Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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Multicenter Study
Association Between End-of-Life Conversations in Nursing Homes and End-of-Life Care Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Less aggressive end-of-life (EOL) care has been observed when health care professionals discuss approaching EOL and preferences about life-sustaining treatments with nursing home (NH) residents or their families. We performed a comprehensive systematic review to evaluate the association between health care professionals-residents and health care professionals-family EOL conversations and EOL care outcomes. ⋯ This systematic review shows that EOL conversations promote palliative care. Structured conversations aimed at exploring NH resident preferences about EOL treatment should become routine. NH administrators should offer health care professionals regular training on EOL conversations, and resident-centered care that involves residents and their families in a shared decision-making process at EOL needs to be promoted.
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Meta Analysis
Health Outcomes of Deprescribing Interventions Among Older Residents in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Deprescribing is effective in addressing concerns relating to polypharmacy in residents of nursing homes. However, the clinical outcomes of deprescribing interventions among residents in nursing homes are not well understood. We evaluated the impact of deprescribing interventions by health care professionals on clinical outcomes among the older residents in nursing homes. ⋯ Compared to other deprescribing interventions, medication review-directed deprescribing had significant benefits on older residents in nursing homes. Further research is required to elicit other clinical benefits of medication review-directed deprescribing practice.
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To quantitatively examine frailty defined by FRAIL scale as a predictor of incident disability risks by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ The current study demonstrated that frailty status defined by the FRAIL scale was a significant predictor of disability among community-dwelling middle-aged and older individuals. In light of feasibility of the FRAIL scale, especially in a clinical setting, it may be a promising tool to facilitate the translation of frailty research into clinical practice.
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Meta Analysis
Frailty Defined by FRAIL Scale as a Predictor of Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
To conduct a systematic review of the literature on prospective cohort studies examining mortality risk according to frailty defined by FRAIL scale, and to perform a meta-analysis to synthesize the pooled risk estimates. ⋯ This study demonstrated that FRAIL scale is a tool that can effectively identify frailty/prefrailty status, as well as quantify frailty status in a graded manner in relation to mortality risk. Although its feasibility is of note, not many studies are yet using this relatively new tool. More studies are warranted regarding mortality and other health outcomes.
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Frailty has been identified as a risk factor for adverse clinical outcomes after cardiac intervention or surgery. However, whether it increases the risk of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has been controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the frailty measures and clinical outcomes of length of stay and mortality in this setting. ⋯ Frailty leads to significantly longer time to extubation, hospital length of stay, and long-term mortality in advanced heart failure patients who have undergone LVAD implantation. Older patients being considered for LVAD implantation should therefore be assessed for frailty status. The risk and benefit of the procedure should be explained to the patient, emphasizing that frailty increases the likelihood of adverse clinical outcomes.