Variables asociadas con mortalidad en una población de pacientes mayores de 80 años y con algún grado de dependencia funcional, hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un Servicio de Geriatría / Variables associated with mortality in a selected sample of patients older than 80 years and with some degree of functional dependence hospitalized for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 condiciona elevadas tasas de mortalidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados. Actualmente, pocos estudios incluyen pacientes octogenarios y ninguno analiza el impacto del estado funcional sobre este resultado de salud. Nuestro objetivo es describir las características de los pacientes mayores de 80 años hospitalizados por coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), determinar la tasa de mortalidad e identificar factores asociados. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional prospectivo realizado en mayores de 80 años ingresados por COVID-19 en un Servicio de Geriatría. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, funcionales, mentales, analíticas, radiológicas, terapéuticas y asistenciales. Se analizaron mediante análisis bivariante los factores asociados a mortalidad intrahospitalaria. RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 58 casos con COVID-19 confirmado por laboratorio, edad media 88,3 ± 5,4 años, 69% mujeres, 65,5% deterioro cognitivo moderado-severo e índice de Barthel previo 40,6 ± 36. Los principales síntomas fueron fiebre (60,3%), disnea (53,4%) y deterioro del estado funcional (50%). Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron enfermedad cardiovascular (75,9%), hipertensión arterial (HTA) (74,1%) y enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) (50%). Se detectó una tasa de mortalidad del 41,4%, siendo los factores asociados: dependencia funcional severa (OR = 3,8 [1,2-12,2]), ERC (OR = 3,2 [1,1-9,7]), deterioro cognitivo moderado-severo (OR = 4,9 [1 a 25,4]). CONCLUSIONES: Se objetivan altas tasas de mortalidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados por COVID-19, con mayor riesgo de fallecer en aquellos con dependencia funcional severa o deterioro cognitivo. Estos hallazgos refuerzan la importancia de la Valoración Geriátrica para elaborar estrategias que permitan adecuar la toma de decisiones diagnósticas y terapéuticas y optimizar la atención al paciente anciano ante un nuevo brote epidémico

OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic conditions high mortality rates in hospitalized elderly. Currently, a few studies include octogenarian patients and none of them analyze the impact of functional status on this health outcome. Our objective is to describe the characteristics of patients older than 80 years hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to determine the mortality rate and to identify associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study carried out on patients over 80 years admitted for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional, mental, analytical, radiological, therapeutic and healthcare variables were collected. The factors associated with in-hospital lethality were analyzed by bivariate analysis. RESULTS: 58 cases with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were included, mean age 88.3 ± 5.4 years, 69% women, 65.5% moderate-severe cognitive impairment and previous Barthel index 40.66 ± 36. The main symptoms were fever (60,3%), dyspnea (53.4%) and deterioration of functional condition (50%). The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (75.9%), hypertension (HT) (74.1%) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (50%). A mortality rate of 41,4% was detected and the associated factors were: severe functional dependence (OR = 3.8 [1.2-12.2]), moderate-severe cognitive impairment (OR = 4.9 [1-25.4]) and CKD (OR = 3.2 [1.1-9.7]). CONCLUSION: High mortality rates are observed in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with a higher risk of dying in those with severe functional dependence or cognitive impairment. These findings reinforce the value of Geriatric Assessment to develop strategies to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making and to optimize care for elderly patients in the event of a new epidemic outbreak

[Variables associated with mortality in a selected sample of patients older than 80 years and with some degree of functional dependence hospitalized for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service]. / Variables asociadas con mortalidad en una población de pacientes mayores de 80 años y con algún grado de dependencia funcional, hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un Servicio de Geriatría.

OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic conditions high mortality rates in hospitalized elderly. Currently, a few studies include octogenarian patients and none of them analyze the impact of functional status on this health outcome. Our objective is to describe the characteristics of patients older than 80 years hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to determine the mortality rate and to identify associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study carried out on patients over 80 years admitted for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional, mental, analytical, radiological, therapeutic and healthcare variables were collected. The factors associated with in-hospital lethality were analyzed by bivariate analysis. RESULTS: 58 cases with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were included, mean age 88.3 ± 5.4 years, 69% women, 65.5% moderate-severe cognitive impairment and previous Barthel index 40.66 ± 36. The main symptoms were fever (60,3%), dyspnea (53.4%) and deterioration of functional condition (50%). The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (75.9%), hypertension (HT) (74.1%) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (50%). A mortality rate of 41,4% was detected and the associated factors were: severe functional dependence (OR = 3.8 [1.2-12.2]), moderate-severe cognitive impairment (OR = 4.9 [1-25.4]) and CKD (OR = 3.2 [1.1-9.7]). CONCLUSION: High mortality rates are observed in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with a higher risk of dying in those with severe functional dependence or cognitive impairment. These findings reinforce the value of Geriatric Assessment to develop strategies to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making and to optimize care for elderly patients in the event of a new epidemic outbreak.

Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: rational basis in ongoing clinical trials.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) immunotherapy has recently begun to gain considerable attention as a potentially promising therapeutic approach to reducing the levels of Aß in the Central Nervous System (CNS) of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Despite extensive preclinical evidence showing that immunization with Aß(1-42) peptide can prevent or reverse the development of the neuropathological hallmarks of AD, in 2002, the clinical trial of AN-1792, the first trial involving an AD vaccine, was discontinued at Phase II when a subset of patients immunized with Aß(1-42) developed meningoencephalitis, thereby making it necessary to take a more refined and strategic approach towards developing novel Aß immunotherapy strategies by first constructing a safe and effective vaccine. This review describes the rational basis in modern clinical trials that have been designed to overcome the many challenges and known hurdles inherent to the search for effective AD immunotherapies. The precise delimitation of the most appropriate targets for AD vaccination remains a major point of discussion and emphasizes the need to target antigens in proteins involved in the early steps of the amyloid cascade. Other obstacles that have been clearly defined include the need to avoid unwanted anti-Aß/APP Th1 immune responses, the need to achieve adequate responses to vaccination in the elderly and the need for precise monitoring. Novel strategies have been implemented to overcome these problems including the use of N-terminal peptides as antigens, the development of DNA based epitope vaccines and vaccines based on passive immunotherapy, recruitment of patients at earlier stages with support of novel biomarkers, the use of new adjuvants, the use of foreign T cell epitopes and viral-like particles and adopting new efficacy endpoints. These strategies are currently being tested in over 10,000 patients enrolled in one of the more than 40 ongoing clinical trials, most of which are expected to report final results within two years.

Plasmatic level of neurosin predicts outcome of mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a disorder considered to be a transitional stage from health to dementia. Diagnosis of dementias at these early stages is always troublesome because the pathophysiologic events leading to dementia precede clinical symptoms. Thus, the development of biomarkers that can be used to support the diagnosis of dementias at early stages is rapidly becoming a high priority. We have recently reported the value of measuring plasmatic levels of neurosin in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to determine whether measuring plasmatic concentration of neurosin is a valuable test to predict progression of MCI. METHODS: Plasmatic neurosin concentrations were measured in 68 MCI patients and 70 controls subjects. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the study. Sixty six patients diagnosed with MCI were observed for 18 months. In 36 patients a second blood sample was obtained at the endpoint. RESULTS: The mean value of plasmatic neurosin concentration differs significantly between MCI patients who converted to Dementia with vascular component, those who converted to AD, or those who remained at MCI stage. The relative risk of developing Dementia with vascular component when neurosin levels are higher than 5.25 ng/ml is 13 while the relative risk of developing mild AD when neurosin levels are lower than 5.25 ng/ml is 2. Increases in the levels of neurosin indicate progression to Dementia with vascular component. CONCLUSION: The measurement of plasmatic neurosin level in patients diagnosed with MCI may predict conversion from MCI to Dementia with vascular component. A single measurement is also valuable to estimate the risk of developing AD and Dementia with vascular component. Finally, repeated measurement of plasmatic neurosin might be a useful test to predict outcome in patients with MCI.