[Multimorbidity in patient's care - definitions, strategies and limitations]. / Multimorbidität im Versorgungsalltag ­ Definitionen, Strategien und Grenzen.

The challenge of multimorbidity, the occurrence of multiple medical conditions, lies in its complexity, considering their type and severity, their interactions, and the patient's social status and characteristics. Although the number of combinations appears unlimited, there emerge so-called multimorbidity patterns, that group diseases, that often coincide.The prevalence of multimorbidity will increase dramatically because of the demographic change and the medical progress, leading to exploding costs in healthcare. The definition and the therapeutic approaches of the field are ambiguous, while it also lacks an established assessment.The complex needs of a patient with multimorbidity are not addressed appropriately with the established one-disease-approach. Clinical guidelines can suggest conflicting treatment strategies, which result in decision dilemmas in daily work.Time, communication and decisions adapted to the patient's situation are the key to a successful treatment of multimorbidity. An integrated approach must be based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Action strategies and the integration of guidelines are needed and will support the clinician during the decision-making processes. Furthermore, clinical studies should include older adults with multimorbidity and should particularly consider their relevant outcomes.Geroscience is a new research area that addresses the hallmarks of aging with therapeutic approaches to delay or even avoid the onset of multimorbidity.

Risk of Exclusion From Stroke Rehabilitation in the Oldest Old.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether oldest-old age (≥85y) is an independent predictor of exclusion from stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Stroke unit (SU) of a tertiary hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly patients (N=1055; aged 65-74y, n=230; aged 75-84y, n=432; aged ≥85y, n=393) who, between 2009 and 2012, were admitted to the SU with acute stroke and evaluated by a multiprofessional team for access to rehabilitation. The study excluded patients for whom rehabilitation was unnecessary or inappropriate. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Access to an early mobilization (EM) protocol during SU stay and subsequent access to postacute rehabilitation after SU discharge. Analyses were adjusted for prestroke and stroke-related characteristics. RESULTS: 32.2% of patients were excluded from EM. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of EM exclusion were 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI], .76-2.21) for ages 75 to 84 years and 2.07 (95% CI, 1.19-3.59) for ages ≥85 years compared with ages 65 to 74 years. Of 656 patients admitted to EM and who, at SU discharge, had not yet fully recovered their prestroke functional status, 18.4% were excluded from postacute rehabilitation. For patients able to walk unassisted at SU discharge, the probability of exclusion did not change across age groups. For patients unable to walk unassisted at SU discharge, ORs of exclusion from postacute rehabilitation were 3.74 (95% CI, 1.26-11.13) for ages 75 to 84 years and 9.15 (95% CI, 3.05-27.46) for ages ≥85 years compared with ages 65 to 74 years. CONCLUSIONS: Oldest-old age is an independent predictor of exclusion from stroke rehabilitation.