A Group-based Trajectory Analysis of Longitudinal Psychotropic Agent Use and Adverse Outcomes Among Older People

The prevalence and clinical impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase in the United States and throughout the world. Older adults are at increased risk for adverse outcomes associated with hypoglycemia, particularly in situations where a lack of awareness may arise because typical symptoms are not necessarily present, serve to prompt medical intervention with oral glucose. Glucagon emergency kits that have been available to date require multiple-step reconstitution that may compromise timely and appropriate administration of lifesaving glucagon treatment during episodes of severe hypoglycemia. In settings such as long-term care facilities, trained medical professionals may not be readily available, meaning that glucagon must be administered by laypersons. Novel dosage forms of glucagon that have recently been approved for marketing in the United States allow glucagon to be delivered more easily, which may positively impact effective treatment of severe hypoglycemia among older people. Nasal glucagon and glucagon autoinjection "pens" are as effective as glucagon kits and increase the likelihood glucagon will be appropriately used by patient caregivers. The safety, efficacy, and convenience of these new devices may improve outcomes and reduce health care costs of older people with diabetes.

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Anticancer Therapy in COViD-19 Patients: A Descriptive Literature Review

The Senior Care Pharmacist ◽

10.4140/tcp.n.2021.365 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (8) ◽

pp. 365-373

Author(s):

Nishita Tripathi ◽

Daniya Sheikh ◽

Demetra Antimisiaris

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Older People ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Anticancer Therapy ◽

Included Study ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Anticancer Treatment ◽

American Society

OBJECTIVE: To provide a descriptive literature review about the effects of anticancer treatment on clinical outcomes because of active COVID-19 infection in older people. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Articles published in English between December 1, 2019, to September 1, 2020, were included. STUDY SELECTION: Nine studies assessing the effectiveness of various modalities for cancer treatments in patients infected with COVID-19 infection were reviewed. The studies reviewed the severity of COVID-19 infection outcomes in patients who underwent any anticancer treatment. Studies exclusively focused on older people could not be found, but all studies included older people. DATA SYNTHESiS AND RESULTS: Early pandemic studies suggested avoiding anticancer treatment during a COVID-19 infection because of poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality. However, the totality of studies reviewed found no association between the continuation of anticancer treatment and adverse COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients. Adverse COVID-19 infection outcomes and high mortality rates were associated with older cancer patients independent of anticancer therapy. CONCLUSION: Treatment of cancer could be challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interruption or delaying the anticancer therapy could increase the burden of overall mortality. This literature review indicated that adverse outcomes because of COVID-19 are associated with advanced age independent of anticancer therapy. Further exploration of the correlation between cancer, anticancer treatments, and COVID-19 infection outcomes is needed.

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COVID 19: prioritise autonomy, beneficence and conversations before score-based triage

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afaa205 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Esther Peiying Ho ◽

Han-Yee Neo

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Older People ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Best Interest ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Therapeutic Goals ◽

Functional Deficits ◽

Situational Pressure

Abstract At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mounting demand overwhelmed critical care surge capacities, triggering implementation of triage protocols to determine ventilator allocation. Relying on triage scores to ration care, while relieving clinicians from making morally distressing decisions under high situational pressure, distracts clinicians from what is essentially deeply humanistic issues entrenched in this protracted public health crisis. Such an approach will become increasingly untenable as countries flatten their epidemic curves. Decisions regarding intensive care unit admission are particularly challenging in older people, who are most likely to require critical care, but for whom benefits are most uncertain. Before applying score-based triage, physicians must first discern if older people will benefit from critical care (beneficence) and second, if he wants critical care (autonomy). When deliberating beneficence, physicians should steer away from solely using age-stratified survival probabilities from epidemiological data. Instead, decisions must be based on individualised risk-stratification that encompasses evidence-based predictors of adverse outcomes specific to older adults. Survival will also need to be weighed against burden of treatment, as well as longer term functional deficits and quality-of-life. By identifying the robust older people who may benefit from critical care, clinicians should proceed to elicit his values and preferences that would determine the treatment most aligned with his best interest. During these dialogues, physicians must truthfully convey the emergent clinical reality, discern the older person’s therapeutic goals and discuss the feasibility of achieving them. Given that COVID-19 is here to stay, these conversations aimed at achieving goal-cordant care must become a new clinical norm.

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‘I’ve never drunk very much water and I still don’t, and I see no reason to do so’: a qualitative study of the views of community-dwelling older people and carers on hydration in later life

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afz141 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 111-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Cini Bhanu ◽

Christina Avgerinou ◽

Kalpa Kharicha ◽

Yehudit Bauernfreund ◽

Helen Croker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Older People ◽

Later Life ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Drinking Patterns ◽

Adequate Hydration ◽

Perceived Importance ◽

Community Dwelling Older People ◽

Informal Carers

Abstract Background dehydration is associated with significant adverse outcomes in older people despite being largely preventable and treatable. Little research has focused on the views of community-dwelling older people on hydration, healthy drinking and the perceived importance of drinking well in later life. Objectives to understand community-dwelling older people and informal carers’ views on hydration in later life and how older people can be supported to drink well. Methods qualitative study using interviews and a focus group exploring hydration and nutrition in later life (24 older people at risk of malnutrition and dehydration, 9 informal carers) and thematic analysis. Results this article presents the findings on hydration alone. Four themes are presented: perceptions of healthy drinking, barriers to and facilitators of drinking in later life and supporting older people to drink well. The perceived importance of adequate hydration in later life was polarised. Concerns about urinary incontinence and knowledge gaps were significant barriers. Consideration of individual taste preference and functional capacity acted as facilitators. Distinct habitual drinking patterns with medications and meals exist within individuals. Many relied on thirst at other times or when fluid demands are greater (such as hot weather), a known unreliable prompt in later life. Conclusions older people could be supported to drink well by building upon existing habitual drinking patterns. Primary care and public health should consider individual barriers, facilitators and tailored education. A multidisciplinary approach to promote hydration should be incorporated into care for older people with more complex needs.

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P2524Extent and outcomes of frailty in older people with atrial fibrillation: a nationwide study using primary care data

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.0853 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

C Wilkinson ◽

O Todd ◽

M Yadegarfar ◽

A Clegg ◽

C P Gale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Primary Care ◽

Older People ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Frailty Index ◽

Community Setting ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

All Cause Mortality

Abstract Background The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in older people is increasing, as is frailty. Frailty describes an increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes, whereby the balance of risk and benefit associated with an intervention may be more nuanced. However, there are limited data from a community setting on the prevalence of AF and frailty in older people. It is important to understand the burden of AF and frailty, and the associated impact on mortality and stroke disease in order to inform shared decision making with patients, and also inform guidelines for this increasing group of older people. Purpose To estimate the prevalence of AF and the burden of frailty in patients with AF, in a large primary care dataset. To report stroke and mortality by frailty group. Methods We used electronic health records of 537,051 patients in England aged 65 years or older on 31/12/2015, with follow-up for all-cause mortality and ischaemic or unclassified stroke to 11/04/2017. Patients with a history of AF were identified using Clinical Terms Version 3 (CTV-3) codes. Frailty was identified up to the point of study entry using the electronic frailty index (eFI, the proportion of deficits out of 36 possible deficits), and categorised into robust (0–0.12), mild (>0.12–0.24), moderate (>0.24–0.36) or severe (>0.36) frailty. Median CHA2DS2-VASc and ATRIA scores for patients with frailty were compared with the robust group using Mann-Whitney. The association between frailty status, all-cause mortality and stroke was calculated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age and sex. Results Of the cohort, 61,177 patients (11.4%) had AF. Of those with AF, 27,987 (45.8%) were female, and 54,734 (89.5%) had frailty. 6,443 (10.5%) were classified as robust; 20,352 (33.3%) mildly frail; 20,315 (33.2%) moderately frail; and 14,067 (23.0%) severely frail. The median number of eFI-defined deficits among patients with AF was 9 (interquartile range [IQR] 6–12). Median stroke and bleeding scores were higher in those with frailty compared with the robust group (CHA2DS2-VASc 4 [IQR 3–5] v 2 [2–3], p≤0.001; ATRIA 4 [2–6] v 1 [0–2], p≤0.001). During 73,338 patient-years of follow-up, there were 6,805 (11.1%) deaths and 945 (1.54%) strokes. Compared with the robust group, all-cause mortality and stroke were higher with increasing frailty. Mortality: mild frailty hazard ratio 1.53 (95% confidence interval 1.29–1.80); moderate frailty 2.50 (2.13–2.94); severe frailty 4.26 (3.63–5.01). Stroke: mild frailty 1.36 (0.99–1.85); moderate frailty 1.67 (1.23–2.28); severe 1.99 (1.45–2.73). Kaplan-Meier survival curves by frailty Conclusion The prevalence of AF among those aged over 65 years in primary care in England is high, the majority of whom are frail. Increasing severity of frailty was associated with higher mortality and stroke rates. The extent to which the judicious use of oral anticoagulation may improve clinical outcomes for patients with AF and frailty is currently unknown. Acknowledgement/Funding CPG: Bayer, BMS, AstraZeneca, Novartis Vifor Pharma, Menerini

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Antidepressant use and risk of adverse outcomes in older people: population based cohort study

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.d4551 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 343 (aug02 1) ◽

pp. d4551-d4551 ◽

Cited By ~ 407

Author(s):

C. Coupland ◽

P. Dhiman ◽

R. Morriss ◽

A. Arthur ◽

G. Barton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Older People ◽

Population Based ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Antidepressant Use

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Perception of risk of adverse outcomes of older people: comparison between nursing homes, day centers and home care services

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults ◽

10.1108/qaoa-11-2016-0043 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 212-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laetitia Teixeira ◽

Maria João Azevedo ◽

Sara Alves ◽

Cátia L. Pires ◽

Constança Paúl

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Home Care ◽

Older People ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Home Care Services ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Content Type ◽

Care Services ◽

Screen Instrument

Purpose In Portugal, the three main kinds of care services available for older people are nursing homes, day centers and home care services. The use of these care services is mostly based on complex socioeconomic and functional criteria; however it is not clear if this placement corresponds to a higher/lower risk of adverse outcomes. The purposes of this paper are: to characterize clients of each type of service; to estimate the proportion of individuals at perceived risk of each adverse outcome according to type of service; to assess the ability of the Risk Instrument for Screening in the Community (RISC) to identify the risk profiles according to type of service. Design/methodology/approach The sample comprised individuals aged 65+ (n=224), receiving care at home, in day centers or in nursing homes. The identification of individuals at risk for three adverse outcomes (institutionalization, hospitalization and death) was performed using a short pre-screen instrument (RISC). Findings The RISC identified mental state issues as the unique factor that differentiated clients according the type of care services (χ2 (6, N=224)=20.96, p=0.002), with day center presenting the lowest percentage of mental health concerns and nursing home presenting the highest percentage (44.44 and 71.91 percent, respectively). Additionally, a gradient was found between perceived risk of adverse outcomes (institutionalization and hospitalization) and care of levels required. Originality/value The RISC can be used to discriminate people in different settings of care and can be helpful in the selection of groups at risk that will benefit more from available services.

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Challenges of Singapore’s First Acute Geriatric Isolation Facility During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare ◽

10.1177/20101058211047684 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 201010582110476

Author(s):

Bernard Kok Chong Yap ◽

Wrenzie Del Valle Espeleta ◽

Savithri Sinnatamby ◽

Fuyin Li ◽

Bantilan Anna Liza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Falls Prevention ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Presenting Symptoms ◽

Isolation Facility

Aim The COVID-19 pandemic has seen hospitals isolating suspect cases. Geriatric populations are at a risk of severe COVID-19 disease and often present with concomitant geriatric syndromes requiring holistic interdisciplinary care. However, isolation of older people poses challenges to care delivery. This study shares the experience of Singapore’s first acute geriatric isolation facility geriatric PARI (Pneumonia-Acute Respiratory Infection) ward and describes the geriatric-related outcomes and pitfalls in care delivery. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study performed in 7 negative pressure isolation rooms in an acute care public hospital in Singapore. 100 patients admitted consecutively to the geriatric PARI ward were included. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms and geriatric-related adverse outcomes associated with hospitalisation were collected and analysed. Results Patients’ mean age was 86.4 years (standard deviation [SD]: 6.8) with significant comorbidities being hypertension (81%), hyperlipidaemia (74%) and renal disease (70%). 51% of patients had dementia and 24% had behaviour and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). 27% of patients presented atypically with delirium and 15% presented with a fall. Delirium was associated with restraint use (OR: 3.88; p-value 0.01). Falls rate was 1.64 per 1000 occupied bed. 1 patient screened positive for COVID-19. Conclusions The geriatric PARI ward is essential for curbing nosocomial transmission of COVID-19. This is important in the older people with comorbidities who are more likely to develop morbidity and mortality. Our study reveals challenges in delivering person-centred care to the older patients in isolation rooms, especially in the management of delirium and falls prevention. Innovative strategies should be developed to minimise isolation-related adverse outcome.

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