ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of a program composed of resistance training and nutritional interventions on functional capacity, maximal strength, and power output after 2 years of follow-up, including 2 periods of 16 weeks of intervention followed by several weeks of intervention cessation in frail patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: MIDPOW is a substudy of a multicenter, multimodal intervention composed of resistance training combined with a structured diabetes and nutritional education program in frail and prefrail older people with type 2 diabetes (MID-Frail). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This study recruited 52 participants (mean age: 79 ± 5.6, 63% women), with type 2 diabetes mellitus, frail or prefrail using Fried's frailty phenotype. METHODS: Primary outcomes of this substudy were Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and maximal power output at 30% and 80% of 1RM. RESULTS: Each set of 16 weeks of intervention resulted in significant improvements in SPPB performance by a mean of 36.1% at week 18 (P < .001) and 10.2% at week 68 (P < .05). Maximal power output improvements at 30% and 80% of the 1RM ranged from 45.2% to 57.2% at week 18 (P < .01-.001); and no significant changes were observed after the second period of intervention. After 2 years of follow-up, the SPPB and maximal power values observed remained significantly higher than the baseline. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Resistance training combined with nutritional program improved SPPB, maximal strength, and power output in older frail patients with diabetes. These improvements were maintained above the basal levels after several weeks of intervention cessation during a 2-year follow-up.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Frailty , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Frail Elderly , Humans , Male , Muscle Strength , MusclesABSTRACT
Introducción Evaluar el impacto asistencial de la creación de una unidad de observación de urgencias para pacientes ancianos dependiente de un servicio de geriatría en un hospital general.Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo y prospectivo de los pacientes ingresados en la unidad de observación de urgencias para geriatría durante el año 2006.Resultados Se valoraron 749 pacientes que permanecieron en la unidad una media (desviación estándar) de 37 (16) h. La edad media fue de 86 (7) años, el 57% eran mujeres, la mitad presentaba deterioro físico y deterioro cognitivo moderado a grave. El 35% procedía de residencias de ancianos. El motivo de ingreso más frecuente fue enfermedad cardiorrespiratoria crónica reagudizada. Se detectaron múltiples síndromes geriátricos, los más frecuentes fueron inmovilidad, lesiones cutáneas por presión y trastornos conductuales asociados a demencia. Al 70% de los pacientes se les dio alta a domicilio habitual después de que se los estabilizó para su seguimiento en las consultas de geriatría y en el hospital de día (39%), en atención geriátrica domiciliaria (11%) o por su médico de atención primaria o de residencia (20%). En el mes posterior reingresó el 17% y falleció el 7,7%, sobre todo los pacientes que tenían mayor edad y deterioro funcional. Tras el inicio de la unidad se observó una disminución del porcentaje de ingresos en la unidad geriátrica de agudos del 18,2%. Conclusiones Las unidades de observación de urgencias para pacientes ancianos pueden ser adecuadas al nivel asistencial para valoración geriátrica y tratamiento de reagudizaciones de enfermedades crónicas, lo que puede contribuir al ahorro de estancias hospitalarias y a la optimización de la atención en otros niveles asistenciales geriátricos, ambulatorios y domiciliarios (AU)
Introduction To evaluate the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment and management of high-risk elders in a medical short stay unit located in the emergency department of a general hospital. Material and methods We performed a descriptive, prospective study of patients admitted to the medical short stay unit for geriatric patients of the emergency department in 2006.Results A total of 749 patients were evaluated, with a mean (standard deviation) stay in the unit of 37 (16) h. The mean age was 86 (7) years; 57% were women, and 50% had moderate-severe physical impairment and dementia. Thirty-five percent lived in a nursing home. The most frequent reason for admission was exacerbation of chronic cardiopulmonary disease. Multiple geriatric syndromes were identified. The most frequent were immobility, pressure sores and behavioral disorders related to dementia. Seventy percent of the patients were discharged to home after being stabilized and were followed-up by the geriatric clinic and day hospital (39%), the home care medical team (11%), or the nursing home or primary care physician (20%). During the month after discharge, 17% were readmitted and 7.7% died, especially patients with more advanced age or functional impairment. After the unit was opened, admissions to the acute geriatric unit fell by 18.2%. ConclusionsMedical short stay units for geriatric patients in emergency departments may be useful for geriatric assessment and treatment of exacerbations of chronic diseases. These units can help to reduce the number of admissions and optimize the care provided in other ambulatory and domiciliary geriatric settings(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged, 80 and over , Emergency Medical Services , Health Services for the Aged , Geriatrics , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment and management of high-risk elders in a medical short stay unit located in the emergency department of a general hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive, prospective study of patients admitted to the medical short stay unit for geriatric patients of the emergency department in 2006. RESULTS: A total of 749 patients were evaluated, with a mean (standard deviation) stay in the unit of 37 (16) h. The mean age was 86 (7) years; 57% were women, and 50% had moderate-severe physical impairment and dementia. Thirty-five percent lived in a nursing home. The most frequent reason for admission was exacerbation of chronic cardiopulmonary disease. Multiple geriatric syndromes were identified. The most frequent were immobility, pressure sores and behavioral disorders related to dementia. Seventy percent of the patients were discharged to home after being stabilized and were followed-up by the geriatric clinic and day hospital (39%), the home care medical team (11%), or the nursing home or primary care physician (20%). During the month after discharge, 17% were readmitted and 7.7% died, especially patients with more advanced age or functional impairment. After the unit was opened, admissions to the acute geriatric unit fell by 18.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Medical short stay units for geriatric patients in emergency departments may be useful for geriatric assessment and treatment of exacerbations of chronic diseases. These units can help to reduce the number of admissions and optimize the care provided in other ambulatory and domiciliary geriatric settings.
Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Geriatrics , Length of Stay , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Health Services for the Aged/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is commonly accompanied by aggressive behavior. In the elderly, effective and safe antiaggressive treatment is lacking. Risks of antipsychotics in this population demand therapeutic alternatives. This randomized, double-blind, pilot trial examined the efficacy and safety of cyproterone in the treatment of agitated AD. METHOD: The subjects were 27 elderly patients referred to the University Hospital of Guadalajara Psychogeriatric Clinic diagnosed with AD and associated aggressive behavior (mean Staff Observation Aggression Scale [SOAS] score >or=2). Each patient underwent a 15-day washout for psychotropics and then was randomly assigned to receive stable doses of either cyproterone (100 mg/day) or haloperidol (2 mg/day) for 90 days. The primary outcome measure was the SOAS score. This trial was conducted between October 27, 1993, and March 24, 1998. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients, 19 (70.4%) were women, and the mean age was 80.7 years. The trial was completed by 24 (88.9%) of the subjects (13 in the cyproterone group and 11 in the haloperidol group for 90 days). Three patients (11.1%) dropped out, all after adverse effects in the haloperidol group. Baseline aggression level in the sample was mild (mean SOAS score of 4.48 [SD = 2.04]). Efficacy analyses for all intent-to-treat patients showed that 9 (69.2%) in the cyproterone group achieved complete elimination of aggression at endpoint, in contrast to 2 patients (14.2%) in the haloperidol group (p = .012). Ten patients (71.4%) taking haloperidol had adverse events, compared with 4 (30.7%) taking cyproterone (p = .035). CONCLUSION: Cyproterone showed significantly better efficacy and safety than haloperidol in controlling mild aggression associated with AD. Additional research is needed to confirm if these results can be ratified in a larger study and generalized to patients whose aggression is more severe.
