SPMSQ for risk stratification of older patients in the emergency department : An exploratory prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification of older patients in the emergency department (ED) is seen as a promising and efficient solution for handling the increase in demand for geriatric emergency medicine. Previously, the predictive validity of commonly used tools for risk stratification, such as the identification of seniors at risk (ISAR), have found only limited evidence in German geriatric patient samples. Given that the adverse outcomes in question, such as rehospitalization, nursing home admission and mortality, are substantially associated with cognitive impairment, the potential of the short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ) as a tool for risk stratification of older ED patients was investigated. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the predictive validity of the SPMSQ for a composite endpoint of adverse events (e.g. rehospitalization, nursing home admission and mortality). METHOD: This was a prospective cohort study with 260 patients aged 70 years and above, recruited in a cardiology ED. Patients with a likely life-expectancy below 24 h were excluded. Follow-up examinations were conducted at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month(s) after recruitment. RESULTS: The SPMSQ was found to be a significant predictor of adverse outcomes not at 1 month (area under the curve, AUC 0.55, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.46-0.63) but at 3 months (AUC 0.61, 95% CI 0.54-0.68), 6 months (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.56-0.70) and 12 months (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.56-0.70) after initial contact. CONCLUSION: For longer periods of observation the SPMSQ can be a predictor of a composite endpoint of adverse outcomes even when controlled for a range of confounders. Its characteristics, specifically the low sensitivity, make it unsuitable as an accurate risk stratification tool on its own.

[Diabetes care and incidence of severe hypoglycemia in nursing home facilities and nursing services: The Heidelberg Diabetes Study]. / Behandlungsqualität des Diabetes mellitus und Inzidenz schwerer Hypoglykämien in stationären und ambulanten Versorgungseinrichtungen: Heidelberger Diabetesstudie.

AIM: The goal of this study was to perform a structured analysis of the treatment quality and acute complications of geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) cared for by nursing services and nursing home facilities. Secondly, structural problems and potentials for improvement in the care of multimorbid older people with DM treated by nursing homes and nursing services were analysed from the viewpoint of geriatric nurses, managers of nursing homes and general practitioners. METHODS: In all, 77 older persons with DM from 13 nursing homes and 3 nursing services were included in the analysis (76.6% female, HbA1c 6.9 ± 1.4%, age 81.6 ± 9.9 years). Structural problems and potentials for improvement were collected from 95 geriatric nurses, 9 managers of nursing homes and 6 general practitioners using semistandardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Metabolic control was too strict in care-dependent older people with DM (mean HbA1c value: 6.9 ± 1.4 %; recommended by guidelines: 7-8%). The measurement of HbA1c was performed in 16 of 77 people (20.8%) within the last year despite a high visitation frequency of the general practitioners (12.7 ± 7.7 within the last 6 months). The incidence of severe hypoglycemia was 7.8%/patient/year. Regarding the management in case of diabetes-related acute complications 33 geriatric nurses (34.7%) stated not having any written standard (nursing home 39%, geriatric services 16.7%). CONCLUSION: Complex insulin therapies are still used in older people with DM with the consequence of a high incidence of severe hypoglycemia. Concrete management standards in the case of diabetes-related acute complications for geriatric nurses are lacking for more than one third of the nursing services.

[Diabetes and dementia]. / Diabetes und Demenz.

Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Chronic hyperglycemia, genetic predisposition, arterial hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, micro- and macrovascular diseases, and depression play a major role in the development of cognitive dysfunction. Both pathophysiology of diabetes and dementia and the specifics of diabetes therapy in patients with dementia are presented in this review.

[Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in old age]. / Diabetes und kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen im Alter.

The treatment of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic geriatric patients needs an individual risk-benefit analysis. The overtreatment of hyperglycemia in the sense of metabolic control that is too tight (HbA(1)c level <6%) may lead to increased mortality. As a rule, the target HbA(1)c level in geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus should be between 7 and 8%.

[Diagnostics of acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients]. / Diagnostik des akuten Myokardinfarkts bei älteren Patienten.

The early diagnosis of an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is improved by the introduction of novel high-sensitivity troponin assays. These assays can measure low level myocardial injury not detectable by standard troponin assays. Especially in older patients who appear to have a higher basal troponin level, the results must always be judged in the context of the medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG) and any further findings. Even small increases in high-sensitivity troponin indicate increased risk for death or MI during follow-up. In the case of MI an invasive strategy results in better survival rates compared with conservative therapy but at the expense of an increased risk of bleeding in elderly patients. This article provides an overview on the diagnosis of MI in elderly patients.

[Treatment quality in geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus in various home environments]. / Behandlungsqualität bei geriatrischen Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus in verschiedenen häuslichen Versorgungsstrukturen.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to systematically assess treatment quality, perceptions, and cognitive function of elderly patients with diabetes admitted to an acute geriatric hospital from different home environments (nursing home residents, home care, assisted living, family caregivers, self-sufficient). METHODS: Quality of diabetes treatment, metabolic control (HbA(1c)), nutrition, treatment satisfaction, cognition, disability, and level of dependency were assessed in 128 patients with diabetes. RESULTS: Out of 128 patients, 87 patients (68%) showed an HbA1c≤8% according to the guidelines for aging people with diabetes of the German Diabetes Association (DDG). Compared to patients living independently at home, the metabolic control in nursing home residents and their treatment satisfaction were as good. They had a higher degree of dependency though (Barthel, p<0.001), more strongly impaired mobility (Tinetti, p<0.01), less diabetes knowledge (p<0.001), inferior cognitive performance (MMSE, SPMSQ, p<0.01), and a higher prevalence of depression (GDS) (p<0.01). Better cognitive function correlated with better diabetes knowledge (r=0.49; p<0.001), but not with better metabolic control. CONCLUSION: The treatment of geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus requires individual considerations and interdisciplinary care. Particularly the continuing education of geriatric nurses could contribute to improved diabetes treatment quality in nursing home residents.