The European journal of general practice
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Individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) face a fivefold increased risk of ischaemic stroke compared with those without the condition. Recent studies suggest that individuals with asymptomatic AF also face an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, but their condition is often not recognized and diagnosed until an ischaemic stroke event has occurred. Identification of individuals with undiagnosed AF at increased risk for stroke is critical in promoting optimal intervention with anticoagulants. ⋯ It was determined that improved detection and diagnosis of AF, combined with appropriate anticoagulation strategies, will be crucial for improving stroke prevention and reducing its associated social and economic costs.
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Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy of the elderly population enhances the probability of elderly in residential long-term care facilities experiencing inappropriate medication use. ⋯ Beers criteria of 2003 and STOPP were most frequently used to determine inappropriate medication use in residential long-term care facilities. Prevalence of inappropriate medication use strongly varied, despite similarities in research design and assessment with identical instrument(s).
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Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy of the elderly population enhances the probability of elderly in residential long-term care facilities experiencing inappropriate medication use. ⋯ Beers criteria of 2003 and STOPP were most frequently used to determine inappropriate medication use in residential long-term care facilities. Prevalence of inappropriate medication use strongly varied, despite similarities in research design and assessment with identical instrument(s).
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Prevention is viewed as a key issue for general practice, yet there is a lack of evidence regarding general practitioners' interventions in both middle-aged and elderly people. This is despite the fact that recommendations and key indicators for monitoring the use of clinical preventive strategies aimed at these groups are available and that both the World Health Organization and European Commission endorse the importance of interventions for healthy and active ageing. ⋯ According to the EU2020 strategy, general practitioners should design and implement prevention services and programmes to promote healthy and active ageing. Their primary focus should be on interventions on multimorbid patients, either by improving prescribing and adherence to medical plans or by targeting to fall and frailty prevention and vaccination uptake.