depression, such as referral to community support contacts and recommendations for an exercise program, needs to be further evaluated. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3307-3314.
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Loss of muscle mass and central obesity progress with aging, but the effect of muscle loss on chronic low back pain has not been precisely evaluated. ⋯ Trunk and lower extremity loss of muscle mass and central obesity may be risk factors for chronic low back pain without a positive straight leg raise test result in women aged 45 to 69 years. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:3265-3269.