Association of Preoperative Geriatric Assessment With Length of Stay After Combined Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: For older patients undergoing cardiac surgery, geriatric factors are known to increase postoperative complications and prolong length of stay (LOS). Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is an evidence-based method for geriatric evaluation to develop an individualized-care plan to optimize physical, functional, and social issues. This study analyzed the association between preoperative CGA and hospital LOS after combined cardiac surgery. METHODS: This retrospective monocentric study included all patients aged 75 years and greater who underwent combined cardiac surgery between 2014 and 2017. Hospital LOS, intensive care unit LOS, and postoperative complications were compared between patients with or without preoperative CGA before and after propensity-score matching. RESULTS: Mean age of the 407 patients was 79.6 years; 114 underwent a preoperative CGA (28%). For 305 patients (74.9%), coronary artery bypass was associated with aortic valve replacement. After propensity-score matching, a significant difference was found between the 2 groups (preoperative CGA versus none) for in-hospital LOS (12 versus 13 days; P = .04) and intensive care unit LOS (3 versus 4 days; P = .01). In multivariable analysis, a significant association remained between hospital LOS and CGA (P = .02), renal function (P = .02), mitral replacement (P = .001), and complications (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results favor the use of systematic preoperative CGA. These encouraging results need to be validated by prospective studies that assess the impact of individualized-care plan established after CGA on postoperative outcomes. With an aging population, efforts are required to determine how to implement preoperative individualized-care plans to improve postoperative outcomes for vulnerable patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

[Geriatric units at the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic in France]. / Les unités de gériatrie au début de l'épidémie du Covid-19 de 2020 en France.

The COVID-19 epidemic that started in November in China became a national epidemic from March 16, 2020 with the declaration of population containment in order to reduce the spread of the virus in France. From March 17 to March 27, 2020, the monitoring unit of the French society of geriatrics and gerontology decided to conduct a survey to analyze the implementation of the mobilization of geriatric units, given that this epidemic had shown that it resulted in excess mortality mainly among the elderly. The survey was able to bring together the response of 34 services, nine of which were located in a high epidemic cluster zone. Dedicated acute geriatric units for patients infected with COVID-19 were present in eight facilities, only outside the cluster zones. Nine geriatric follow-up and rehabilitation services were dedicated, an additional telemedicine activity concerned 35% of the facilities, and family listening and tablet communication facilities concerned 36% of the facilities. This survey is a snapshot of an initial moment in the epidemic. It provides an opportunity to describe the context in which this epidemic occurred in terms of geriatric policy, and to assess the responsiveness and inventiveness of these services in meeting the needs of the elderly.

[Assessment of the population at risk of hyperkalemia]. / Évaluation de la population à risque d'hyperkaliémie.

Potassium is involved in the voltage and excitability of the myocytes. Its homeostasis is dependent on dietary intake and its predominant renal elimination. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulates its elimination. Acute and chronic hyperkalemia is a risk factor for cardiac mortality. Chronic renal failure and heart failure are the major comorbidities. RAAS inhibitor therapies are the major iatrogenic factors in hyperkalemia. Approximately 90% of patients with hyperkalemia are over 50 years of age and 43% are over 75 years of age. Only 4.9% of hyperkalemias are managed with resin therapy. One-third of patients have 3 comorbidities, and 14% have 5 or more comorbidities. The main comorbidities are hypertension (74.0%), dyslipidemia (56.3%), renal failure (55.2%), diabetes (44.7%), coronary artery disease such as angina and myocardial infarction (23.3%) and heart failure (12%). It should be noted that 2/3 of the patients receiving resins were also receiving ARBSIs and tended to have more co-morbidities. Hyperkalemia is underestimated and requires strict monitoring in patients with renal failure or heart failure. Resins are not suitable for long-term adherence and new therapies such as patiromer would reduce the risk of hyperkalemia.