Indicators of resilience and healthcare outcomes: findings from the 2010 health and retirement survey.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that higher levels of resilience indicators are associated with lower overall healthcare utilization (HCU) as well as improvements in self-rated health (SRH), we analyzed a representative sample of 4562 adults 50-70 years old enrolled in the US 2010 health and retirement survey. METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for high versus low resilience in relation to HCU and SRH improvements over 2 years. Resilience indicators included: cumulative lifetime adversity, social support, global mastery and domain-specific mastery. Cumulative lifetime adversity was defined as 0, 1-2, 3-4 or 5+ events. HCU included hospitalization (any vs. none) and physician visits (< 20 vs. ≥ 20) over 2 years. FINDINGS: Hospitalization odds declined by 25 % (OR 0.75, 95 %CI 0.64-0.86), odds of ≥ 20 physician visits declined by 47 % (OR 0.53, 95 % CI 0.45-0.63) and the odds of SRH improvement increased by 49 % (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.17-1.88) for respondents with high versus low health mastery. Cumulative lifetime adversity manifested a dose-dependent positive relationship with HCU. Specifically, hospitalization odds was, respectively, 25, 80 and 142 % elevated for participants that reported 1-2, 3-4 and 5+ versus 0 lifetime adversities. High versus low global, financial and health mastery, respectively, predicted improved SRH, lower physician's visits and hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: In this sample of adults near or in retirement, resilience predicted lower HCU and improved SRH. Resilience is a dynamic state that can be enhanced in adults with positive impacts on subjective well-being and HCU.

The application of Belmont Report principles to policy development.

Attention to ethical issues is a routine part of medical research. In this article, we propose that health policy development, like research, include a formal review of these issues. Ethical knowledge is a critical component of epistemology and inherent in development of laws and principles of justice. However, we cannot assume that new policies are subject to a formal ethics review. The Belmont Report of 1978 provides a platform for this process. Prior to the Belmont Report, there was no foundation defining this process in medical research. Based on this history, we propose that health care payment policy development include a formal assessment of risks and benefits using an approach that is familiar to all researchers.

Influencing public policy to improve the lives of older Americans.

Aging of the U.S. population raises numerous public policy issues about which gerontological researchers, policy experts, and practitioners have much to contribute. However, the means by which aging-related public policy is influenced are not always apparent. Drawing on experience working in the U.S. Senate and other settings as Health and Aging Policy Fellows, the authors outline the formal and informal processes by which public policy is shaped in the U.S. Congress. Many who seek to influence public policy do so by telling legislators what they want. A less obvious path to policy influence is for gerontologists to offer their expertise to legislators and their staff. The authors provide specific recommendations for how gerontologists can establish productive and ongoing relationships with key legislative players. The authors also emphasize the importance of collaboration with advocacy groups and with local and state stakeholders to advance aging-related public policy to improve the lives of older Americans.

Cost-effectiveness of genotype-guided warfarin therapy for anticoagulation in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), anticoagulation with warfarin decreases the risk of embolic stroke by >50%. Identification of genetic polymorphisms in enzymes involved in the metabolism of warfarin can partially predict the maintenance dose and thus potentially decrease the incidence of bleeding episodes secondary to warfarin overdose. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential clinical and economic outcomes of genotype-guided warfarin therapy in elderly patients newly diagnosed with AF and to identify a threshold in bleeding risk at which such therapy may be cost-effective. METHODS: A decision tree was designed to represent the medical decision (pharmacogenetic testing or not) and the main clinical outcomes (embolic stroke, bleeding). Event rates of embolic stroke and bleeding complications were based on data from previously published clinical trials and an observational study, respectively; costs were from a third-party payer perspective; and utilities were from the patient perspective. It was assumed that use of pharma-cogenetic testing would not lead the clinician to make any potentially harmful modifications to the regimen. RESULTS: This analysis found that any reduction in major bleeding as a result of pharmacogenetic testing would lead to improved utility. The higher costs of pharmacogenetic testing compared with no testing would be immediately offset by any reduction in major bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: In this decision analysis, genotype-guided warfarin therapy for anticoagulation in elderly patients with AF was potentially cost-effective, and its benefits were closely related to efficacy in preventing bleeding events. Clinical trials testing the efficacy of genotype-guided warfarin therapy are warranted.

From the hospital to the nursing home: the 75% rule and the transfer process.

This has been a commentary on the implications of policy changes for nursing homes and rehabilitation hospital admissions. Only time will show how greatly this will affect the nursing home. However, since the 2004 implementation of the 75% Rule, nursing homes have already seen a jump in patients who are more acutely ill and have multiple medical needs. To lessen the potential burden of these changes on patient safety and comfort and to increase family satisfaction with care, we propose the following steps be considered. 1. We need better integration between hospital and nursing homes. Indeed, a strategic alliance between hospitals and nursing homes would be something that we should consider sooner rather than later. 2. All providers should understand that this is a continued push by both private and government insurance to get the patient out of the hospital sooner. As a result, patients will be discharged either to the rehab hospital or to the nursing home "sicker and quicker." 3. The implementation of the 75% Rule will probably result in a decreased use of rehab hospitals and an increased use of the nursing home. 4. In looking even further into the future, the nursing homes themselves are likely to be under continued pressure to get patients out of the nursing home more quickly. This in turn will result in what we consider the next big thing-home care.

Suboptimal medication use and mortality in an older adult community-based cohort: results from the Hispanic EPESE Study.

BACKGROUND: Numerous methods have been used to evaluate medication management quality in older adults; however, their predictive validities are unknown. Major medication quality indicators include polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, and inappropriate medication use. To date, no study has attempted to evaluate the three approaches systematically or the effect of each approach on mortality in a Hispanic population. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, and inappropriate medication use on the mortality of a community-based population of Mexican American older adults. METHODS: We used a life table survival analysis of a longitudinal survey of a representative sample of 3,050 older Mexican Americans of whom 1,823 were taking prescription and over-the-counter medications. RESULTS: After adjustment for relevant covariates, use of more than four different medications (polypharmacy) was independently associated with mortality. The presence of major drug interactions and the use of inappropriate medications were not significantly associated with mortality in our study sample. CONCLUSION: Polypharmacy (>4 medications) is significantly associated with mortality in Mexican American older adults. This community-based study is the first to demonstrate a direct association between polypharmacy and mortality in this population.

A co-twin control study of physical function in elderly African America women.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated variables associated with physical functioning limitations among elderly African American women, controlling for genetics and common family environment. METHOD: Activities of daily living limitations (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living limitations (IADL) are examined in 180 pairs of African American elderly twins using a co-twin control design. The association of chronic disease, other physical problems, lifestyle, and demographic factors with both measures are investigated. RESULTS: Arthritis, hypertension, and more than 1 chronic disease are associated with ADL limitations and arthritis; diabetes, heart attack, and more than 1 chronic disease are associated with IADL limitations in univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, a different set of additional variables is associated with the two measures. DISCUSSION: Among elderly African American women, physical functioning limitations are influenced by the presence of chronic diseases, other physical problems, lifestyle, and demographics. These associations are not due to genetics or common family environment effects.

Barriers to and benefits of leisure time physical activity in the elderly: differences across cultures.

The purpose of this study was to compare ethnic differences in attitudes toward barriers and benefits of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in sedentary elderly Mexican (MAs) and European Americans (EAs). An in-home, cross-sectional survey was performed on 210 community-dwelling elders from 10 primary care practices in south Texas that are part of the South Texas Ambulatory Research Network, a practice-based research network. Analytical variables included ethnicity, age, sex, income, education, marital status, and LTPA. Fisher exact test was used to analyze the 100 sedentary elders (LTPA <500 kcal/wk; 63 MAs and 37 EAs). Self-consciousness and lack of self-discipline, interest, company, enjoyment, and knowledge were found to be the predominant barriers to LTPA in both groups. Both groups held similar beliefs about benefits gained from exercise, such as improved self-esteem, mood, shape, and health, but the beliefs about the positive benefits of exercise were more prevalent in MAs. These findings remained after adjusting for age, income, education, marital status, and sex. Some might think that a major barrier lies in misconception about benefits of LTPA, but in this study, both ethnic groups were accurate in their perceived benefits of LTPA. When attempting to engage elderly in LTPA, it is important not only to consider what barriers exist but also what beliefs about the benefits exist.