Development and Validation of an Explainable Machine Learning Model for Predicting Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery in Two Centers in China: Retrospective Study.

Background: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) is an easily overlooked complication but closely related to postoperative cardiovascular adverse outcomes; therefore, the early diagnosis and prediction are particularly important. Objective: We aimed to develop and validate an explainable machine learning (ML) model for predicting MINS among older patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Methods: The retrospective cohort study included older patients who had noncardiac surgery from 1 northern center and 1 southern center in China. The data sets from center 1 were divided into a training set and an internal validation set. The data set from center 2 was used as an external validation set. Before modeling, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and recursive feature elimination methods were used to reduce dimensions of data and select key features from all variables. Prediction models were developed based on the extracted features using several ML algorithms, including category boosting, random forest, logistic regression, naïve Bayes, light gradient boosting machine, extreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, and decision tree. Prediction performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve as the main evaluation metric to select the best algorithms. The model performance was verified by internal and external validation data sets with the best algorithm and compared to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method was applied to calculate values for each feature, representing the contribution to the predicted risk of complication, and generate personalized explanations. Results: A total of 19,463 eligible patients were included; among those, 12,464 patients in center 1 were included as the training set; 4754 patients in center 1 were included as the internal validation set; and 2245 in center 2 were included as the external validation set. The best-performing model for prediction was the CatBoost algorithm, achieving the highest AUROC of 0.805 (95% CI 0.778-0.831) in the training set, validating with an AUROC of 0.780 in the internal validation set and 0.70 in external validation set. Additionally, CatBoost demonstrated superior performance compared to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (AUROC 0.636; P<.001). The SHAP values indicated the ranking of the level of importance of each variable, with preoperative serum creatinine concentration, red blood cell distribution width, and age accounting for the top three. The results from the SHAP method can predict events with positive values or nonevents with negative values, providing an explicit explanation of individualized risk predictions. Conclusions: The ML models can provide a personalized and fairly accurate risk prediction of MINS, and the explainable perspective can help identify potentially modifiable sources of risk at the patient level.

License for a CAR T: Examining patient eligibility.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment landscape of lymphoma and is now approved by the FDA for multiple indications. Given that the indications for CAR T-cell therapy are expanding, a larger patient population will be eligible to receive this treatment in the coming years. Pivotal clinical trials leading to FDA approval of CAR T-cell products required patients to have adequate organ function and good performance status. In the real world, however, the patient population eligible for CAR T-cell therapy includes patients who are older, frail, have poor performance status, and have multiple comorbidities. Studies have shown that CAR T-cell therapy is relatively safe and tolerable in such frail patients, however, there is no agreed upon consensus or guidelines to assess eligibility for CAR T-cell therapy at this moment. Gaining further insight into such patient populations will be vital in order to safely provide and expand access to CAR T-cell therapy.

Endoscopic program with a scoring system for surveillance of metachronous esophageal cell carcinoma for older patients considering risk factors after endoscopic resection.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the association between the risk factors and prognosis for metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after endoscopic resection (ER) of esophageal cancer in older patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 127 patients with ESCC who underwent ER from 2015 to 2020. Patients were classified as non-older (≤ 64 years), early older (65-74 years), and late older (≥ 75 years). We analyzed factors associated with poor overall survival and metachronous ESCC after ER using multivariate Cox regression analysis. A metachronous ESCC prediction scoring system was examined to validate the surveillance endoscopy program. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were significant risk factors for poor overall survival in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.050 and p = 0.037, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that age of < 64 years, Lugol-voiding lesions (grade B/C), and head and neck cancer were significantly related to metachronous ESCC (p = 0.035, p = 0.035, and p = 0.014, respectively). In the development cohort, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, CCI > 2, age < 64 years, Lugol-voiding lesions (grade B/C), and head and neck cancer were significantly related to metachronous ESCC, and each case was assigned 1 point. Patients were classified into low (0, 1, and 2) and high (> 3) score groups based on total scores. According to Kaplan-Meier curves, the 3-year overall survival was significantly lower in the high-score group than in the low-score group (91.5% vs. 100%, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: We proposed an endoscopic surveillance scoring system for metachronous ESCC considering BMI and CCI in older patients.

Systematic nutritional screening and assessment in older patients: Rationale for its integration into oncology practice.

As the global population ages, so does the number of older people being diagnosed, treated and surviving cancer. Challenges to providing appropriate healthcare management stem from the heterogeneity common in this population. Although malnutrition is highly prevalent in older people with cancer, ranging between 30 % and 80 % according to some analyses, is associated with frailty, and has been shown to be a major risk factor for poor treatment response and worse overall survival, addressing nutrition status is not always a priority among oncology healthcare providers. Evaluation of nutritional status is a two-step process: screening identifies risk factors for reduced nutritional intake and deficits that require more in-depth assessment. Screening activities can be as simple as taking weight and BMI measurements or using short nutritional questionnaires and asking the patient about unintentional weight loss to identify potential nutritional risk. Using geriatric assessment, deficits in the nutritional domain as well as in others reveal potentially reversible geriatric and medical problems to guide specific therapeutic interventions. The authors of this paper are experts in the fields of geriatric medicine, oncology, and nutrition science and believe that there is not only substantial evidence to support regularly performing screening and assessment of nutritional status in older patients with cancer, but that these measures lead to the planning and implementation of patient-centered approaches to nutrition management and thus enhanced geriatric-oncology care. This paper presents rationale for systematic nutrition screening and assessment in older adults with cancer.

Home-based rehabilitation following inpatient rehabilitation: Utilization rate and characteristics of referred patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utilization rate of a home-based rehabilitation program following an inpatient rehabilitation stay, and to investigate the profile of users. DESIGN: Observational study SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facility in a tertiary hospital PARTICIPANTS: Older patients (N=1,913) discharged home between June 2018 and May 2021, after an inpatient rehabilitation stay. INTERVENTION: N/A MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Discharge to home-based rehabilitation RESULTS: Over the study period, 296 (15.5%) patients were discharged to home-based rehabilitation. Compared to the others, home-based rehabilitation patients were more frequently women (69.6% vs 61.5%, p=.008), and admitted after orthopedic surgery (elective or for fracture) (30.1% vs 16.1%, p<.001). They had worse functional performance at admission (mean FIM self-care score: 27.8±7.3 vs 30.8±6.7, p<.001), but greater gain in self-care during their inpatient stay (5.0±4.8 vs 4.4±4.7, p=.038). In multivariable analysis, being a woman (adjOR 1.36; 95%CI 1.01-1.82, p=.040), being admitted after orthopedic surgery (adjOR 2.32; 95%CI 1.64-3.27, p<.001), being admitted for gait disorders or falls (adjOR 1.38; 95%CI 1.01-1.88, p=.039), and showing greater gain in mobility during the inpatient stay (adjOR 1.12; 95%CI 1.07-1.17, p<.001) remained associated with discharge to home-based rehabilitation. In contrast, higher mobility at discharge decreased the odds of discharge to home-based rehabilitation (adjOR 0.87; 95%CI 0.83-0.91, p<.001). CONCLUSION: One in six patients benefited from home-based rehabilitation after their inpatient stay. Although these patients had poorer functional performance at admission and discharge, they showed greater mobility improvement during their inpatient stay, suggesting that their good recovery potential was a key determinant of their orientation toward home-based rehabilitation.

Health-related quality of life in older hematological cancer survivors (70+) compared to older general population-A German cancer-register-based cross-sectional comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: The extent of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) impairments in older hematological cancer survivors (HCS) has not been sufficiently studied. We therefore examined HRQOL in older HCS compared to a community sample (CS) and investigated sociodemographic, disease- and treatment-specific, geriatric, and psychosocial factors associated with reduced HRQOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cancer-register-based cross-sectional comparative study 200 HCS, aged ≥70 years, and 252 persons of an age- and gender-matched CS completed validated questionnaires including the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-ELD14. RESULTS: Older HCS reported a reduced HRQOL in the dimensions of global QOL, physical, role, and social functioning (small clinical significance) and higher symptom burden of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and poorer mobility compared to the CS (fatigue and mobility with medium, the others with small clinical significance). Perceived disease burden of comorbidities, functional disabilities, psychological distress, and depression showed statistical significance for reduced HRQOL in older HCS in multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = .602, p < .001). DISCUSSION: The screening and treatment of functional limitations and individual symptoms and the integration of a geriatric assessment into oncological practice can help to identify supportive care needs, to implement individualized, patient-centered cancer survivorship care programs and to improve older HCS's HRQOL.

Early Postoperative Functional Recovery in Older Patients With Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures: Comparison Between Cemented and Cementless Stem Revisions.

Background: Early postoperative functional recovery is important in older patients with lower-extremity fractures to prevent disuse, and periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) are no exception. This study aimed to compare the postoperative functional recovery in the early phase after revision for PFF with loose stems between cemented and cementless stems. Methods: Eighteen patients with Unified Classification System type B2 PFF were included in this retrospective cohort study with a follow-up period of about 2 years. All patients underwent stem revision and were divided into 2 groups: the cemented stem group (n = 9) and the cementless stem group (n = 9). In postrevision, functional independence measure score, independent walk rate, activities of daily living recovery rate to the original level at 2 weeks postoperatively, the Beals and Tower classification for radiological status, and survival rate for readmission as endpoints were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Patients in the cemented group recovered functional mobility earlier than in the cementless group, with higher postoperative functional independence measure functional subscale values (73 vs 50 points, P = .02), higher independent walk rate (89 vs 11%, P < .01), and more postoperative activities of daily living recovery (100% vs 44%, P = .03) at 2 weeks postoperatively. The Beals and Tower classification and survival rates were similar in both groups. Conclusions: Revision using a cemented stem for PFF in older patients was a useful surgical procedure in terms of early postoperative functional recovery. Cemented stem revision was comparable with cementless in bone union and safety at 2 years postoperatively.

How to compensate for frailty? The real life impact of geriatric co-management on morbi-mortality after colorectal cancer surgery in patients aged 70 years or older.

In Europe, CRC is the second most common cause of cancer death, and surgery remains the mainstay curative treatment. Age and frailty are associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity and 1-year mortality. Chronological age is not sufficient to assess the risk of postoperative complications. The CGA has been developed to better identify frail patients. Geriatric co-management have been developed to optimize the post-operative outcomes. We analyzed the real-life of geriatric co-management within an ERAS program on surgical outcomes at 90 days and oncologic outcomes at 1 year in patients aged 70 years or older after surgery for CRC. This was a retrospective study based on a prospective cohort. Fifty-one patients with a G8 score ≤ 14 were referred to geriatricians for preoperative CGA (Frail Group). They were compared with 151 patients with a G8 score ≥ 15 (Robust Group). In the Frail Group, patients were significantly older with more comorbidities than the patients in the Robust Group. Oncologic characteristics, treatments and global post-operative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. One year after surgery mortality and recurrence rates were similar between the two groups. Our study suggests that geriatric co-management is feasible and contributes to the reduction of postoperative morbimortality. Moreover, performing the CGA after G8 score screening and completion of geriatric interventions resulted in similar 90-day postoperative outcomes, in frail patients than in robust patients. Our results confirmed the benefit of geriatric co-management, involving G8 screening, CGA, and ERAS, for frail older patients undergoing surgery for CRC.

Association of frailty and sarcopenia with short-term mortality in older critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: There is still no study on the use of the SARC-CalF questionnaire for older critically ill patients. Moreover, there is limited evidence on whether a combination of sarcopenia and frailty can provide incremental improvements in risk stratification for older critically ill patients. METHODS: A total of 653 patients older than 60 years were recruited. We used the clinical frailty scale (CFS) and SARC-CalF questionnaire to assess the frailty status and sarcopenia risk, respectively, of older patients shortly after admission to the ICU. The effect of frailty and sarcopenia risk on ICU mortality and 30-day mortality was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 147 (22.5%) patients died in the ICU, and 187 (28.6%) patients died within 30 days after ICU admission. The CFS score was associated with increased ICU mortality [per 1-score increase: odds ratio (OR) = 1.222, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.003-1.489] and 30-day mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.307, 95% CI: 1.079-1.583). The SARC-CalF score was also associated with increased ICU mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.204, 95% CI: 1.120-1.294) and 30-day mortality (per 1-score increase: OR = 1.247, 95% CI: 1.163-1.337). The addition of the CFS + SARC-CalF score to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II improved discrimination and reclassified ICU and 30-day mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia risk assessed by the SARC-CalF questionnaire provided independent prognostic information for older critically ill patients. A combination of sarcopenia and frailty improved the prediction of mortality for older critically ill patients and thus might be useful in the clinical decision-making process.

Associations between physicians' SDM behaviour and participation of older patients and family members in triadic decision-making: An observational study.

Background: Medical consultations with older patients often include triadic conversations and decision-making processes involving physicians, patients, and family members. The presence of family members may change the communication dynamics and therefore increase the complexity of the consultation and decision-making process. Objective: This study explored associations between physicians' shared decision-making (SDM) behaviour and patients' and family members' participation in the decision-making process. Methods: Using an observational design, we analysed 95 recorded consultations between medical specialists, patients aged ≥65 years, and accompanying family members at a Dutch hospital. The OPTIONMCC was used to assess the physicians' SDM behaviour and patients' and family members' levels of involvement in SDM. Results: We found a strong positive correlation between physicians' behaviour and patients' and family members' participation in SDM (0.68 and 0.64, respectively, p < .01). Family members were more involved in SDM for patients aged 80 and older. Conclusion: While not asserting causation, our study suggests physicians potentially play a facilitating role in shaping the SDM process together with proactive contributions from patients and family members. Innovation: The results offer new insights into triadic SDM and provide suggestions for refining the OPTIONMCC. Further research is recommended into participants' mutual directional influences in triadic SDM.

Impact of rehabilitation unit-based physical activity therapy versus symptomatic supportive treatment on older patients with advanced cancer: a non-randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Relatively few studies have investigated the effects of rehabilitation-based physical activity therapy as a treatment for older patients with advanced cancer. This study evaluated the effects of individualized precise and structured exercise interventions, prescribed by a rehabilitation physician, on fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and physical activity in older patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: After admission to the rehabilitation department, older cancer patients were divided into groups receiving conventional symptomatic supportive therapy (SST) or physical activity therapy plus conventional symptomatic supportive therapy (PAT). The SST group was given symptomatic supportive treatment, exercised on their own, and were observed at home after their symptoms improved. The PAT group was required to implement physical exercise along with SST, involving 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise per day and 5 days per week, and were discharged after 4 weeks and instructed to continue to exercise outside the hospital. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) at 4 and 8 weeks was the primary endpoint of the study, while the secondary endpoints included patients' QOL, physical activity, and exercise adherence rate. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included; 37 (56.92%) chose to enter the PAT group, and 28 (43.08%) chose to enter the SST group. After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, CRF relief and QOL improvement were significantly better in the PAT group than in the SST group (p < 0.05), whereas global health status did not differ between the two treatment groups (T1: p = 0.84; T2: p = 0.92). Mild physical activity significantly increased for the PAT group at T1 and T2 (T1: p = 0.03; T2: p = 0.005). At the T2 time point, the PAT group exhibited a higher level of participation in moderate-intensity physical activities as well as a higher total leisure activity score (p < 0.05). Thirty-three patients (94.29%) completed the PAT exercise program during hospitalization. Only four (12.12%) patients achieved moderate-intensity exercise, while the other 29 (87.88%) patients were able to continue exercising after their exercise intensity was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of precise and individualized exercise interventions, prescribed by the rehabilitation team, can lead to the reduction of CRF and improvement of QOL, and change in behavior related to physical activity.

Safety and efficacy of minimally invasive gastrectomy for older patients with gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of neoadjuvant immunotherapy on minimally invasive gastrectomy (MIG) in older patients with gastric cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, and efficacy of MIG for older patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy (NICT). METHODS: The clinical data of 726 older patients aged over 65 years who underwent upfront MIG or MIG after NICT in the Department of General Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital First Medical Center between Jan 2020 and Nov 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis at a ratio of 1:2 was performed to reduce bias from confounding patient-related variables, short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between 61 patients in the NICT-MIG group and 114 patients in the MIG group after PSM (P > 0.05). The major pathological response (MPR) rate and pathological complete response (pCR) rate were 44.2% and 21.3%, respectively, in the NICT-MIG group. Patients in the NICT-MIG group had longer operation times (P = 0.005) and postoperative days (P = 0.030) than those in the MIG group. No significant differences were found in intraoperative bleeding, number of retrieved lymph nodes, first flatus day, R0 resection rate, overall postoperative complication (POC) morbidity, severe POC morbidity, 2-year overall, and recurrence-free survival between the MIG and NICT-MIG groups (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that an estimated blood loss > 200 mL (P = 0.010) and a lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) ≤ 3.25 (P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for POCs after MIG in older patients. CONCLUSION: The safety, and efficacy of NICT-MIG were comparable to those of upfront MIG in older patients with GC. Patients with an estimated blood loss > 200 mL or an LMR ≤ 3.25 should be carefully evaluated for an increased risk of POCs in older patients who undergo MIG. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number: ChiCTR2400086827).

Skin tears in older patients in intensive care units: A multicentre point prevalence study.

BACKGROUND: With the ageing of the global population, it is predicted that the population of older adult patients in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) will increase. Because of health conditions, care practices and ageing-related skin changes, older adult ICU patients are prone to skin integrity problems, including skin tears (STs). AIM: To determine the prevalence of STs and associated factors in older patients hospitalized in ICUs. STUDY DESIGN: The study is a regional, multicentre, point prevalence study conducted in five centres in the five largest cities in terms of population in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye. Data were collected simultaneously in each centre on the same day. The list of patients hospitalized in the ICUs on the day of data collection was drawn up, and 200 patients who were 65 years of age or older, were hospitalized in ICUs and agreed to participate in the research were included. The researchers formed an "ST chart" to record patient demographic characteristics, clinical variables and skin assessment. RESULTS: STs were detected in 14.5% of patients in ICUs, with 72.5% of them having stage 1 ST. A significant relationship was found between individuals' average body mass index (BMI) (p = .043), age (p = .014), length of stay in the ICU (p = .004) and having ST. There was also a statistically significant relationship between skin temperature (p = .002), skin turgor (p = .001) and ST. More STs were observed in patients with cold skin and low turgor. The prevalence of ST was higher in individuals with a history of ST. Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between consciousness (p = .014), incontinence (p = .006), the Braden score (p = .004), the Itaki fall risk score (p = .006) and ST. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicentre point prevalence study, the prevalence of ST in older patients in ICUs was 14.5%, and many factors associated with ST have been identified. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Given the insufficient information and attention to STs in older adults, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing STs. The impact of STs includes increased treatment costs, length of stay and risk of complications. Therefore, understanding the global extent of STs in ICUs and developing effective interventions for prevention and management are crucial.

Biomarkers of chronic kidney disease in older individuals: navigating complexity in diagnosis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older individuals is a matter of growing concern in the field of public health across the globe. Indeed, prevalence of kidney function impairment increases with advancing age and is often exacerbated by age-induced modifications of kidney function, presence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders, and increased burden related to frailty, cognitive impairment and sarcopenia. Accurate assessment of CKD in older individuals is crucial for timely intervention and management and relies heavily on biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring. However, the interpretation of these biomarkers in older patients may be complex due to interplays between CKD, aging, chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes. Biomarkers such as serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and albuminuria can be significantly altered by systemic inflammation, metabolic changes, and medication use commonly seen in this population. To overcome the limitations of traditional biomarkers, several innovative proteins have been investigated as potential, in this review we aimed at consolidating the existing data concerning the geriatric aspects of CKD, describing the challenges and considerations in using traditional and innovative biomarkers to assess CKD in older patients, highlighting the need for integration of the clinical context to improve biomarkers' accuracy.

The utility of remote cognitive screening tools in identifying cognitive impairment in older surgical patients: An observational cohort study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of suspected cognitive impairment using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cognitive question, Ascertain Dementia Eight-item Questionnaire (AD8), Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M), and Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA), the agreement between each tool beyond chance, and the risk factors associated with a positive screen. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective study. SETTING: Remote preoperative assessments. PATIENTS: 307 non-cardiac surgical patients aged ≥65 years. MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence, Cohen's kappa (κ). MAIN RESULTS: The T-MoCA detected the highest prevalence of suspected cognitive impairment (28%), followed by the AD8 (17%), CDC cognitive question (9%), and TICS-M (6%). The four screening tools showed poor agreement beyond chance with one another, with the CDC cognitive question and AD8 approaching the threshold for weak agreement (κ = 0.39). Depression was associated with screening positive on the CDC cognitive question (OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.04, 7.68). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (OR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.26, 7.71) and functional disability (OR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.34, 11.11) were associated with a positive AD8 screen. Older age (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.41), male sex (OR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.09, 9.40), and higher pain level (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) were associated with a positive TICS-M screen. Similarly, older age (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.73), male sex (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.83), and higher pain level (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.30) were associated with a positive T-MoCA screen. CONCLUSIONS: The CDC cognitive question, AD8, TICS-M, and T-MoCA were easily implemented during preoperative assessment among older surgical patients. OSA, functional disability, and depression were associated with complaints on the CDC cognitive question and AD8. Older age, male sex, and higher pain level were associated with screening positive on the TICS-M and T-MoCA. Early remote cognitive screening may enhance risk stratification of vulnerable patients.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Recognizing Acute Delirium as Part of Your Routine (RADAR) Scale for Delirium Assessment in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Delirium is highly prevalent among hospitalized older adults and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. However, delirium often remains undiagnosed in the hospital context. Having a valid, simple, and fast screening tool could help in limiting the additional workload for healthcare professionals, without leaving delirium undetected. The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the Recognizing Acute Delirium As part of your Routine (RADAR) scale in an Italian hospital. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 150 patients aged ≥70 years were enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) criterion-defined delirium as the gold standard were plotted to evaluate the performance of the RADAR scale. The cut-off suggested by previous research was used to estimate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the RADAR scale. The involved patients were mostly females (60%; n = 90), with a median age of 84 years (I-III quartiles: 80-88). According to the CAM and the RADAR scale, 37 (25%) and 58 (39%) patients were classified as experiencing delirium, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of the RADAR scale was 0.916. Furthermore, the RADAR scale showed robust sensitivity (95%), specificity (80%), and positive (60%) and negative predictive values (98%). The RADAR scale is thus suggested to be a valid tool for screening assessment of delirium in hospitalized older adults.

Strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care following hip fracture in frail older adults: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Although surgery is the gold standard following a hip fracture, the potential for rehabilitation and survival rates are low in frail older patients. Some patients may derive more benefit from palliative care. The objectives of this review were to identify the available strategies to improve end-of-life decision-making and palliative care for frail patients with hip fractures and to synthetise their level of support. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the scientific and grey literature, searching seven databases and websites of associations. We included all study designs, expert opinion articles and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Data were synthetised according to the Approach to Patient with Limited Life Expectancy and Hip Fracture framework. The number of research items and their level of evidence were tabulated for each of the recommended strategies. RESULTS: Of the 10 591 items identified, 34 were eligible. The majority of included articles were original research studies (n = 15). Half of the articles and CPGs focused on intervention categories (55%) such as goals of care discussion and comfort care, followed by factors to consider in the end-of-life decision-making process (25%) and prognosis assessments (20%), mainly through the estimation of life expectancy. The level of evidence for these strategies remains low, given the limited number of prospective studies supporting them. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review highlighted that end-of-life care in frail older patients with a hip fracture remains understudied. The strategies identified could be prioritised for future research to improve the well-being of the target population while promoting sustainable resource management.

Predictors of complete remission of hypertension in patients over 65 years of age after bariatric surgery - a multicenter study.

Introduction: In the era of an aging society and a growing number of obese people, an increasing number of older patients are consulting bariatric surgeons. The incidence of hypertension (HT) also rises with age and body weight, making the treatment of the elderly a significant challenge. Aim: To identify predictors of HT remission after bariatric surgery in patients over 65 years of age. Material and methods: A retrospective study analyzed patients over 65 years old with HT who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures in Poland between 2008 and 2022. The data came from 11 bariatric centers. Patients were categorized into two groups: responders (R) and non-responders (NR). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant independent risk factors. Results: The study analyzed 244 patients, with complete HT remission observed in 55 (22.5%) patients. Almost 90% of patients showed improvement in HT. The mean follow-up time was 47.4 months. Factors contributing to HT remission included HT duration of less than 5 years, the use of single medication, and a significant correlation with %EWL. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery in patients aged over 65 has a positive effect on HT remission. The chance of HT remission increases with fewer medications, shorter HT duration, and greater weight loss after surgery.

Ct-based diagnosis of sarcopenia as a prognostic factor for postoperative mortality after elective open-heart surgery in older patients: a cohort-based systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac open-heart surgery, which usually involves thoracotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, is associated with a high incidence of postoperative mortality and adverse events. In recent years, sarcopenia, as a common condition in older patients, has been associated with an increased incidence of adverse prognosis. Methods: We conducted a search of databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane, with the search date up to January 1, 2024, to identify all studies related to elective cardiac open-heart surgery in older patients. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess the certainty of evidence. Results: A total of 12 cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis for analysis. This meta-analysis revealed that patients with sarcopenia had a higher risk of postoperative mortality. Furthermore, the total length of hospital stay and ICU stay were longer after surgery. Moreover, there was a higher number of patients requiring further healthcare after discharge. Regarding postoperative complications, sarcopenia patients had an increased risk of developing renal failure and stroke. Conclusion: Sarcopenia served as a tool to identify high-risk older patients undergoing elective cardiac open-heart surgery. By identifying this risk factor early on, healthcare professionals took targeted steps to improve perioperative function and made informed clinical decisions.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023426026.