What you need to know about falls

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Anna N Barnard ◽  
Daniel S Furmedge
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment ◽  
Medication Review ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Ideal Structure ◽  
Significant Morbidity ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Inpatient Falls

Falls are a common presenting complaint, particularly in older patients, and are associated with significant morbidity. Inpatient falls also have financial implications for healthcare systems, including litigation costs. This article provides an approach to assessing a patient presenting with a fall, encompassing the cause and consequence of the event. It also highlights the need to consider both the acute and chronic factors that predispose a particular patient to fall. Chronic factors such as frailty, sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, and continence issues are often under-recognised and, as a result, not managed optimally. A comprehensive geriatric assessment is an ideal structure to identify modifiable risks. Practical interventions that can be of benefit to minimise a patient's risk of falling include a medication review, assessment of their mobility and their environment. In addition, continence review and visual assessment may be appropriate.

Toward Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment in Hispanic and African American Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-116
Author(s):  
Valarie B. Fleming ◽  
Joyce L. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Prevention Education ◽  
Education Management ◽  
African American Adults

Across the breadth of acquired neurogenic communication disorders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may go undetected, underreported, and untreated. In addition to stigma and distrust of healthcare systems, other barriers contribute to decreased identification, healthcare access, and service utilization for Hispanic and African American adults with MCI. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have significant roles in prevention, education, management, and support of older adults, the population must susceptible to MCI.

Persistence of Effect of Medication Review on Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions in Older Patients Following Hospital Discharge

Drugs & Aging ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Debacq ◽  
Julie Bourgueil ◽  
Amal Aidoud ◽  
Joëlle Bleuet ◽  
Marc Mennecart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Medication Review ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Inappropriate Prescriptions

Using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) to assess cognitive impairment in older patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennyfer Cholet ◽  
Anne Sauvaget ◽  
Jean-Marie Vanelle ◽  
Caroline Hommet ◽  
Karl Mondon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Brief Assessment

The approach to patients with cognitive impairment and hip fracture: the role of orthogeriatric care

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J Tarazona-Santabalbina ◽  
Juan R Doménech-Pascual ◽  
Ángel Belenguer-Varea A ◽  
Eduardo Rovira Daudi
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Hip Fracture ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Falls

SummaryHip fracture is very common among older patients, who are characterized by increased co-morbidities, including cognitive impairment. These patients have an increased risk of falls and fractures, poorer functional recovery and lower survival both in hospital and 12 months after discharge. We review the survival and functional outcomes of older patients with cognitive impairment and hip fracture managed in orthogeriatric units, and highlight the gaps in our knowledge of the efficacy and efficiency of specific orthogeriatric programmes for such patients and the future research perspectives in this field.

Pretransplant Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Older Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Nephron ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Teddy Novais ◽  
Elodie Pongan ◽  
Frederic Gervais ◽  
Marie-Hélène Coste ◽  
Emmanuel Morelon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Comorbidity Burden

<b><i>Background:</i></b> In older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), the decision of kidney transplantation (KT) is a challenge for nephrologists. The use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is increasingly gaining interest into the process of decision-making about treatment modality choice for CKD. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of geriatric impairment and frailty in older dialysis and nondialysis patients with advanced CKD using a pretransplant CGA model and to identify geriatric impairments influencing the geriatricians’ recommendations for KT. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> An observational study was conducted with retrospective data from July 2017 to January 2020. Patients aged ≥65 years with advanced CKD, treated or not with dialysis, and referred by the nephrologist were included in the study. The CGA assessed comorbidity burden, cognition, mood, nutritional status, (instrumental) activities of daily living, physical function, frailty, and polypharmacy. Geriatric impairments influencing the geriatricians’ recommendations for KT were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 156 patients were included (74.2 ± 3.5 years and 62.2% on dialysis). Geriatric conditions were highly prevalent in both dialysis and nondialysis groups. The rate of geriatric impairments was higher in dialysis patients regarding comorbidity burden, symptoms of depression, physical function, autonomy, and frailty. Geriatrician’s recommendations for KT were as follows: favorable (79.5%) versus not favorable or multidisciplinary discussion needed with nephrologists (20.5%). Dependence for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) (odds ratio [OR] = 3.01 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30–7.31), physical functions (OR = 2.91 and 95% CI = 1.08–7.87), and frailty (OR = 2.66 and 95% CI = 1.07–6.65) were found to be independent geriatric impairments influencing geriatrician’s recommendations for KT. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Understanding the burden of geriatric impairment provides an opportunity to direct KT decision-making and to guide interventions to prevent functional decline and preserve quality of life.

scholarly journals Lower Skeletal Muscle Mass at Admission Independently Predicts Falls and Mortality 3 Months Post-discharge in Hospitalized Older Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1650-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmee M Reijnierse ◽  
Sjors Verlaan ◽  
Vivien K Pham ◽  
Wen Kwang Lim ◽  
Carel G M Meskers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Test Score ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Bed Rest ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract Background Approximately 10% of older adults are annually admitted to a hospital. Hospitalization is associated with a higher risk of falls and mortality after discharge. This study aimed to identify predictors at admission for falls and mortality 3 months post-discharge in hospitalized older patients. Methods The Evaluation of Muscle parameters in a Prospective cohort of Older patients at clinical Wards Exploring Relations with bed rest and malnutrition (EMPOWER) study is an observational, prospective longitudinal inception cohort of 378 patients aged 70 years and older who were subsequently admitted to a tertiary hospital (the Netherlands). Potential predictors for falls and mortality 3 months post-discharge were tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses and included the following domains: demographic (age, sex, living independently), lifestyle (alcohol, smoking), nutrition (SNAQ score), muscle mass (absolute, relative), physical function (handgrip strength, Katz ADL score), cognition (six-item cognitive impairment test score), and disease (medications, diseases). Results The mean age was 79.6 years (standard deviation 6.23) and 50% were male. Within 3 months post-discharge, 19% reported a fall and 13% deceased. Univariate predictors for falls were higher age, lower absolute muscle mass and higher six-item cognitive impairment test score. Lower absolute muscle mass independently predicted falls post-discharge (multivariate). Univariate predictors for mortality were higher age, male sex, no current alcohol use, higher SNAQ score, lower absolute and higher relative muscle mass, higher Katz ADL score and higher number of diseases. Male sex, higher SNAQ score, and lower absolute muscle mass independently predicted mortality post-discharge (multivariate). Conclusions In hospitalized older adults, muscle mass should be measured to predict future outcome. Future intervention studies should investigate if increasing muscle mass prevent short-term falls and mortality.

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