Archives of internal medicine
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Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee is a common cause of pain and disability in elderly patients. Joint replacement surgery can alleviate pain and restore function but is associated with risks and discomfort. ⋯ Elderly patients who had hip or knee replacements for severe OA took several weeks to recover but experienced excellent long-term outcomes. Physicians often do not discuss joint replacement surgery with elderly patients who might benefit.
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Current international health policy has emphasized the importance of managing long-term conditions in the community with the aim of preventing emergency hospitalizations. Previous algorithms and rules have been developed but are limited to those older than 65 years and generally only for readmission. Our aim was to develop an algorithm to predict emergency hospital admissions in the whole population of those 40 years or older. ⋯ A population-derived algorithm provided the first easy-to-use algorithm, to our knowledge, to predict future emergency admissions in all individuals 40 years or older. The model can be implemented at individual patient level as well as family practice level to target case management.
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Comment Letter Comparative Study
Opportunity realized? Medical consultation for patients undergoing major surgery.
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Editorial Comment
What do certification examinations tell us about quality?