A multidisciplinary approach to improve adherence to medical recommendations in older adults at hospital discharge: The APPROACH study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Poor comprehension and medication adherence are common in older people, especially after hospitalizations, in case of changes or prescriptions of new therapeutic regimes. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated approach in improving older individuals' adherence to medical recommendations after hospital discharge. METHODS: Data from an expected sample of 360 older inpatients (and their caregivers) will be collected. Medical recommendations' understanding will be tested before and after the routine explanation received by in-charge physicians. Participants will be randomized in the control (usual care) and intervention group. The intervention consists of educational training by a multidisciplinary team (occupational therapist, dietician, and physician, in consultation with a pharmacologist) at hospital discharge and, after hospital discharge, receiving a phone recall checking for therapy adherence and having the possibility to contact the study team for potential related concerns. After 7 days, medication adherence will be assessed through structured phone interviews comparing ongoing and prescribed medications and by administering the 4-item validated Morisky, Green, Levine scale and the Medication adherence report scale (MARS-5). At 30 and 90 days from discharge, data on medication adherence, falls, rehospitalizations, and vital status will be collected through phone interviews and hospital records. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration: NCT05719870 (clinicaltrial.gov). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05719870.

Sex Differences in the Burden of Hip Fractures on Functional Status in Older Age.

Background: Hip fractures can dramatically impact the health and self-sufficiency of older people. We investigated the influence of pre-fracture functional status on functional decline and mortality after hip fracture, and possible sex differences in this regard. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 288 older patients hospitalized with hip fracture in an Orthogeriatric Unit. Data on perioperative management and multidimensional evaluation were collected. After 15 months, we obtained information on housing arrangements, new falls, walking level, and self-sufficiency (Barthel Index [BI]) through outpatient visits or phone interviews. Data on re-hospitalizations and deaths were obtained from hospital records. Results: The sample median age was 87 years, and 75% were women. The median pre-fracture BI was 75 (interquartile range [IQR]: 50, 100), and at follow-up it decreased by a median of 20 (IQR: 40, -5) points. Sex differences emerged among those with the highest pre-fracture functional status (BI ≥85), with women showing lower BI loss than men (-15 [IQR: -40, 0] vs. -30 [IQR: -80, -15], respectively; p = 0.04). A pre-fracture BI ≥85 (vs. <85) was associated with a 41% lower mortality rate (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.21-0.79), especially in women (hazard ratios = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.69). Moreover, male sex was an independent risk factor for functional loss after a hip fracture (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.09-5.80). Conclusions: Older men may have a worse functional prognosis than women after a hip fracture. This difference seemed to be exacerbated in cases of high pre-fracture functional performance, suggesting that females have a greater functional reserve, namely better adaptation and recovery strategies to deal with the fracture. Clinical Trial Registration: Registration code: NCT02687698.