The relationship between polypharmacy and cognitive status among the elderly with cardiovascular disease / La relación entre la polifarmacia y el estado cognitivo de los adultos mayores con enfermedad cardiovascular

Abstract Introduction: Polypharmacy and cognitive decline are both common problems in the elderly. Objective: To determine the relationship between polypharmacy and cognitive status among elderly with cardiovascular disease. In this cohort study, 120 older people with polypharmacy and the same number non-polypharmacy were selected from Clinics in Sari Heart Center, Iran, according to inclusion criteria between October 2019 and January 2020. Materials and method: Data collection tools included Cognitive State Test (COST) and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, Geriatric Depression Scale, Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical drug questionnaire, and a medical-demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test, independent t-test, logistic, and linear regression test. Results: Mean age of poly-pharmacy and non-poly pharmacy groups was 67.63 ± 6.67 and 66.09 ± 6.21 21 years, respectively (p = 0.065). Women ratio was significantly more among the poly-pharmacy group, compared to non-polypharmacy (p = 0.007). The odds ratio of cognitive decline increased by 3.17 times with poly-pharmacy (95% confeind intervel: 2.48-4.05). The most predictors of cognition were polypharmacy, income, hypertension, and gender, respectively. The predictive power of the model was 48.9%. Conclusion: Regarding the significant relationship between poly-pharmacy and cognitive status, it should be considered as one of the approaches to increase the cognitive status among older adults. Furthermore, it is necessary to emphasize on the factors affecting cognitive status among older people in programs, to improve the medical and health services for them.

Resumen Introducción: Tanto la polifarmacia como el deterioro cognitivo son problemas comunes entre los adultos mayores. Objetivo: Establecer la relación entre la polifarmacia y el estado cognitivo de los adultos mayores con enfermedad cardiovascular. En este estudio de cohorte se seleccionaron 120 adultos mayores con polifarmacia e igual número sin polifarmacia de las clínicas en Sari Heart Center, Irán, de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión, entre octubre del 2019 y enero del 2020. Materiales y método: Las herramientas de recolección de datos incluyeron el Cognitive State Test (COST) y Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), el Geriatric Depression Scale, el cuestionario de medicamentos Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC), y un cuestionario médico-demográfico. Los datos se analizaron con la prueba de Chi-cuadrado, la prueba t para muestras independientes, y pruebas de regresión logística y lineal. Resultados: La edad media de los grupos con y sin polifarmacia fue de 67,63± 6,67 y 66,09 ± 6,21 años, respectivamente (p = 0.065). La proporción de mujeres fue significativamente más alta en el grupo con polifarmacia comparada con el grupo sin polifarmacia (p = 0.007). La razón de disparidad del deterioro cognitivo aumentó 3,17 veces con la polifarmacia (IC 95%: 2,48 y 4,05). Los mayores predictores de cognición fueron la polifarmacia, los ingresos, la hipertensión y el género, respectivamente. El poder predictivo del modelo fue de 48,9%. Conclusión: Respecto a la relación significativa entre la polifarmacia y el estado cognitivo, se debe considerar como uno de los abordajes para aumentar el estado cognitivo en los adultos mayores. También es necesario enfatizar en los factores que afectan el estado cognitivo de los adultos mayores participantes en los programas, para mejorar los servicios médicos y de salud dirigidos a ellos.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Aromatherapy with Lavender Essential Oil on Depression.

Introduction: Depression is considered as one of the most serious health issues worldwide, and the search for the most effective and safe treatments for depression is essential. Aromatherapy with lavender have attracted the attention of many researchers due to their low cost and ease of use, so this study was conducted to review of the effects of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on depression. Methods: This systematic review study was conducted by searching the databases (SID, Magiran, Google-Scholar, Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) by using the keywords such as depression, Lavandula, Lavender, and Aromatherapy, as well as applying OR and AND operators to the end of January 1, 2020 A.D. The inclusion criteria were: 1) Interventional studies that determined keywords were in the title or keywords of the article, 2) aromatherapy was conducted through inhalation or massage, 3) the full text of paper was accessible, and 4) published in English or Persian. Finally, the information obtained from articles was extracted using a checklist. Results: Out of 278 studies, 9 studies were included to the systematic review process after screening and eliminating duplicate papers according to the purpose of the study. Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil was conducted on the patients suffering from migraine, patients with the acute coronary syndrome, patients undergoing hemodialysis, community-dwelling older adult, and postpartum depression. The results obtained from some studies showed the positive effect of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on depression whereas some studies did not report the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on depression significantly. Conclusions: It seems that aromatherapy with lavender probably can be used as a complementary, simple, and inexpensive method to improve mild and moderate depression. It is recommended to earmark using a collaborative approach and make use of interdisciplinary and psychology specialists as well as complementary medicine in applying aromatherapy with lavender essential oil.

The Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Demographic-Medical Characteristics among Elder People with Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer is one of the most common life-threatening diseases and a great source of stress in patients. The risk factors of depression differ in elder people compared to other age groups. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between depressive symptoms and demographic-medical characteristics among elder people with cancer. METHODS: This cross-sectional correlational study recruited 200 elder people with cancer. The eligible patients completed the demographic-medical characteristics questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Abbreviated Mental Test, the Activities of Daily Living Scale, and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The findings were analyzed in SPSS software version 21.0 using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: A total of 50% of the elder people in this study had mild depression, 18.5% had moderate depression, and 2.5% had severe depression. A significant relationship was observed between depression in the elder people and their marital status (P = 0.025), living arrangement (P = 0.013), and income (P = 0.021). Depression also had a significant relationship with diabetes (P = 0.044) and respiratory diseases (P = 0.040). A significant relationship was also observed between depression and colon cancer (P = 0.007), and the mean depression was lower in the patients with colon cancer compared to those with other cancers. Depression had a significant relationship with complications, including pain (P = 0.001), nausea (P < 0.001), vomiting (P = 0.001), hair loss (P < 0.001), and shortness of breath (P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of depression in this age group, screening and counseling-supportive interventions are recommended for helping prevent depression and come to terms with cancer.

Relationship between moral distress and ethical climate with job satisfaction in nurses.

BACKGROUND:: Moral distress and ethical climate are important issues in the workplace that appear to affect people's quality of work life. OBJECTIVES:: This study was conducted to determine the relationship of moral distress and ethical climate to job satisfaction in critical care nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: This descriptive-correlation study was conducted on 142 critical care nurses, selected from five social security hospitals in north Iran through census sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Moral Distress Scale-Revised, the Olson's Hospital Ethical Climate Survey, and the Brayfield and Rothe Job Satisfaction index. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:: The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and the Medical Deputy of the Social Security Organization. FINDINGS:: The mean scores obtained by the critical care nurses for moral distress, ethical climate, and job satisfaction were 87.02 ± 44.56, 3.51 ± 0.53, and 62.64 ± 9.39, respectively. Although no significant relationships were observed between moral distress and job satisfaction, the relationship between ethical climate and job satisfaction was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:: Identifying ethical stressors in the workplace and giving proper feedback to the authorities to eliminate these factors and improve the ethical climate in these workplaces can help enhance job satisfaction in nurses and lead to higher quality care.

Cognitive Impairment Among Elderly Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Related Factors.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF) older than 65 years have a two-fold increased risk of cognitive impairment than elders without HF. Identifying factors affecting cognitive impairment in HF may present targets for intervention. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine cognitive function and related factors among elderly patients with heart failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 184 elderly patients with heart failure were selected from four Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences teaching hospitals using convenience sampling. Data were collected from patients' medical records and by interview, using the abbreviated mental test, geriatric depression scale, and Charlson comorbidity index. RESULTS: There were significant relationships between cognitive status and living arrangement (P < 0.001), education (P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.039), anemia (P = 0.046), Charlson comorbidity index (P < 0.001) and geriatric depression scale (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Screening of cognitive impairment in elderly patients with heart failure seems necessary.

Self care behaviors among elderly with chronic heart failure and related factors.

Self Care Behaviors (SCB) is one of the most important challenges in controlling readmission and improving the elderly patients outcomes. The aims of this study were to describe the SCB among elderly with heart failure and to assess relationships between SCB, demographic characteristics, age-related characteristics and clinical characteristics. In this cross sectional study, 184 elderly (age 60) with heart failure were selected with convenience sampling from 4 teaching hospitals. To assess SCB, the European Heart Failure Self Care Behavior Scale was used. Its validity and reliability were confirmed (CVI = 0.97 and α = 0.74). Data was collected from patients' medical record and by interviews. The highest percentage of behaviors not performing properly (score > 2), were related to self reported exercise (96.2%), receiving a flu shot (89.7%) and weight monitoring (80.5%), respectively. There was significant relationship between SCB and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001), serum sodium level (p < 0.001), charlson co-morbidity Index (p = 0.001), ejection fraction (p = 0.002), visual impairment (p = 0.002), sleep disorders (p = 0.003), poly-pharmacy (p = 0.004), hearing impairment (p = 0.012) and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.049). Significant relationship between SCB and age-related characteristics suggests the need to design both supportive and preventive programs among elderly with heart failure.