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Background@#The importance of digital technology is increasing among older adults. In this study, the digital health technology utilization status, purpose, and satisfaction of older adults were investigated according to frailty. @*Methods@#A face-to-face survey was conducted among adults aged 65 years or older. Frailty was defined using the Korean version of the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight scale. @*Results@#A total of 505 participants completed the survey, with 153 (30.3%) identified as pre-frail or frail and 352 (69.7%) as healthy. All respondents used smartphones; 440 (87.1%) were application users, and 290 (57.4%) were healthcare application users. Wearable devices were used by only 36 patients (7.1%). Pre-frail or frail respondents used social media more frequently than healthy respondents (19.4% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001). Among the respondents, 319 (63.2%) were not able to install or delete the application themselves, and 277 (54.9%) stated that the application was recommended by their children (or partner). Pre-frail and frail respondents used more healthcare applications to obtain health information (P = 0.002) and were less satisfied with wearable devices (P = 0.02). @*Conclusion@#The usage rate of digital devices, including mobile phones among older adults in Korea is high, whereas that of wearable devices is low. There was a notable difference in the services used by pre-frail and frail respondents compared to healthy respondents. Therefore, when developing digital devices for pre-frail and frail older adults, it is crucial to incorporate customized services that meet their unique needs, particularly those services that they frequently use.
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Background@#As the prevalence of hypertension increases with age and the proportion of the older population is also on the rise, research on the characteristics of older hypertensive patients and the importance of frailty is necessary. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of older hypertension in Korea and to investigate these characteristics based on frailty status. @*Methods@#The HOW to Optimize eLDerly systolic BP (HOWOLD-BP) is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial that aims to compare intensive (target systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≤ 130 mmHg) with standard (target SBP ≤ 140 mmHg) treatment to reduce cardiovascular events in older hypertensive Korean patients aged ≥ 65 years. Data were analyzed through a screening assessment of 2,085 patients recruited from 11 university hospitals. Demographic, functional (physical and cognitive), medical history, laboratory data, quality of life, and medication history of antihypertensive drugs were assessed. @*Results@#The mean age was 73.2 years (standard deviation ± 5.60), and 48.0% (n = 1,001) were male. Prevalent conditions included dyslipidemia (66.5%), obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m 2 , 53.6%), and diabetes (28.9%). Dizziness and orthostatic hypotension were self-reported by 1.6% (n = 33) and 1.2% (n = 24), respectively. The majority of patients were on two antihypertensive drugs (48.4%), while 27.5% (n = 574) and 20.8% (n = 433) were on 1 and 3 antihypertensive medications, respectively. Frail to pre-frail patients were older and also tended to have dependent instrumental activities of daily living, slower gait speed, weaker grip strength, lower quality of life, and lower cognitive function. The frail to pre-frail group reported more dizziness (2.6% vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001) and had concerning clinical factors, including lower glomerular filtration rate, more comorbidities such as diabetes, stroke, and a history of admission. Frail to pre-frail older hypertensive patients used slightly more antihypertensive medications than robust older hypertensive patients (1.95 vs. 2.06, P = 0.003). Pre-frail to frail patients often chose beta-blockers as a third medication over diuretics. @*Conclusion@#This study described the general clinical characteristics of older hypertensive patients in Korea. Frail hypertensive patients face challenges in achieving positive clinical outcomes because of multifactorial causes: they are older, have more morbidities, decreased function, lower quality of life and cognitive function, and take more antihypertensive medications. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively evaluate and monitor diseaserelated or drug-related adverse events more frequently during regular check-ups, which is necessary for pre-frail to frail older patients with hypertension.
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Sarcopenia refers to the progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function and is associated with falls, fractures, hospitalization, and even mortality. Owing to rapid population aging, the prevalence of sarcopenia is expected to increase, and this condition is increasingly gaining attention as an important topic in research and clinical settings. This review focuses on the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of sarcopenia.Current Concepts: Diagnosis of sarcopenia can be confirmed based on low muscle mass accompanied by low muscle strength, or low physical performance. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines are commonly used in clinical practice. Intrinsic factors associated with skeletal muscles, such as inflammation, anabolic resistance, mitochondria, and neuromuscular junctions, combined with extrinsic factors associated with the systemic environment, including decreased endocrine function, malnutrition, and immobilization all play a role in impaired muscle anabolism, muscle atrophy, and weakness. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any specific medications for treatment of sarcopenia. Therefore, non-pharmacological interventions such as aerobic, resistance, and combined exercise and appropriate nutrition (protein and essential amino acids) are important for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.Discussion and Conclusion: Sarcopenia is a manageable target for improvement of overall health outcomes. Exercise and nutrition are essential components of nonpharmacological management of sarcopenia. Future studies are needed to identify early diagnostic biomarkers and pharmacologic targets and to develop consistent pre-emptive management strategies and sensitive measures to predict effectiveness of sarcopenia management and treatment response.
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The incidence of hematologic malignancy increases with age; thus, the number of older patients who require intensive chemotherapy is expected to increase with the aging population. In Korea, 61.8%, 59.3%, 47.0%, and 46.7% of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorder, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively, occurred in patients aged ＞65 years in 2018. Health status among older patients, defined by frailty, age-related syndrome of physiological decline and increased vulnerability, is associated with adverse health outcomes. Health status is highly heterogeneous among older patients, and treatment outcomes vary according to frailty and physiologic age rather than chronologic age. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment process that identifies multiple domains, including functional status, cognition, comorbidities, medications, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status, to develop a coordinated plan to improve treatment-related outcomes and quality of life. Frailty can be assessed with CGA findings, and CGA is considered the “gold standard of care” for frail, older patients. Through CGA, unidentified problems can be assessed, and pre-emptive and non-oncologic interventions can be delivered. CGA is an objective and reliable tool for predicting further treatment-related complications and identifying patients for whom intensive chemotherapy with curative intent is appropriate. CGA should be considered a routine practice before starting treatment planning in older patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies who require intensive chemotherapy. Further study is needed to allocate individualized treatment plans or multidisciplinary geriatric interventions according to CGA results.
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Background/Aims@#Drugs with anticholinergic properties (DAPs) are associated with adverse health outcomes in older patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the factors that determine the prescribing of more DAPs in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) in Korea. In addition, the current patterns of DAP prescription were explored using a novel platform, which can collect data from LTCHs. @*Methods@#This was a Health-RESPECT (integrated caRE Systems for elderly PatiEnts using iCT) sub-study, which is a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, controlled trial. The Health-RESPECT platform was used to collect prescribed medication data of 466 patients (aged ≥ 65 years) from seven LTCHs. DAPs were identified using the Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale (KABS). Physical frailty, cognitive function, functional status, and quality of life were evaluated. @*Results@#Among 466 LTCH patients, 88.8% (n = 414) were prescribed DAPs, and the prevalence of high KABS (≥ 3) was 70.4% (n = 328). The drugs that contributed most to the total KABS were quetiapine (20.7%), chlorpheniramine (19.5%), tramadol (9.8%), cimetidine (5.8%), and furosemide (3.6%). Polypharmacy, higher body mass index, less dependence, better communication and cognitive functions, and poorer quality of life were associated with high KABS. @*Conclusions@#Although the patients with a high burden of DAPs were less dependent and had better cognitive and communication functions, they had poorer quality of life. DAP use in LTCH patients should be monitored carefully, and the risk/ benefit relationship for their use should be considered.
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Objective@#The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. @*Conclusion@#This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.
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Objective@#The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. @*Conclusion@#This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.
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Background@#Reducing the total anticholinergic burden (AB) in older adults is recommended owing to the several peripheral and central adverse effects. This study aimed to identify the AB status of patients admitted to geriatric centers for assessing the influence of the pharmacist-involved multidisciplinary geriatric team care on reducing the AB. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 older patients hospitalized in geriatric centers from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, who received comprehensive geriatric assessment and pharmaceutical interventions from a multidisciplinary geriatric team. We measured the total AB scores for the medications at the time of admission and upon hospital discharge using the Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale (KABS). The pre-admission factors associated with high AB (KABS score ≥3) at the time of admission were identified. @*Results@#The proportion of patients with high AB significantly decreased from 41.8% (136/328) at the time of admission to 25.0% (82/328) on discharge (p<0.001). The pre-admission AB of patients transferred from skilled nursing facilities (odds ratio[OR]: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.26- 3.75), taking more than 10 medications (OR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.55-8.82), suffering from delirium (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.04-7.50), or depression (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.04-7.41) were significantly high. Antipsychotics were the most frequent classes of drugs that contributed to the total KABS score at the time of admission, followed by antihistamines. @*Conclusions@#This study demonstrated that the multidisciplinary teams for geriatric care are effective at reducing AB in older adults. The factors associated with high AB should be considered when targeting pharmaceutical care in geriatric individuals.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: The fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight (FRAIL) scale is a screening tool for frailty status using a simple 5-item questionnaire. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and validity of the Korean version of the FRAIL (K-FRAIL) scale. METHODS: Questionnaire items were translated and administered to 103 patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. In this cross-sectional study, the K-FRAIL scale was compared with the domains and the multidimensional frailty index of the comprehensive geriatric assessment. We also assessed the time required to complete the scale. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 76.8 years (standard deviation [SD], 6.1), and 55 (53.4%) were males. The mean overall frailty index was 0.19 (SD, 0.17). For K-FRAIL-robust, prefrail, and frail patients, the mean frailty indices were 0.09, 0.18, and 0.34, respectively (p for trend < 0.001). A higher degree of impairment in the K-FRAIL scale was associated with worse nutritional status, poor physical performance, functional dependence, and polypharmacy. The number of items with impairment in the K-FRAIL scale was positively associated with the frailty index (B = 3.73, p < 0.001). The K-FRAIL scale could differentiate vulnerability from robustness with a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.33. Of all patients, 75 (72.8%) completed the K-FRAIL scale within < 3 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The K-FRAIL scale is correlated with the frailty index and is a simple tool to screen for frailty in a clinical setting.
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Aged , Humans , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diagnosis , Fatigue , Geriatric Assessment , Mass Screening , Nutritional Status , Polypharmacy , Sensitivity and Specificity , Seoul , WalkingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to characterize PAH in pediatric patients by evaluating the patients demographics, clinical and hemodynamic variables, treatments, and outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients who were diagnosed with PAH at Seoul National University Children's Hospital between January 1985 and August 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There was no difference in gender distribution (males, 33; females, 32). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 5.7+/-5.2 years and the mean follow-up period was 6.3+/-5.5 years. The major causes of PAH were congenital heart disease (CHD) in 32 patients (49.2%) and idiopathic PAH in 11 patients (16.9%). The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea in 44 patients (67.7%). The mean cardiothoracic ratio was 58.9+/-8.3%, which decreased to 55.9+/-8.3% after vasodilator therapy (p=0.011). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure at the time of cardiac catheterization was 59.7+/-18.7 mmHg and the mean pulmonary vascular resistance was 14.9+/-9.7 wood units . m2. Forty-three of 65 patients (66.2%) had vasodilator therapy (prostacycline, sildenafil, and bosentan). A statistically significant decrease in tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity (4.8+/-0.8 m/sec vs. 3.6+/-1.0 m/sec, p=0.001), and an increase in diastolic dimension of the left ventricle (28.3+/-12.1 mm vs. 33.2+/-10.2 mm, p=0.021) on echocardiography before and after vasodilator therapy was demonstrated. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates were 96%, 92% and 65%, respectively. Six of 65 patients (9.2%) with PAH died. There was no significant correlation between outcome and the immediate response to the vasodilators. CONCLUSION: PAH is a devastating disease which is rare in children. PAH in children has a variable pattern cause and progression, the confirmation of which requires analysis of detailed registries from nationwide hospitals.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Arterial Pressure , Cardiac Catheterization , Cardiac Catheters , Demography , Dyspnea , Echocardiography , Follow-Up Studies , Heart Defects, Congenital , Heart Diseases , Heart Ventricles , Hemodynamics , Hypertension , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Piperazines , Prognosis , Purines , Rare Diseases , Registries , Retrospective Studies , Sulfones , Survival Rate , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency , Vascular Resistance , Vasodilator Agents , Wood , Sildenafil CitrateABSTRACT
No Abstract available.
Subject(s)
Diagnosis , Heart Defects, Congenital , Physical ExaminationABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Cardiology , Echocardiography , Prenatal Diagnosis , PrognosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease(CHD) has been made by fetal echocardiography and its clinical impact on the outcome of affected cases has been reported. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was performed by our study group for the fetal diagnosis of CHD, confirmed postnatally or at second study and/or at autopsy and/or follow up. 274 cases out of 8 centers operating fetal echocardiography in high risk pregnancies were analyzed and their outcome was analyzed according to the presence of associated factors and with respect to the types of the CHD. RESULTS: There were 179 cases of significant CHD, 72 cases of miscellaneous CHD, 23 cases of fetal arrhythmias. Significant CHD consisted of 42 cases of ventricular septal defect(VSD), 17 cases of heterotaxia induding asplenia and polysplenia, 15 cases of complete atrioventricular septal defect(AVSD), 15 cases of coarctation of aorta, 14 cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome(HLHS), 13 cases of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF), 11 cases of double outlet right ventricle(DORV). These 6 frequent CHDs consisted of 70.9% of significant CHD. The gestational age of the fetuses at diagnosis was 20-41 weeks(83 cases from 5 hospitals: Kangnam and Bundang CHA hospital, Ewha women's university hospital and Samsung medical center). 28.9%(24 out of 83 cases with known gestational age at diagnosis) had been diagnosed before 25 weeks of pregnancy. The most common indication of fetal echocardiography was abnormal obstetric ultrasound findings. Associated extracardiac and chromosomal anomaly was 27.9% and 11.7% respectively. The rate of termination of pregnancy(TOP)/significant CHD was 34.1%. Perinatal mortality was 39.7% induding 61 TOP, 5 fetal death in utero(FDIU), 4 neonatal death and 1 neonatal operative death. The most common factors of TOP were extracardiac and chromosomal anomaly. Five cases of d-transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum had been diagnosed prenatally at 3 hospitals, all of them had planned delivery and all survived arterial switch operation in the neonatal period. CONCLUSION: This study represents the impact of fetal echocardiograhpy on the outcome of CHD in Seoul and part of Kyung-Gi area in 1998. The data suggested that significant CHDs could be diagnosed accurately in most hospital But the prenatal detection rates of CHD were relatively low in several hospitil compared to the number of livebirth, probably due to inaccurate prenatal ultrasound screening.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Aortic Coarctation , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Arteries , Autopsy , Cardiology , Diagnosis , Echocardiography , Fetal Death , Fetus , Follow-Up Studies , Gestational Age , Heart , Heart Defects, Congenital , Mass Screening , Perinatal Mortality , Prenatal Diagnosis , Retrospective Studies , Seoul , Ultrasonography , Ventricular SeptumABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In acyanotic congenital heart disease of children with left to right shunt, 99mTc- Macroaggregate albumin (MAA) was employed to determine the scintigraphic severity of pulmonary parenchymal damage. METHODS: These data of lung perfusion scan using 99mTc-MAA were compared with hemodynamic values obtained from cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: The mean Pulmonary arterial pressure (> or = 30mmHg), total pulmonary resistance (> or = 2 Wood unit) & ratio of pulmonary vascular resistance/systemic resistance (Rp/Rs > or = 0.2) were proportionally related to higher perfusion ratio of upper and lower lung field. The diagnostic values of perfusion ratio of upper & lower field of both lung (cut off value > or = 0.8) for pulmonary hypertension were as follows : 60-65% of sensitivity, 75-90% of specificity, 72-86% of positive predictive value & 68-69% of negative predictive value. The mottled perfusion defect was frequently found in patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure > or = 30mmHg, Rp > or = 2 Wood unit). The degree of perfusion defect as indicator of severe pulmonary parenchymal damage was utilized clinically as determinator of operability and morbidity for acyanotic shunt lesions perioperatively. CONCLUSION: The scintigraphic severity determined by 99mTc-MAA lung perfusion scan could be valid for evaluating the extent of pulmonary parenchymal damage in acyanotic congenital heart disease complicated by pulmonary hypertension.
Subject(s)
Child , Child , Humans , Infant , Arterial Pressure , Cardiac Catheterization , Cardiac Catheters , Heart Defects, Congenital , Hemodynamics , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Lung , Perfusion , Sensitivity and Specificity , Syncope , WoodABSTRACT
No abstract available.