Positive health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey among community-dwelling older individuals in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) reached the Netherlands in February 2020. To minimize the spread of the virus, the Dutch government announced an "intelligent lockdown". Older individuals were urged to socially isolate completely, because they are at risk of a severe disease course. Although isolation reduces the medical impact of the virus, the non-medical impact should also be considered. AIM: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures on the six dimensions of Positive Health in community-dwelling older individuals living in the Netherlands, and to identify differences within subgroups. METHODS: In May/June 2020, community-dwelling older individuals aged ≥ 65 years completed an online survey based on Huber's model of Positive Health. Positive Health was measured regarding the appreciation of the six dimensions (categorized as poor/satisfactory/excellent) and a comparison with a year before (categorized as decreased/unchanged/increased) using frequencies (%) and a chi-square test. RESULTS: 834 older individuals participated (51% women, 38% aged ≥ 76 years, 35% living alone, 16% self-rated poor health). Most respondents assessed their bodily functions, mental well-being and daily functioning as satisfactory, their meaningfulness and quality of life (QoL) as excellent, and their social participation as poor. 12% of the respondents reported a deterioration of 4-6 dimensions and 73% in 1-3 dimensions, compared to the past year. Deterioration was most frequently experienced in the dimension social participation (73%), the dimension mental well-being was most frequently improved (37%) and quality of life was in 71% rated as unchanged. Women more often observed a deterioration of 4-6 dimensions than men (15% vs. 8%, p = 0.001), and individuals with self-rated poor health more often than individuals with self-rated good health (22% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Older individuals living alone experienced more frequently a decrease in meaningfulness compared to older individuals living together. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures had a substantial impact on all six dimensions of Positive Health in community-dwelling older individuals, especially in women, respondents living alone and respondents with self-rated poor general health.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on symptoms of anxiety and depression and health-related quality of life in older patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for a severe course of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and vulnerable to mental health problems. We aimed to investigate prevalence and associated patient (demographic and clinical) characteristics of mental wellbeing (health-related quality of life [HRQoL] and symptoms of depression and anxiety) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. METHODS: An ongoing Dutch multicentre prospective cohort study enrols patients of ≥70 years with an eGFR < 20 mL/min/1.73m2 from October 2018 onward. With additional questionnaires during the pandemic (May-June 2020), disease-related concerns about COVID-19 and general anxiety symptoms were assessed cross-sectionally, and depressive symptoms, HRQoL, and emotional symptoms longitudinally. RESULTS: The 82 included patients had a median age of 77.5 years (interquartile range 73.9-82.1), 77% were male and none had tested positive for COVID-19. Cross-sectionally, 67% of the patients reported to be more anxious about COVID-19 because of their kidney disease, and 43% of the patients stated that their quality of life was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to pre-COVID-19, the presence of depressive symptoms had increased (11 to 22%; p = .022) and physical HRQoL declined (M = 40.4, SD = 10.1 to M = 36.1, SD = 10.4; p < .001), particularly in males. Mental HRQoL (M = 50.3, SD = 9.6 to M = 50.4, SD = 9.9; p = .913) and emotional symptoms remained similar. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease suffered from disease-related anxiety about COVID-19, increased depressive symptoms and reduced physical HRQoL during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable patient group extends beyond increased mortality risk, and awareness of mental wellbeing is important. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR), trial number NL7104. Date of registration: 06-06-2018.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate as an independent prognostic marker for mortality: a prospective population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A very high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is usually an indication of underlying pathology. Additionally, a moderately elevated ESR may also be attributable to biological ageing. Whether the ESR is a prognostic factor for mortality, regardless of age, has been scarcely investigated. Therefore, the objective was to analyse the association between elevated ESR levels and the risk of mortality in a prospective cohort of the general population. METHODS: We studied data from the Rotterdam Study (1990-2014). ESR levels were measured at baseline and individuals were followed until death or end of study. Associations between moderately (20-50 mm h-1 ) and markedly (>50 mm h-1 ) elevated ESR levels and all-cause mortality were assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: In total, 5226 participants were included, and the mean age was 70.3 years. During a median follow-up time of 14.9 years, 3749 participants died (71.7%). After adjustment, both a moderately elevated ESR and a markedly elevated ESR were associated with a significantly higher risk of overall mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.35 and HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.38-2.60, respectively]. Although the ESR becomes higher with age, in a group aged above 75 years, without any comorbidities, an ESR > 20 mm h-1 remained associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality (HR 1.29, 95%CI 1.01-1.64). CONCLUSION: An elevated ESR is an independent prognostic factor for mortality. Despite the fact that ESR increases with age, it remains associated with an increased risk of mortality and warrants close follow-up.

Association of complement receptor 1 gene polymorphisms with cognitive function.

Previous evidence suggest involvement of the complement receptor 1 (CR1) in development of Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the association of CR1 gene polymorphisms with cognitive function in older subjects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the CR1 region on chromosome 1 ( n = 73) were assessed in 5,244 participants in the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (51.9% female, mean age 75.3 yr). Linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, country, and use of pravastatin, was used to assess the association between the SNPs and cognitive function. All 73 SNPs within the genomic region of the CR1 gene on chromosome 1 were extracted. Eighteen were independent, according to a relatively stringent R2 threshold of >0.8 with LDlink. Twelve of the 18 investigated CR1 SNPs were significantly associated with a decline in cognitive function (all P < 0.05). These data indicate that genetic variation within the CR1 gene is associated not only with Alzheimer's disease, but also with general cognitive function during late life.

Study protocol: a randomised controlled trial on the clinical effects of levothyroxine treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism in people aged 80 years and over.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical hypothyroidism is common in older people and its contribution to health and disease needs to be elucidated further. Observational and clinical trial data on the clinical effects of subclinical hypothyroidism in persons aged 80 years and over is inconclusive, with some studies suggesting harm and some suggesting benefits, translating into equipoise whether levothyroxine therapy provides clinical benefits. This manuscript describes the study protocol for the Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (IEMO) 80-plus thyroid trial to generate the necessary evidence base. METHODS: The IEMO 80-plus thyroid trial was explicitly designed as an ancillary experiment to the Thyroid hormone Replacement for Untreated older adults with Subclinical hypothyroidism randomised placebo controlled Trial (TRUST) with a near identical protocol and shared research infrastructure. Outcomes will be presented separately for the IEMO and TRUST 80-plus groups, as well as a pre-planned combined analysis of the 145 participants included in the IEMO trial and the 146 participants from the TRUST thyroid trial aged 80 years and over. The IEMO 80-plus thyroid trial is a multi-centre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group trial of levothyroxine treatment in community-dwelling participants aged 80 years and over with persistent subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH ≥4.6 and ≤ 19.9 mU/L and fT4 within laboratory reference ranges). Participants are randomised to levothyroxine 25 or 50 micrograms daily or matching placebo with dose titrations according to TSH levels, for a minimum follow-up of one and a maximum of three years. Primary study endpoints: hypothyroid physical symptoms and tiredness on the thyroid-related quality of life patient-reported outcome (ThyPRO) at one year. Secondary endpoints: generic quality of life, executive cognitive function, handgrip strength, functional ability, blood pressure, weight, body mass index, and mortality. Adverse events will be recorded with specific interest on cardiovascular endpoints such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. DISCUSSION: The combined analysis of participants in the IEMO 80-plus thyroid trial with the participants aged over 80 in the TRUST trial will provide the largest experimental evidence base on multimodal effects of levothyroxine treatment in 80-plus persons to date. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nederlands (Dutch) Trial Register: NTR3851 (12-02-2013), EudraCT: 2012-004160-22 (17-02-2013), ABR-41259.058.13 (12-02-2013).

Impaired cognition is associated with adverse outcome in older patients in the Emergency Department; the Acutely Presenting Older Patients (APOP) study.

Objective: to investigate whether cognitive impairment, measured early after Emergency Department (ED) arrival and irrespective of its cause, is independently associated with functional decline or mortality after 3 and 12 months in older ED patients. Design and setting: a prospective multi-centre cohort study in all Acutely Presenting Older Patients visiting the Emergency Department (APOP study) of three hospitals in the Netherlands. Participants: 2,130 patients, ≥70 years. Measurements: data on demographics, disease severity and geriatric characteristics were collected during the first hour of the ED visit. Cognition was measured using the 6-Item-Cognitive-Impairment-Test ('6CIT'). Cognitive impairment was defined as 6CIT ≥11, self-reported dementia or the inability to perform the cognition test. The composite adverse outcome after 3 and 12 months was defined as a 1-point decrease in Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL), new institutionalisation or mortality. Multivariable regression analysis was used to assess whether cognitive impairment independently associates with adverse outcome. Results: of 2,130 included patients, 588 (27.6%) had cognitive impairment at baseline and 654 patients (30.7%) suffered from adverse outcome after 3 months. Cognitive impairment associated with increased risk for adverse outcome (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.72, 95%CI 1.37-2.17). After 12 months, 787 patients (36.9%) suffered from adverse outcome. Again, cognitive impairment independently associated with increased risk for adverse outcome (adjusted OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.46-2.46). ORs were similar for patients who were discharged home versus hospitalised patients. Conclusion: cognitive impairment measured during the early stages of ED visit, irrespective of the cause, is independently associated with adverse outcome after 3 and 12 months in older patients.

Choosing relevant endpoints for older breast cancer patients in clinical trials: an overview of all current clinical trials on breast cancer treatment.

With the ongoing ageing of western societies, the proportion of older breast cancer patients will increase. For several years, clinicians and researchers in geriatric oncology have urged for new clinical trials that address patient-related endpoints such as functional decline after treatment of older patients. The aim of this study was to present an overview of trial characteristics and endpoints of all currently running clinical trials in breast cancer, particularly in older patients. The clinical trial register of the United States National Institutes of Health Differences was searched for all current clinical trials on breast cancer treatment. Trial characteristics and endpoints were retrieved from the register and differences in characteristics between studies in older patients specifically (defined as a lower age-limit of 60 years or older) and trials in all patients were assessed using χ(2) tests. We included 463 clinical trials. Nine trials (2 %) specifically investigated breast cancer treatment in older patients. Ninety-one breast cancer trials included any patient-related endpoint (20 %), while five trials specifically addressing older patients included any patient-related endpoint (56 %, P = 0.02). Five of the trials in older patients incorporated a geriatric assessment (56 %). Clinical trials still rarely incorporate patient-related endpoints, even in trials that specifically address older patients. Trials that are specifically designed for older patients do not often incorporate a geriatric assessment in their design. This implicates that current clinical studies are not expected to fill the gap in knowledge concerning treatment of older breast cancer patients in the next decade.

Circulating interleukin-6 concentration and cognitive decline in old age: the PROSPER study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has a role in cardiovascular disease, but the association of IL-6 concentration and the functional IL-6 -174 polymorphism with cognitive decline has not been demonstrated unequivocally. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between both high concentration of IL-6 and the -174 promoter polymorphism, and increased cognitive decline in old age. METHODS: Over 5000 participants of the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) with a mean age of 75 years and a history of cardiovascular disease or its risk factors were included in this study. We determined baseline concentrations of IL-6 and genotype of the IL-6 -174 polymorphism, of which the C allele was previously shown to be associated with higher circulating concentrations of IL-6. A cognitive test battery was administered at baseline and repeatedly during follow-up (mean 39 months). RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analysis of 5653 participants, higher IL-6 concentration was associated with worse executive cognitive function (P < 0.001), independent of cardiovascular disease status and risk factors. No association was found between IL-6 concentration and memory function (P > 0.14). In the prospective analysis, higher IL-6 concentration was associated with an increased rate of cognitive decline in both executive function (P = 0.002) and memory function (P = 0.002), again independent of cardiovascular disease status and risk factors. Although not associated with IL-6 concentrations, the IL-6 -174 CC genotype was associated with worse performance on the Stroop test (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Higher circulating levels of IL-6 were associated with worse cognitive function and steeper cognitive decline and provide preliminary genetic evidence for a potential causal association. The findings support the importance of the need for further investigation of the IL-6 pathway in cognitive decline.

Biomarkers of the ageing immune system and their association with frailty - A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Ageing is associated with several physiological changes, including changes in the immune system. Age-related changes in the innate and adaptive immune system are thought to contribute to frailty. Understanding the immunological determinants of frailty could help to develop and deliver more effective care to older people. This systematic review aims to study the association between biomarkers of the ageing immune system and frailty. METHODS: The search strategy was performed in PubMed and Embase, using the keywords "immunosenescence", "inflammation", "inflammaging" and "frailty". We included studies that investigated the association of biomarkers of the ageing immune system and frailty cross-sectionally in older adults, without an active disease that affects immune parameters. Three independent researchers selected the studies and performed data extraction. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: A total of 44 studies, with a median number of 184 participants, was included. Study quality was good in 16 (36 %), moderate in 25 (57 %) and poor in 3 (7 %) of studies. The most frequently studied inflammaging biomarkers were IL-6, CRP and TNF-α. Associations with frailty were observed for increased levels of (i) IL-6 in 12 of 24 studies, (ii) CRP in 7 of 19 studies, and (ii) TNF-α in 4 of 13 studies. In none of the other studies were associations observed of frailty with these biomarkers. Different types of T-lymphocyte subpopulations were studied but each subset was studied only once, and the study sample sizes were low. CONCLUSION: Our review of 44 studies on the relation between immune biomarkers and frailty identified IL-6 and CRP as the biomarkers that were most consistently associated with frailty. T-lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated but too infrequently to draw strong conclusions yet, although initial results are promising. Additional studies are required in order to further validate these immune biomarkers in larger cohorts. Furthermore, prospective studies in more uniform settings and larger cohorts are needed to further investigate the association with immune candidate biomarkers for which potential associations with ageing and frailty were previously observed, before these can be used in clinical practice to help assess frailty and improve the care treatments of older patients.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy shows lower intramyocellular lipid accumulation in middle-aged subjects predisposed to familial longevity.

Families predisposed to longevity show enhanced glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity compared with controls, independent of body composition and physical activity. Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation in skeletal muscle has been associated with insulin resistance. Here, we assessed whether subjects enriched for familial longevity have lower IMCL levels. We determined IMCL levels in 48 subjects from the Leiden Longevity Study, comprising 24 offspring of nonagenarian siblings and 24 partners thereof as control subjects. IMCL levels were assessed noninvasively using short echo time proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) of the tibialis anterior muscle with a 7 Tesla human MR scanner. IMCL levels were calculated relative to the total creatine (tCr) CH3 signal. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). After correction for age, sex, BMI, and physical activity, offspring of long-lived nonagenarian siblings tended to show lower IMCL levels compared with controls (IMCL/tCr: 3.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.5 ± 0.5, respectively, P = 0.051). In a pairwise comparison, this difference reached statistical significance (P = 0.038). We conclude that offspring of nonagenarian siblings predisposed to longevity show lower IMCL levels compared with environmentally matched control subjects. Future research should focus on assessing what mechanisms may explain the lower IMCL levels in familial longevity.

Geriatric characteristics and the risk of drug-related hospital admissions in older Emergency Department patients.

PURPOSE: Drug-Related Admissions (DRAs) are a well-known problem among older patients in the Emergency Department (ED). The aim of this study was (a) to investigate the prevalence and clinical manifestations of DRAs and the responsible drugs, (b) to study the association between geriatric characteristics and DRAs, and (c) to study the predictive performance of geriatric screeners for identifying DRAs in older ED patients. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 70 hospitalized from the ED were included. Demographics, geriatric characteristics and medications were collected. The the Acutely Presenting Older Patient (APOP)-screener, the Identification of Seniors At Risk (ISAR) and the ISAR-Hospitalized Patients (ISAR-HP) were used as geriatric screeners. Potential DRAs were identified retrospectively, the association between geriatric screeners and DRAs was investigated with logistic regression and the predictive performance was assessed by calculating the Area under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 78 (IQR 73-83), using an average of 6 medications. Out of 240 admissions, 77 (30%) were classified as a DRA. Independent risk factors for DRAs were polypharmacy (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.23-4.74) and the ADL dependency (OR 1.23; 95%CI 1.05-1.44). ISAR (OR 3.27; 95%CI 1.60-6.69) and ISAR-HP (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.02-3.27) associated with increased risk of DRAs, whereas the APOP screener did not (OR 1.56; 95% CI 0.82-2.97). The predictive performance of all geriatric screeners for predicting DRAs was poor (AUC for all screeners < 0.60). CONCLUSION: DRAs are highly prevalent in older ED patients. Polypharmacy, ADL dependency and a high ISAR or ISAR-HP are associated with higher risk for DRAs, but the predictive value of geriatric screeners is insufficient.

Mortality risk for different presenting complaints amongst older patients assessed with the Manchester triage system.

PURPOSE: Older people often present to the Emergency Department with nonspecific complaints. We aimed (1) to examine characteristics of older patients presenting to the ED triaged with the presentational flowchart 'unwell adult' of the Manchester triage system (MTS) and (2) to assess the different mortality and admission rates among triage categories. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including all consecutive patients aged 70 years and older who visited the ED of a tertiary care hospital in the Netherlands during a 1-year period. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were 7-day mortality, hospital admission and ED length of stay. RESULTS: 4255 patients were included in this study. Mean age was 78 years (IQR 73.9-83.4) and 2098 were male (49.3%). The MTS presentational flowchart 'unwell adult' was the most commonly used flowchart (n = 815, 19.3%). After the infrequent flowchart 'major trauma' (n = 9, 13.8%), 'unwell adult' had the highest 30-day mortality (n = 88, 10.8%). When compared to all other flowcharts, patients assigned as 'unwell adult' have significantly higher 30-day mortality rates (OR 1.89 (95%CI 1.46-2.46), p = < 0.001), also when adjusted for age, gender and triage priority (OR 1.75 (95%CI 1.32-2.31), p = < 0.001). Patients from the 'unwell adult' flowchart had the highest hospital admission rate (n = 540, 66.3%), and had among the longest ED length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Older ED patients are most commonly assigned the presentational flowchart 'unwell adult' when using the MTS. Patients in this category have the highest non-trauma mortality and highest hospital admission rates when compared to other presenting complaints.

Providing care for older adults in the Emergency Department: expert clinical recommendations from the European Task Force on Geriatric Emergency Medicine.

PURPOSE: Despite the rapidly expanding knowledge in the field of Geriatric Emergency Medicine in Europe, widespread implementation of change is still lacking. Many opportunities in everyday clinical care are missed to improve care for this susceptible and growing patient group. The aim was to develop expert clinical recommendations on Geriatric Emergency Medicine to be disseminated across Europe. METHODS: A group of multi-disciplinary experts in the field of Geriatric Emergency Medicine in Europe was assembled. Using a modified Delphi procedure, a prioritized list of topics related to Geriatric Emergency Medicine was created. Next, a multi-disciplinary group of nurses, geriatricians and emergency physicians performed a review of recent guidelines and literature to create recommendations. These recommendations were voted upon by a group of experts and placed on visually attractive posters. The expert group identified the following eight subject areas to develop expert recommendations on: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Emergency Department (ED), age/frailty adjusted risk stratification, delirium and cognitive impairment, medication reviews in the ED for older adults, family involvement, ED environment, silver trauma, end of life care in the acute setting. RESULTS: Eight posters with expert clinical recommendations on the most important topics in Geriatric Emergency Medicine are now available through https://posters.geriemeurope.eu/ . CONCLUSION: Expert clinical recommendations for Geriatric Emergency Medicine may help to improve care for older patients in the Emergency Department and are ready for dissemination across Europe.

Interplay of circulating leptin and obesity in cognition and cerebral volumes in older adults.

We aimed to investigate whether circulating leptin and body mass index (BMI) associate independently with cognitive function (decline) and brain volumes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease. We studied the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in participants enrolled in the PROSPER study (Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk). Cognitive function was tested at baseline and repeated during a mean follow-up time of 3.2 years. Analyses were performed with multivariable (repeated) linear regression models and adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular risk-factors, and stratified by sex. We included 5623 dementia-free participants (52 % female, mean age 75 years) with a mean BMI of 26.9 (SD = 4.1). In a sub-study, 527 participants underwent brain MRI. At baseline, individuals with a BMI > 30 had a worse performance on the Stroop test (ß 5.0 s, 95 %CI 2.6;7.5) and larger volumes of the amygdala (ß 234 mm3, 95 %CI 3;464) and hippocampus (ß 590 mm3, 95 %CI 181;999), independent of intracranial volume and serum leptin levels, compared with individuals with the reference BMI (BMI 18-25 kg/m2). Per log ng/mL higher serum leptin, independent of BMI, a 135 mm3 (95 %CI 2;268) higher volume of the amygdala was found, but no association was observed with cognitive tests nor with other brain volumes. Stratification for sex did not materially change the results. Whereas higher BMI associated with worse cognitive function independent of leptin levels, our study provided evidence that leptin and BMI independently associate with amygdala volume suggesting potential distinct biological associations.

Prediction admission in the older population in the Emergency Department: the CLEARED tool.

BACKGROUND: Length of stay (LOS) in the Emergency Department (ED) is correlated with an extended in-hospital LOS and may even increase 30-day mortality. Older patients represent a growing population in the ED and they are especially at risk of adverse outcomes. Screening tools that adequately predict admission could help reduce waiting times in the ED and reduce time to treatment. We aimed to develop and validate a clinical prediction tool for admission, applicable to the aged patient population in the ED. METHODS: Data from 7,606 ED visits of patients aged 70 years and older between 2012 and 2014 were used to develop the CLEARED tool. Model performance was assessed with discrimination using logistic regression and calibration. The model was internally validated by bootstrap resampling in Erasmus Medical Center and externally validated at two other hospitals, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) and Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC). RESULTS: CLEARED contains 10 predictors: body temperature, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, referral status, the Manchester Triage System category, and the need for laboratory or radiology testing. The internally validated area under the curve (AUC) was 0.766 (95% CI [0.759;0.781]). External validation in MST showed an AUC of 0.797 and in LUMC, an AUC of 0.725. CONCLUSIONS: The developed CLEARED tool reliably predicts admission in elderly patients visiting the ED. It is a promising prompt, although further research is needed to implement the tool and to investigate the benefits in terms of reduction of crowding and LOS in the ED.

The APOP screener and clinical outcomes in older hospitalised internal medicine patients.

BACKGROUND: Acutely hospitalised older patients with indications related to internal medicine have high risks of adverse outcomes. We investigated whether risk stratification using the Acutely Presenting Older Patient (APOP) screening tool associates with clinical outcomes in this patient group. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 70 years who visited the Emergency Department (ED) and were acutely hospitalised for internal medicine were followed prospectively. The APOP screener assesses demographics, physical and cognitive function at ED presentation, and predicts 3-month mortality and functional decline in the older ED population. Patients with a predicted risk ≥ 45% were considered 'high risk'. Clinical outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS), and adverse outcomes were mortality and functional decline, 3 and 12 months after hospitalisation. RESULTS: We included 319 patients, with a median age of 80 (IQR 74-85) years, of whom 94 (29.5%) were categorised as 'high risk' by the APOP screener. These patients had a longer hospital LOS compared to 'low risk' patients 5 (IQR 3-10) vs. 3 (IQR 1-7) days, respectively; p = 0.006). At 3 months, adverse outcomes were more frequent in 'high risk' patients compared to 'low risk' patients (59.6% vs. 34.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). At 12 months, adverse outcomes (67.0% vs. 46.2%, respectively; p = 0.001) and mortality (48.9% vs. 28.0%, respectively; p < 0.001) were greater in 'high risk' compared to 'low risk' patients. CONCLUSION: The APOP screener identifies acutely hospitalised internal medicine patients at high risk for poor short and long-term outcomes. Early risk stratification at admission could aid in individualised treatment decisions to optimise outcomes for older patients.

The kidney, subclinical thyroid disease and cardiovascular outcomes in older patients.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid hormones have been implicated to play a role in cardiovascular disease, along with studies linking thyroid hormone to kidney function. The aim of this study is to investigate whether kidney function modifies the association of subclinical thyroid dysfunction and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: In total, 5804 patients were included in the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). For the current analysis, 426 were excluded because of overt thyroid disease at baseline or 6 months, 266 because of inconsistent thyroid function at baseline and 6 months, 294 because of medication use that could influence thyroid function, and 16 because of missing kidney or thyroid values. Participants with normal fT4 were classified, based on TSH both at inclusion and 6 months, into three groups: subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH >4.5 mIU/L); euthyroidism (TSH = 0.45-4.5 mIU/L); and subclinical hyperthyroidism (TSH <0.45 mIU/L). Strata of kidney function were made based on estimated glomerular filtration rate into three clinically relevant groups: <45, 45-60, and >60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The primary endpoint consists of death from coronary heart disease, non-fatal myocardial infarction and (non)fatal stroke. RESULTS: Mean age was 75.3 years, and 49.0% patients were male. Mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Of all participants, 109 subjects (2.2%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 4573 (94.0%) had euthyroidism, and 182 (3.7%) subclinical hyperthyroidism. For patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, euthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism, primary outcome occurred in 9 (8.3%), 712 (15.6%), and 23 (12.6%) patients, respectively. No statistically significant relationship was found between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and primary endpoint with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.51 (0.24-1.07) comparing subclinical hyperthyroidism and 0.90 (0.58-1.39) comparing subclinical hypothyroidism with euthyroidism. Neither was this relationship present in any of the strata of kidney function, nor did kidney function interact with subclinical thyroid dysfunction in the association with primary endpoint (P interaction = 0.602 for subclinical hyperthyroidism and 0.388 for subclinical hypothyroidism). CONCLUSIONS: In this secondary analysis from PROSPER, we found no evidence that the potential association between thyroid hormones and cardiovascular disease is modified by kidney function in older patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

Optimization of the APOP screener to predict functional decline or mortality in older emergency department patients: Cross-validation in four prospective cohorts.

INTRODUCTION: Many screening instruments to predict adverse health outcomes in older patients visiting the emergency department (ED) have been developed, but successful implementation has been hampered because they are insufficiently validated or not tailored for the intended use of everyday clinical practice. The present study aims to refine and validate an existing screening instrument (the APOP screener) to predict 90-day functional decline or mortality in older ED patients. METHODS: Consecutive older patients (≥70 years) visiting the EDs of four hospitals were included and prospectively followed. First, an expert panel used predefined criteria to decide which independent predictors (including demographics, illness severity and geriatric parameters) were suitable for refinement of the model predicting functional decline or mortality after 90 days. Second, the model was cross-validated in all four hospitals and predictive performance was assessed. Additionally, a pilot study among triage nurses experiences and clinical usability of the APOP screener was conducted. RESULTS: In total 2629 older patients were included, with a median age of 79 years (IQR 74-84). After 90 days 805 patients (30.6%) experienced functional decline or mortality. The refined prediction model included age, gender, way of arrival, need of regular help, need help in bathing/showering, hospitalization the prior six months and impaired cognition. Calibration was good and cross-validation was successful with a pooled area under the curve of 0.71 (0.69-0.73). In the top 20% patients predicted to be at highest risk in total 58% (95%CI 54%-62%) experienced functional decline or mortality. Triage nurses found the screener well suited for clinical use, with room for improvement. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, optimization of the APOP screener resulted in a short and more simplified screener, which adequately identifies older ED patients at highest risk for functional decline or mortality. The findings of the pilot study were promising for clinical use.

Regret about the decision to start dialysis: a cross-sectional Dutch national survey.

BACKGROUND: More older patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are starting dialysis. Elderly patients often prefer treatments that focus on quality of life rather than primarily extending life and a substantial group of elderly dialysis patients might regret their decision to start dialysis. Healthcare provider and patient-related factors may be involved. Our objective was to measure the percentage of patients in the Netherlands who regretted their decision to start dialysis. METHODS: Cross-sectional Dutch national survey of dialysis patients. A short questionnaire about age, satisfaction with pre-dialysis education, present treatment, dialysis initiation, regret about decision to start dialysis and key figures in decision-making was developed. RESULTS: A total of 1371 questionnaires were returned for analysis from 28 dialysis units. Of the patients 7.4% regretted their decision to start dialysis, 50.5% reported the nephrologist's opinion to be crucial in decision-making and these patients experienced more regret than those who made the decision themselves (odds ratio, OR: 1.81). When family influenced decision-making more regret was experienced compared with those who decided themselves (OR: 2.73). Older age was associated with less regret (p = 0.02) and higher treatment satisfaction (p < 0.001); 52.8% of participants described dialysis initiation as being sudden. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients did not regret their decision to start dialysis. Older patients were more satisfied with their treatment and felt less regret. The nephrologist's and the family's opinion were directional in decision-making on ESRD treatment options and were associated with more regret, especially in younger patients.

Optimising the ISAR-HP to screen efficiently for functional decline in older patients.

INTRODUCTION: The Identification of Seniors At Risk-Hospitalised Patients (ISAR-HP) has recently been included in guidelines as a frailty indicator to identify patients for comprehensive geriatric assessment. Previous studies showed that the conventional cut-off score incorrectly classifies a high percentage of patients as high risk. We aimed to optimise the predictive value of ISAR-HP by using different cut-offs in older acutely hospitalised patients. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study was performed in two Dutch hospitals. Acutely hospitalised patients aged ≥ 70 years were included. Demographics, illness severity parameters, geriatric measurements and the ISAR-HP scores were obtained at baseline. The primary outcome was a combined end point of functional decline or mortality during 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: In total 765 acutely hospitalised older patients were included, with a median age of 79 years, of whom 276 (36.1%) experienced functional decline or mortality. The conventional ISAR-HP cut-off of ≥ 2 assigned 432/765 patients (56.5%) as high risk, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.49 (95%CI 0.45-0.54) and a negative predictive value of 0.81 (95%CI 0.76-0.85). Thus, 51% of those whom the ISAR-HP denoted as high risk did not experience the outcome of interest. Raising the cut-off to ≥ 4 assigned 205/765 patients (26.8%) as high risk, with a marginally increased PPV to 0.55 (95%CI 0.48-0.62). CONCLUSION: The ISAR-HP with the conventional cut-off of ≥ 2 incorrectly identifies a large group of patients at high risk for functional decline or mortality and raising the cut-off to 4 only marginally improved performance. Caution is warranted to ensure efficient screening and follow-up interventions.