[Characteristics and one-year outcomes in elderly patients hospitalised with heart failure and preserved, mid-range and reduced ejection fraction]. / Características y resultados tras un año en pacientes ancianos ingresados con insuficiencia cardiaca y fracción de eyección reducida, intermedia o conservada.

INTRODUCTION: The latest European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure (HF) guidelines define three types of HF according to the ejection fraction (EF): HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) when EF<40%, HF with mid-range EF (HFmrEF), when EF 40-49%, and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) when EF≥50%. The objective of this study was to analyse the characteristics and results of elderly patients hospitalised with HF according to the new classification using EF. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out with 531 HF patients aged ≥75 years classified according to EF, and admitted in the geriatric wards of 6 hospitals in Spain. An analysis was performed on the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as well as the morbidity and mortality at one year of follow-up. RESULTS: As regards EF, 17.1% had HFrEF, 10% had HFmrEF, and 72.9% had HFpEF. Patients with HFmrEF were more similar to those with HFrEF in terms of a younger age, predominance of men, and previous admission due to HF. This was also the case with the use of drugs for neurohormonal blockade. Patients with HFrEF (compared to those with HFmrEF and HFpEF), had higher mortality (35.2%, 24.5%, and 25.6%, respectively), more readmissions for HF (17.6%, 15.1%, and 14.5%, respectively), and more events (61.5%, 45.3%, and 52.5%, respectively), although there were no significant differences. There were also no differences observed in the survival analysis between the EF groups and the time-dependent outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients hospitalised with HF, those classified as HFmrEF did not show any clear differences with respect to those with HFrEF or HFpEF. There were no differences in terms of morbidity and mortality.

Results of an anaemia treatment protocol complementary to blood transfusion in elderly patients with hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is a very common condition in elderly patients with hip fracture. The side effects of blood transfusions are well known, and further research on potential alternative therapies is needed. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: A non-controlled descriptive study, conducted on 138 patients admitted for hip fracture, aimed at analysing the effects of an anaemia treatment protocol adjunctive to transfusion, based on the use of supra-physiological doses of intravenous iron and erythropoietin (IS/EPOS). The variables collected were, medical history, physical and cognitive status prior to fracture, as well as the need of blood products, medical complications during admission and their functional outcome at three and six months after the fracture were evaluated. Transfusion rates were compared with a historical control group when the only treatment for acute anaemia was transfusion (2011). RESULTS: Almost half (63, 48%) of the patients received blood transfusion, with (91,70%) IS/EPOD. Intravenous iron did not reduce the percentage of transfused patients (56% vs. 44%), but it did reduce the number of blood units required (0.7 units less in IS/EPO group). Patients who required transfusion had a longer hospital stay, (1.7 days; 13.2 vs. 11.5; p<0.005). Patients who received IS had better functional recovery assessed with Barthel index and the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC scale) at 3 and 6 months after the fracture. Patients with malnutrition or subtrochanteric fracture needed more tabletransfusions (p<0.005). Functional recovery at 3 and 6 months after fracture was better in patients who received intravenous iron. Neither blood transfusions nor intravenous iron were associated with infectious complications or increased mortality. The patient series of this study was compared with a group of patients with hip fracture and similar characteristics seen in 2011, before intravenous iron was available, revealing a 17% reduction in blood transfusion needs (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: The use of intravenous iron in elderly patients with hip fracture may help to reduce the number of blood units needed for the treatment of anaemia, although a causal relationship cannot be established due to not having a control group. Transfusions were associated with longer hospital stay in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Spanish list of potentially inappropriate drugs in the elderly (ES-PIA project).

PURPOSE: In the last decades, different criteria have been developed for detecting inappropriate prescription in older patients. In Spain, translations and adaptations of international lists are available but it would be necessary a national list which could cope with the peculiarities of our health system, existing pharmaceutical market, and prescription habits. We propose in this project the creation of a Spanish potentially inappropriate drugs list which could be applicable in our clinical scenario. METHODS: We use a Delphi method involving 25 experts from different backgrounds (Clinical Pharmacology, Geriatrics, Rational Use of Drugs and Pharmacy, Primary Care and Pharmacoepidemiology, and Pharmacovigilance) that were asked to participate in two-round questionnaires. For analysis, current recommendations of Worth and Pigni were applied, and every statement was classified into one of three groups: strong, moderate, or low agreement. Statements with strong agreement were accepted to be part of the inadequate prescription list. Moderate agreement statements were selected to enter the second questionnaire, and statements with low agreement were further analyzed to determine if it was due to heterogeneity or due to dispersion in the answers. RESULTS: The first questionnaire consisted of 160 proposed sentences, of which 106 reached a high agreement, 32 a moderate agreement, and 22 a low agreement. All sentences proposed in the second questionnaire reached a strong agreement. The total accepted sentences were 138. CONCLUSIONS: We offer a list of inadequate prescription in older patients adapted to the Spanish pharmacopeia and according to the prescription habits in our environment.

Health Literacy and Health Outcomes in Very Old Patients With Heart Failure.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Health literacy (HL) has been associated with lower mortality in heart failure (HF). However, the results of previous studies may not be generalizable because the research was conducted in relatively young and highly-educated patients in United States settings. This study assessed the association of HL with disease knowledge, self-care, and all-cause mortality among very old patients, with a very low educational level. METHODS: This prospective study was performed in 556 patients (mean age, 85 years), with high comorbidity, admitted for HF to the geriatric acute-care unit of 6 hospitals in Spain. About 74% of patients had less than primary education and 71% had preserved systolic function. Health literacy was assessed with the Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish-speaking Adults questionnaire, knowledge of HF with the DeWalt questionnaire, and HF self-care with the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale. RESULTS: Disease knowledge progressively increased with HL; compared with being in the lowest (worse) tertile of HL, the multivariable beta coefficient (95%CI) of the HF knowledge score was 0.60 (0.01-1.19) in the second tertile and 0.87 (0.24-1.50) in the highest tertile, P-trend = .008. However, no association was found between HL and HF self-care. During the 12 months of follow-up, there were 189 deaths. Compared with being in the lowest tertile of HL, the multivariable HR (95%CI) of mortality was 0.84 (0.56-1.27) in the second tertile and 0.99 (0.65-1.51) in the highest tertile, P-trend = .969. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between HL and 12-month mortality. This could be partly due to the lack of a link between HL and self-care.

The frailty syndrome is associated with adverse health outcomes in very old patients with stable heart failure: A prospective study in six Spanish hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Most studies on the association between the frailty syndrome and adverse health outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) have used non-standard definitions of frailty. This study examined the association of frailty, diagnosed by well-accepted criteria, with mortality, readmission and functional decline in very old ambulatory patients with HF. METHODS: Prospective study with 497 patients in six Spanish hospitals and followed up during one year. Mean (SD) age was 85.2 (7.3) years, and 79.3% had LVEF >45%. Frailty was diagnosed as having ≥3 of the 5 Fried criteria. Readmission was defined as a new episode of hospitalisation lasting >24h, and functional decline as an incident limitation in any activity of daily living at the 1-year visit. Statistical analyses were performed with Cox and logistic regression, as appropriate, and adjusted for the main prognostic factors at baseline. RESULTS: At baseline, 57.5% of patients were frail. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for mortality among frail versus non-frail patients was 1.93 (1.20-3.27). Mortality was higher among patients with low physical activity [1.64 (1.10-2.45)] or exhaustion [1.83 (1.21-2.77)]. Frailty was linked to increased risk of readmission [1.66 (1.17-2.36)] and functional decline [odds ratio 1.67 (1.01-2.79)]. Slow gait speed was related to functional decline [odds ratio 3.59 (1.75-7.34)]. A higher number of frailty criteria was associated with a higher risk of the three study outcomes (P trend<0.01 in each outcome). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was associated with increased risk of 1-year mortality, hospital readmission and functional decline among older ambulatory patients with HF.

[Geriatric intervention in elderly hip fracture patients admitted to University Hospital of Guadalajara: Clincal, healthcare and economical repercussions]. / Intervención geriátrica en el anciano ingresado por fractura de cadera en el Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara: repercusión clínica, asistencial y económica.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the healthcare outcomes and economic impact of geriatric intervention in patients over 75 years old with hip fracture in acute phase. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients admitted to the University Hospital of Guadalajara (HUGU) due to hip fracture. An analysis was made of the number of cases per year, preoperative period, hospital stay, and mortality of all the patients over 75 years admitted to the HUGU due to hip fracture between 2002 and 2013. RESULTS: A total of 2942 patients were included. Comparing the activity of 2013 to that of 2006, the mean hospital stay fell from 18.5 to 11.2 days (-39.2%), and mortality from 8.9% to 6.8% (-23%). In contrast, the mean preoperative stay remained at a mean of 2.7 days versus 2.4 in previous years in the early post-intervention period. Hospital stay decreased, despite a progressive annual increase in the daily cost of hospitalisation due to hip fracture surgery, the reduced stay led to a reduction of the total cost by more than 900,000 euros each year. Geriatric intervention has gradually reduced mean hospital stay and mortality, although with a tendency to increase mean preoperative stay. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric intervention in patients with hip fracture reduces mortality and length of hospital stay, and decreasing costs.