Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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At the American Geriatrics Society 2008 Annual Meeting, representatives of two geriatric societies, the European Union Geriatric Medicine Societies and the American Geriatrics Society, and two regulatory agencies, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicine Agency, conducted a roundtable discussion aimed at reviewing the participation of older people in clinical trials. ⋯ Historically, regulatory agencies started to promote the inclusion of older participants in clinical trials in the late 1980s. The identification of the causes of delay in including older participants in clinical trials, as well as of the ongoing bias against including older participants with multiple comorbidities, is important to help geriatricians fight against age discrimination in clinical trials. To overcome this problem, geriatrics societies and regulatory agencies must work together to propose new definitions, study designs, and technologies aimed at improving the evaluation of drugs in older people with multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effect of a zoster vaccine on herpes zoster-related interference with functional status and health-related quality-of-life measures in older adults.
To determine the efficacy of a zoster vaccine on herpes zoster (HR)-related interference with activities of daily living (ADLs) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). ⋯ Zoster vaccine reduced the burden of HZ-related interference with ADLs in the population of vaccinees and in vaccinees who developed HZ. Zoster vaccine reduced the effect of HZ on HRQL in the population of vaccinees but not in vaccinees who developed HZ.
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Comparative Study
The practice of continuous palliative sedation in elderly patients: a nationwide explorative study among Dutch nursing home physicians.
To study the practice of continuous palliative sedation (CPS) by Dutch nursing home physicians in 2007. ⋯ In addition to physical symptoms, anxiety, exhaustion, loss of dignity, and existential distress are often mentioned as refractory symptoms in the decision to start CPS by nursing home physicians. Furthermore, close to one in five patients with cancer had made a previous request for euthanasia. The dosage range of midazolam in this study fits the recommendations of the Dutch national guideline on palliative sedation, although international studies show smaller dosage ranges. Finally, prospective research about the acceptability and assessment of nonphysical symptoms as indications for CPS is recommended.
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Letter Comparative Study
Lower mortality from H1N1 influenza in older Argentineans: men more affected.