Clinical interventions in aging
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The elderly population is projected to make up 20% of the total United States population by the year 2030. In addition, epidemiological data suggests increasing prevalence of chronic pain and frailty with advancing age. Pain, being a subjective symptom, is challenging to manage effectively. ⋯ Increasing efforts are now being directed to studies on pain control in the elderly. However, pain management remains inconsistent and suboptimal. This article is an attempt to suggest an informed, comprehensive guide to achieve effective pain control in the presence of these limitations.
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Alteplase has traditionally been the only pharmacologic agent available for treating acute ischemic stroke worldwide, and is considered an effective and safe therapeutic drug for acute cerebral ischemia. However, the drug is usually indicated for use in patients aged <81 years due to insufficient literature regarding the drug's safety in older individuals. Nevertheless, the elderly can benefit from alteplase after they experience an acute ischemic stroke. ⋯ Evidence of an increasing rate of intracerebral hemorrhage among the elderly with acute ischemic stroke, following alteplase treatment, has not been reported. Severe intracranial hemorrhage is a known side effect of alteplase but is not associated with age in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Alteplase can be used safely and effectively to treat elderly patients who suffer an acute ischemic stroke, including those over the age of 80 years.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cognitive function affects trainability for physical performance in exercise intervention among older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Although much evidence supports the hypothesis that cognitive function and physical function are interrelated, it is unclear whether cognitive decline with mild cognitive impairment influences trainability of physical performance in exercise intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between cognitive function at baseline and change in physical performance after exercise intervention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. ⋯ General cognitive function was associated with improvements in physical performance after exercise intervention in subjects with mild cognitive impairment. Further research is needed to examine the effects of exercise programs designed to address cognitive obstacles in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
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Patients leaving the hospital are at increased risk of functional decline and hospital readmission. The Employee and Community Health service at Mayo Clinic in Rochester developed a care transition program (CTP) to provide home-based care services for medically complex patients. The study objective was to determine the relationship between CTP use, 30-day hospital readmission, and Emergency Room (ER) visits for adults over 60 years with high Elder Risk Assessment scores. ⋯ Based on this pilot study of care transition, we found nonsignificant lower hospital and ER utilization rates and improved physical QOL scores for patients in the CTP group. However, the data leads us to recommend future studies with larger sample sizes (N = 250).
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The purpose of this study was to examine whether long-term use of anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) influences renal function. ⋯ Warfarin therapy may delay deterioration in renal function and improve survival of elderly patients with CKD and AF.