Geriatrics & gerontology international
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jul 2018
Comparative StudyTrajectories of arterial stiffness and all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older Japanese.
Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality in later life. The present prospective study used repeated measures analysis to examine sex-specific age trends in brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), identify baPWV trajectories and determine whether potential baPWV trajectories were associated with all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older Japanese. ⋯ baPWV increased with age in men and women, and there was no significance between sexes in later life. This prospective study identified four major baPWV trajectory patterns in community-dwelling older adults. Individuals in the very high baPWV trajectory group, especially younger seniors, had a higher mortality risk. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1108-1113.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Jul 2018
Comparative StudyPhysical frailty and mortality risk in Japanese older adults.
The association between frailty and increased mortality risk is unknown. The present study assessed the longitudinal relationship between frailty and mortality risk in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ Complications of frailty, which include shrinking, exhaustion, low activity, weakness, and slowness, appear to be significant risks for mortality in Japanese older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1085-1092.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Mar 2018
Advantages of care for patients with hip fractures in the acute geriatric unit: Hip study Anoia.
Hip fracture as a result of bone fragility is characterized by poor health outcomes in the medium and long term. Our goal was to compare a new orthogeriatric model with the old trauma model and evaluate improvements in clinical management. ⋯ When we compared the two models, we found statistically significant better results in the preoperative waiting period, average stay, hospital mortality and 1 month readmission as a result of hip prosthesis luxation in favor of the orthogeriatric model. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 407-414.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Mar 2018
Emergency medicine in the extreme geriatric era: A retrospective analysis of patients aged in their mid 90s and older in the emergency department.
In the coming years, older individuals will comprise an increasing share of emergency department (ED) admissions, due to the unprecedented and continuing demographic changes. The primary aim of the present study was to identify causes and risk factors for ED admission and hospitalizations in the oldest old. ⋯ Most ED visits of older adults aged in their mid 90s and older were due to falls and fractures, and resulted in hospitalization. The present findings clearly emphasize the need for further investigations of drug prescription patterns and fracture prevention in such patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 415-420.
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Geriatr Gerontol Int · Dec 2017
Impact of hospitalization in an acute geriatric unit on polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescriptions: A retrospective study.
Polypharmacy is a highly prevalent geriatric syndrome, and hospitalizations can worsen it. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of hospitalization on polypharmacy and indicators of quality of prescribing, and their possible association with health outcomes. ⋯ After hospitalization in an acute geriatric unit, the prevalence of polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate prescribing, potential prescribing omissions, interactions or anticholinergic drugs is still very high. Polypharmacy is a risk factor for hospitalization and emergency room visits. Measuring indicators of quality of prescription might be useful to design interventions to optimize pharmacotherapy and improve health outcomes in elderly acute patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2354-2361.