Intensive care for critical ill geriatric patients: Prognostic factors of survival and quality of life after 1 and 3 months

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. S98
Author(s):  
G. Fayt ◽  
P. Biston ◽  
B. Kennes
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1759720X2110283
Author(s):  
Yu-Pin Chen ◽  
Yi-Jie Kuo ◽  
Chieh-hsiu Liu ◽  
Pei-Chun Chien ◽  
Wei-Chun Chang ◽  
...  

Background: Hip fractures are a major public health concern among elderly individuals. This study aimed to investigate potential perioperative factors that predict 1-year functional outcome, quality of life (QoL), care demands, and mortality in geriatric patients with a hip fracture. Methods: We prospectively enrolled geriatric patients who had undergone hip fracture surgery in one medical center from December 2017 to December 2019. Basic demographic data, handgrip strength, and responses to questionnaires for QoL and activities of daily living (ADL) before the injury were collected at baseline. QoL, ADL, additional care demands other than family support, and mortality events were monitored at 1 year after the operation. Results: Among 281 patients with a hip fracture, 39 (13.9%) died within 1 year of the index operation. The mean follow-up interval for the survivors was 403.3 (range: 358–480) days. Among the 242 survivors, ADL and QoL considerably decreased at approximately 1 year following hip surgery. Up to 33.9% of the participants became severely dependent and needed additional care at 1-year follow up. Prefracture ADL status was the crucial predictor for functional outcome, QoL, and additional care demand at 1-year follow up. Cox regression models indicated that male sex, low preoperative serum creatinine, handgrip strength, long surgical delay after a falling accident, and high Charlson Comorbidity Index were considerably associated with a high 1-year mortality risk in the geriatric hip fracture population. Conclusion: Hip fracture has long-lasting effects (e.g. functional loss, decline in QoL, increased care demands, and high postoperative mortality rate) on the geriatric population. A robust screening method must be developed for identifying potential prognostic factors, and a stratified care approach must be used that accounts for personalized risks to improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality after hip fracture in geriatric patients, especially in Taiwan.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-91
Author(s):  
Justyna Pawlak ◽  
Małgorzata Dudkiewicz ◽  
Łukasz Kikowski

Introduction: The progressing aging process and comorbidities worsen the efficiency of the balance system in the elderly, which leads to a weakening of stability and, as a consequence, to falls and injuries. The first ones lead to: worsening of functioning, reduced mobility, an increased risk of disease and mortality, therefore systematic physical activity and shaping the balance using physiotherapy, which can prevent dangerous falls is very important. Aim: Assessment of the therapeutic effect of physiotherapy on minimizing imbalances in geriatric patients. M aterial and Methods: The study group consisted of 46 people, including 32 women (69.6%) and 14 men (30.4%); average age of respondents – 72.5 years. They were patients of the Department of Rehabilitation of Poddębice Health Center, Ltd. The researchers used a self-made questionnaire, body mass to height index (BMI) and the Tinetti Test. Results: Patients with an elevated BMI (89.1%), as well as those taking more than 4 medication (78.3%), have had more falls over the past year (respectively 91.4% and 81.4%). After the use of comprehensive therapy, none of the patients achieved a worse result than before the physiotherapy while 91.3% of the respondents had an increase in the number of points scored in the Tinetti Test. The percentage of patients at high risk of falling reduced from 67.4% to 37%. There was also a decrease in the fear of walking (in 58.7%), falling (in 57.7%) and climbing stairs (in 47.9%). According to 78.3% of respondents, physiotherapy positively affected their independence and quality of life. Conclusions: The use of comprehensive physiotherapy reduces the fear of walking, climbing stairs and falling, which can be a good predictor of prevention. Both polypragmasia and an elevated body mass index (BMI) increase the risk of falling. Comprehensive physiotherapy of geriatric patients helps to improve balance and gait stereotype. Physiotherapy for the elderly helps improve the quality of life, independence, minimize imbalances, and thus reduce the risk of falls. Balance exercises play an important role in preventing falls.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. e0222671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Kosilek ◽  
Sebastian E. Baumeister ◽  
Till Ittermann ◽  
Matthias Gründling ◽  
Frank M. Brunkhorst ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e8-e15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Cunha ◽  
Teresa Mota ◽  
Armando Teixeira-Pinto ◽  
Leonor Carvalho ◽  
João Estrada ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 456-462
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Goldberg

Osteoarthritis is a developmental disease that progresses as the canine ages. While incurable, there are ways to help mitigate the severity of the disease. Geriatric patients often have pain, lowered mobility, and decreased quality of life. Utilisation of clinical metrology instruments (CMIs), published pain management guidelines, multimodal medications, published quality of life scales, and the use of physical rehabilitation modalities/techniques enable the dog to live a full life. The dog's advancing age does not have to cause abrupt cessation of activities that all family members enjoy. Environmental modification and client education allow dogs to enjoy their entire life with their families.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 729-732
Author(s):  
Pieter J. J. Sauer

Modern technology makes it possible to keep more sick, extremely small, and vulnerable neonates alive. Many neonatologists in the Netherlands believe they should be concerned not only about the rate of survival of their patients, but also about the way the graduates of their care do, in fact, survive beyond the neonatal period. In most cases, we use all available methods to keep newborns alive. However, in some instances there is great concern about the quality of life, if the newborn should survive; here questions do arise about continuing or withholding treatment. In this commentary, I present my impression of the opinions held by a majority of practicing neonatologists in the Netherlands, as well as some personal thoughts and ideas. Recently, a committee convened by the Ministers of Justice and Health in the Netherlands issued an official report regarding the practice of euthanasia and the rules of medical practice when treatment is withheld.1 In this report of more than 250 pages, only 2 pages focus on the newborn. The following conclusions were made in this small section of the report. In almost one half of the instances of a fatal outcome in a neonatal intensive care unit in the Netherlands, discussions about sustaining or withholding treatment did take place at some stage of the hospital stay. A consideration of the future quality of life was always included in the discussion. The committee agreed with doctors interviewed for the report that there are circumstances in which continuation of intensive care treatment is not necessarily in the best interest of a neonate.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Petrinec

Background Family members of critically ill patients experience indications of post–intensive care syndrome, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Despite increased use of long-term acute care hospitals for critically ill patients, little is known about the impact of long-term hospitalization on patients’ family members. Objectives To examine indications of post–intensive care syndrome, coping strategies, and health-related quality of life among family decision makers during and after patients’ long-term hospitalization. Methods A single-center, prospective, longitudinal descriptive study was undertaken of family decision makers of adult patients admitted to long-term acute care hospitals. Indications of post–intensive care syndrome and coping strategies were measured on the day of hospital admission and 30 and 60 days later. Health-related quality of life was measured by using the Short Form-36, version 2, at admission and 60 days later. Results The sample consisted of 30 family decision makers. On admission, 27% reported moderate to severe anxiety, and 20% reported moderate to severe depression. Among the decision makers, 10% met criteria for a provisional diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. At admission, the mean physical summary score for quality of life was 47.8 (SD, 9.91) and the mean mental summary score was 48.00 (SD, 10.28). No significant changes occurred during the study period. Problem-focused coping was the most frequently used coping strategy at all time points. Conclusion Family decision makers of patients in long-term acute care hospitals have a significant prevalence of indications of post–intensive care syndrome.


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