Assessment of long-term cognitive dysfunction in older patients who undergo heart surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Older patients are more likely to have cognitive dysfunction, and a great proportion of patients undergone surgical procedures are older adults. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has been shown as a consistent complication after major surgical procedures such as heart surgery. AIM: To determine the presence of long-term POCD in ≥65-year-old patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement, and to establish related risk factors. METHODS: We prospectively and sequentially included 44 patients with coronary disease and aortic stenosis scheduled for heart surgery. Follow-up of all patients was standardized and a neurocognitive evaluation were performed preoperatively and at 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Patients experienced a significantly postoperative cognitive dysfunction (33.5%, 63.4% and 38.9% at 1, 6 and 12 months, respectively) from baseline (20.5%). Patient-associated aspects such as age (p<0.01), history of smoking (p<0.01), arterial hypertension (p=0.022), diabetes mellitus (p=0.024), heart failure (p=0.036) and preoperative cognitive dysfunction (p<0.01), and surgery-associated aspects such as EuroSCORE (p<0.01) and operation time (p<0.01) were identified as related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients who underwent heart surgery had long-term POCD. Both patient- and surgery-related risk factors were established as related risk factors. These findings suggest that the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery in older patients could be related to a possible progression to dementia. In addition, many of the risk factors identified may be modifiable but in practice, these patients are not attended to for their possible cognitive impairment.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality upon admission in patients with heart failure hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on patients with heart failure (HF) hospitalized for COVID-19. Our aim is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 and identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality upon admission. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study in patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify admission factors associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1718 patients were analyzed (56.5% men; median age 81.4 years). The overall case fatality rate was 47.6% (n = 819). The independent risk factors at admission for in-hospital mortality were: age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.02-1.05; p < 0.001); severe dependence (AOR: 1.62; 95%CI: 1.19-2.20; p = 0.002); tachycardia (AOR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00-1.01; p = 0.004); and high C-reactive protein (AOR: 1.004; 95%CI:1.002-1.004; p < 0.001), LDH (AOR: 1.001; 95%CI: 1.001-1.002; p < 0.001), and serum creatinine levels (AOR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.18-1.54; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 have a high in-hospital mortality rate. Some simple clinical and laboratory tests can help to identify patients with a worse prognosis.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality upon admission in patients with heart failure hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain]. / Características clínicas y factores de riesgo de mortalidad al ingreso en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca hospitalizados por COVID-19 en España.

Background: There are few studies on patients with heart failure (HF) hospitalized for COVID-19. Our aim is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 and identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality upon admission. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study in patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify admission risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 1,718 patients were analyzed (56.5% men; median age 81.4 years). The overall case fatality rate was 47.6% (n=819). The independent risk factors at admission for in-hospital mortality were: age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.02-1.05; p< .001); severe dependence (AOR: 1.62; 95%CI: 1.19-2.20; p=.002); tachycardia (AOR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00-1.01; p=.004); and high C-reactive protein (AOR: 1.004; 95%CI:1.002-1.004; p< .001), LDH (AOR: 1.001; 95%CI: 1.001-1.002; p< .001), and serum creatinine levels (AOR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.18-1.54; p< .001). Conclusions: Patients with HF hospitalized for COVID-19 have a high in-hospital mortality rate. Some simple clinical and laboratory tests can help to identify patients with a worse prognosis.

Recommendations on the comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of hospitalized elderly people. Position of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

This position paper describes the most relevant and essential aspects of a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of hospitalized elderly people. The change in demographic patterns and the epidemiological profiles of diseases makes it necessary for internal medicine departments to adapt in order to take into account the vulnerabilities of the elderly in this context. A comprehensive, multidimensional assessment and the multidisciplinary development of a care plan during hospitalization can have an impact in terms of preventing mortality, disability, and institutionalization at discharge. It is necessary for all internists to acquire skills to improve the hospitalization experience in the elderly and obtain better health outcomes in our patients. This document has been developed by the Focus Group on Aging and the Polypathological and Advanced Age Working Group and endorsed by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Assessment of long-term cognitive dysfunction in older patients who undergo heart surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Older patients are more likely to have cognitive dysfunction, and a great proportion of patients undergone surgical procedures are older adults. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has been shown as a consistent complication after major surgical procedures such as heart surgery. AIM: To determine the presence of long-term POCD in ≥65-year-old patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement, and to establish related risk factors. METHODS: We prospectively and sequentially included 44 patients with coronary disease and aortic stenosis scheduled for heart surgery. Follow-up of all patients was standardized and a neurocognitive evaluation were performed preoperatively and at 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Patients experienced a significantly postoperative cognitive dysfunction (33.5%, 63.4% and 38.9% at 1, 6 and 12 months, respectively) from baseline (20.5%). Patient-associated aspects such as age (p<0.01), history of smoking (p<0.01), arterial hypertension (p=0.022), diabetes mellitus (p=0.024), heart failure (p=0.036) and preoperative cognitive dysfunction (p<0.01), and surgery-associated aspects such as EuroSCORE (p<0.01) and operation time (p<0.01) were identified as related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients who underwent heart surgery had long-term POCD. Both patient- and surgery-related risk factors were established as related risk factors. These findings suggest that the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery in older patients could be related to a possible progression to dementia. In addition, many of the risk factors identified may be modifiable but in practice, these patients are not attended to for their possible cognitive impairment.

Recommendations on the comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of hospitalized elderly people. Position of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. / Recomendaciones sobre la valoración integral y multidimensional del anciano hospitalizado. Posicionamiento de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna.

This position paper describes the most relevant and essential aspects of a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of hospitalized elderly people. The change in demographic patterns and the epidemiological profiles of diseases makes it necessary for internal medicine departments to adapt in order to take into account the vulnerabilities of the elderly in this context. A comprehensive, multidimensional assessment and the multidisciplinary development of a care plan during hospitalization can have an impact in terms of preventing mortality, disability, and institutionalization at discharge. It is necessary for all internists to acquire skills to improve the hospitalization experience in the elderly and obtain better health outcomes in our patients. This document has been developed by the Focus Group on Aging and the Polypathological and Advanced Age Working Group and endorsed by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Efficacy and safety of replacing sitagliptin with canagliflozin in real-world patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled with sitagliptin combined with metformin and/or gliclazide: The SITA-CANA Switch Study.

AIM: To analyze the efficacy and safety of replacing sitagliptin with canagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and poor metabolic control despite treatment with sitagliptin in combination with metformin and/or gliclazide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicentre observational, retrospective, 26-week clinical study of patients with T2D and poor glycaemic control (HbA1c: 7.5-9.5%) treated with sitagliptin in combination with metformin and/or gliclazide, sitagliptin (and gliclazide if appropriate) were replaced by canagliflozin. The main outcome of the study was the proportion of patients who achieved good glycaemic control (HbA1c<7%) by the end of the study. RESULTS: The study sample comprised 50 patients (baseline HbA1c 8.0±0.6%) treated with sitagliptin 100mg/day, 14 of whom were also taking gliclazide 60mg/day while 38 were taking metformin 1700mg/day. Sitagliptin treatment was replaced by either canagliflozin 100mg (n=17) or 300mg (n=33). After 26 weeks of follow-up, these patients presented with significant decreases in HbA1c (-1.1%; P<0.000), weight (-3.89kg; P<0.000), BMI (-1.37kg/m2; P<0.022), abdominal circumference (-5.42cm; P<0.004), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (-5.3mmHg and -4.4mmHg, respectively; P=0.005), triglycerides (-42mg/dL; P=0.005) and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (-0.34; P=0.005). By the end of the study, 42% of patients had achieved HbA1c levels<7%. CONCLUSION: In patients with T2D poorly controlled with sitagliptin, whether alone or in combination with metformin and/or gliclazide, replacing it with canagliflozin may be a simple yet effective intensification strategy. Our results, which may have important implications for clinical practice, now need to be confirmed in larger observational studies.

Concordance of Barthel Index, ECOG-PS, and Palliative Performance Scale in the assessment of functional status in patients with advanced medical diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Analysing most relevant clinical features and concordance between different functional scales in patients with advanced medical diseases (PAMD). METHODS: Cross-sectional multicentre study that included PAMD (heart, lung, kidney, liver, and neurological diseases) in hospital settings from February 2009 to October 2010. We analysed clinical, biological and functional features in performing activities of daily living (ADL) by medians of Barthel Index (BI); additionally we assessed their performance status by medians of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status (ECOG-PS) and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) scores. We evaluated the concordance of these instruments in assessing functional impairment by κ and intraclass correlation coefficient tests. RESULTS: 1847 patients were included (average age 79 years, 50.1% men). Most common symptoms were dyspnoea (62.31%), asthenia (23%) and delirium (20.14%). Functional assessment showed a high prevalence of severe or total impairment in performing basic ADL by medians of used instruments (BI median=35 (IQR=70), and 52.1% of patients with severe-total impairment; ECOG-PS median=2 (IQR 30), and 44% of patients with severe-total impairment; and PPS median=50 (IQR 30), and 32% of patients with severe-total impairment). Concordance among these instruments was acceptably good (κ indexes ranging from 0.653 to 0.745 (p<0.0001)). CONCLUSIONS: PAMD represent a population with severe functional impairment, which requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper management. Assessment of functional ability in this population by BI, ECOG-PS, and PPS showed good concordance.