Executive summary of the consensus document for the training and development of clinical ultrasound in Internal Medicine: Recommendations from the Clinical Ultrasound Working Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (GTECO-SEMI).

INTRODUCTION: Given the increasing adoption of clinical ultrasound in medicine, it is essential to standardize its application, training, and research. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The purpose of this document is to provide consensus recommendations to address questions about the practice and operation of clinical ultrasound units. Nineteen experts and leaders from advanced clinical ultrasound units participated. A modified Delphi consensus method was used. RESULTS: A total of 137 consensus statements, based on evidence and expert opinion, were considered. The statements were distributed across 10 areas, and 99 recommendations achieved consensus. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus defines the most important aspects of clinical ultrasound in the field of Internal Medicine, with the aim of standardizing and promoting this healthcare advancement in its various aspects. The document has been prepared by the Clinical Ultrasound Working Group and endorsed by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Survival Impact of an On-Site Medicalization Program in the Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in 11 Nursing Homes.

BACKGROUND: The elderly admitted to nursing homes have especially suffered the havoc of the COVID-19 pandemic since most of them are not prepared to face such health problems. METHODS: An innovative coordinated on-site medicalization program (MP) in response to a sizeable COVID-19 outbreak in three consecutive waves was deployed, sharing coordination and resources among primary care, the referral hospital, and the eleven residences. The objectives were providing the best possible medical care to residents in their environment, avoiding dehumanization and loneliness of hospital admission, and reducing the saturation of hospitals and the risk of spreading the infection. The main outcomes were a composite endpoint of survival or optimal palliative care (SOPC), survival, and referral to the hospital. RESULTS: 587 of 1199 (49%) residents were infected, of whom 123 (21%) died. Patients diagnosed before the start of the MP presented SOPC, survival, and referrals to the hospital of 83%, 74%, and 22.4%, opposite to 96%, 84%, and 10.6% of patients diagnosed while the MP was set up. The SOPC was independently associated with an MP (OR 3.4 [1.6-7.2]). CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 outbreak, a coordinated MP successfully obtained a better rate of SOPC while simultaneously reducing the need for hospital admissions, combining optimal medical management with a more compassionate and humanistic approach in older people.

Health data hubs: an analysis of existing data governance features for research.

BACKGROUND: Digital transformation in healthcare and the growth of health data generation and collection are important challenges for the secondary use of healthcare records in the health research field. Likewise, due to the ethical and legal constraints for using sensitive data, understanding how health data are managed by dedicated infrastructures called data hubs is essential to facilitating data sharing and reuse. METHODS: To capture the different data governance behind health data hubs across Europe, a survey focused on analysing the feasibility of linking individual-level data between data collections and the generation of health data governance patterns was carried out. The target audience of this study was national, European, and global data hubs. In total, the designed survey was sent to a representative list of 99 health data hubs in January 2022. RESULTS: In total, 41 survey responses received until June 2022 were analysed. Stratification methods were performed to cover the different levels of granularity identified in some data hubs' characteristics. Firstly, a general pattern of data governance for data hubs was defined. Afterward, specific profiles were defined, generating specific data governance patterns through the stratifications in terms of the kind of organization (centralized versus decentralized) and role (data controller or data processor) of the health data hub respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the responses from health data hub respondents across Europe provided a list of the most frequent aspects, which concluded with a set of specific best practices on data management and governance, taking into account the constraints of sensitive data. In summary, a data hub should work in a centralized way, providing a Data Processing Agreement and a formal procedure to identify data providers, as well as data quality control, data integrity and anonymization methods.

FAIR principles to improve the impact on health research management outcomes.

Background: The FAIR principles, under the open science paradigm, aim to improve the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability of digital data. In this sense, the FAIR4Health project aimed to apply the FAIR principles in the health research field. For this purpose, a workflow and a set of tools were developed to apply FAIR principles in health research datasets, and validated through the demonstration of the potential impact that this strategy has on health research management outcomes. Objective: This paper aims to describe the analysis of the impact on health research management outcomes of the FAIR4Health solution. Methods: To analyse the impact on health research management outcomes in terms of time and economic savings, a survey was designed and sent to experts on data management with expertise in the use of the FAIR4Health solution. Then, differences between the time and costs needed to perform the techniques with (i) standalone research, and (ii) using the proposed solution, were analyzed. Results: In the context of the health research management outcomes, the survey analysis concluded that 56.57% of the time and 16800 EUR per month could be saved if the FAIR4Health solution is used. Conclusions: Adopting principles in health research through the FAIR4Health solution saves time and, consequently, costs in the execution of research involving data management techniques.

Physiotherapy in palliative medicine: patient and caregiver wellness.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the demonstrated efficacy of physiotherapy in palliative care programmes, there are scarce data of its real-life impact on patients' and caregivers' wellness and stress. Our aim was to assess effectiveness of a 30-day physiotherapy programme in psychological wellness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with advanced chronic diseases or cancer and in their caregivers' stress. METHODS: Quasiexperimental before-after study applying personalised kinesitherapy, exercise with curative effects, respiratory physiotherapy, therapeutic massages and ergotherapy. Psychological wellness, HRQoL and caregiver's strain outcomes were measured. RESULTS: 207 patients (60% men, with a mean age of 73.6±12 years) were included; 129 (62.3%) with advanced cancer, and the remaining 78 with advanced chronic diseases. Psychological wellness (Emotional Stress Detection Tool decreased from 12.4±3 to 11±3; p<0.0001), caregiver's strain (Caregiver Strain Index decreased from 8.5±3.2 to 7.9±3.5; p<0.0001) and HRQoL (WHO-BREF physical health domain increased from 8.3±2.6 to 9.4±2.9; p<0.0001) showed a significant improvement after the physiotherapy programme. Global satisfaction with the physiotherapy intervention was also high (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 of 28.3±3.3 points). CONCLUSIONS: A personalised physiotherapy programme incorporated to integral palliative care improved psychological wellness, HRQoL and caregivers' strain of patients with advanced chronic diseases and cancer.

Prognostic Significance of Lung and Cava Vein Ultrasound in Elderly Patients Admitted for Acute Heart Failure: PROFUND-IC Registry Analysis.

Introduction: Heart failure is an extremely prevalent disease in the elderly population of the world. Most patients present signs and symptoms of decompensation of the disease due to worsening congestion. This congestion has been clinically assessed through clinical signs and symptoms and complementary imaging tests, such as chest radiography. Recently, pulmonary and inferior vena cava ultrasound has been shown to be useful in assessing congestion but its prognostic significance in elderly patients has been less well evaluated. Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical and radiological characteristics and predictive values for mortality in patients admitted for heart failure through the determination of B lines by lung ultrasound and the degree of collapsibility of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Secondarily, the study aims to assess the prediction of 30-day mortality based on the diameter of the IVC by means of the ROC curve. Methods: This is an observational cohort study based on data collected in the PROFUND-IC study, a nationwide multicentric registry of patients admitted with decompensated heart failure. Data were collected from these patients between October 2020 and April 2022. Results: A total of 482 patients were entered into the PROFUND-IC registry between October 2020 and April 2022. Bedside clinical ultrasound was performed during admission in 301 patients (64.3%). The number of patients with more than 6 B-lines on lung ultrasound amounted to 194 (66%). Statistically significant differences in 30-day mortality (22.1% vs. 9.2%; p = 0.01) were found in these patients. The sum of patients with IVC collapsibility of less than 50% amounted to 195 (67%). Regarding prognostic value, collapsibility data were significant for the number of admissions in the last year (12.5% vs. 5.5%; p = 0.04), in-hospital mortality (10.1% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.04) and 30-day mortality (22.6% vs. 8.1%; p < 0.01), but not for readmissions. Regarding the prognostic value of IVC diameter for 30-day mortality, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.73, with a p < 0.01. The curve cut-off point with the highest sensitivity (70%) and specificity (70.3%) was for an IVC value of 22.5 mm. In the logistic regression analysis, we observed that the variable most associated with patient survival at 30 days was the presence of a collapsible inferior vena cava, with more than 50% OR 0.359 (CI 0.139−0.926; p = 0.034). Conclusions: The subgroups of patients analyzed with more than six B lines per field and IVC collapsibility less than or equal to 50%, as measured by clinical ultrasound, had higher 30-day mortality rates than patients who did not fall into these subgroups. IVC diameter may be a good independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with decompensated heart failure. Comparing both ultrasound variables, it seems that in our population, the assessment of the inferior vena cava may be more associated with short-term prognosis than the pulmonary congestion variables assessed by B lines.

Identification and characterisation of deprescribing tools for older patients: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Deprescription is the revision of the therapeutic plan with the aim of simplifying it, taking into account patient preferences, prognosis and environment. This strategy is particularly relevant in older patients, mostly polymedicated individuals, since they are exposed to numerous adverse effects and interactions and tend to have less adherence to treatments. OBJECTIVE: To identify the deprescribing tools for older patients available in the scientific literature, classify them according to their design and describe their main features and potential applicability in clinical practice. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE for relevant literature published before July 2021. The PRISMA-ScR method was applied, extracting variables related to study and tool characteristics as well as potential clinical applicability. The main inclusion criteria were studies focused on designing or developing deprescribing tools for older patients and those that indicated the features of the deprescribing tool used in detail. RESULTS: Fourteen of 723 papers met the inclusion criteria, and 12 tools were identified: 6 "algorithm-based tools" and 6 "criterion-based tools". Though all tools are aimed at older patients, there are certain peculiarities regarding their design, population, application setting and variables included. Of the 6 criterion-based tools found, 4 used the Delphi method for their design and development. Furthermore, most of them agree on the pharmacological groups that are likely to be deprescribed. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the importance of the clinical situation and priorities in the care plan in the deprescribing process, the authors believe that tools which help to evaluate these aspects are the most suitable for application in clinical practice. However, it is necessary to continue studying applicability in real-life clinical scenarios and to obtain health results.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Mortality Among Long-term Care Facility Residents Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 in Spain.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 severely impacted older adults and long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Our primary aim was to describe differences in clinical and epidemiological variables, in-hospital management, and outcomes between LTCF residents and community-dwelling older adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The secondary aim was to identify risk factors for mortality due to COVID-19 in hospitalized LTCF residents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis within a retrospective cohort of hospitalized patients ≥75 years with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to 160 Spanish hospitals. Differences between groups and factors associated with mortality among LTCF residents were assessed through comparisons and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 6 189 patients ≥75 years, 1 185 (19.1%) were LTCF residents and 4 548 (73.5%) were community-dwelling. LTCF residents were older (median: 87.4 vs 82.1 years), mostly female (61.6% vs 43.2%), had more severe functional dependence (47.0% vs 7.8%), more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index: 6 vs 5), had dementia more often (59.1% vs 14.4%), and had shorter duration of symptoms (median: 3 vs 6 days) than community-dwelling patients (all, p < .001). Mortality risk factors in LTCF residents were severe functional dependence (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-2.83; p = .012), dyspnea (1.66; 1.16-2.39; p = .004), SatO2 < 94% (1.73; 1.27-2.37; p = .001), temperature ≥ 37.8°C (1.62; 1.11-2.38; p = .013); qSOFA index ≥ 2 (1.62; 1.11-2.38; p = .013), bilateral infiltrates (1.98; 1.24-2.98; p < .001), and high C-reactive protein (1.005; 1.003-1.007; p < .001). In-hospital mortality was initially higher among LTCF residents (43.3% vs 39.7%), but lower after adjusting for sex, age, functional dependence, and comorbidities (aOR: 0.74, 95%CI: 0.62-0.87; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Basal functional status and COVID-19 severity are risk factors of mortality in LTCF residents. The lower adjusted mortality rate in LTCF residents may be explained by earlier identification, treatment, and hospitalization for COVID-19.

A randomized clinical trial of home telemonitoring in patients with advanced heart and lung diseases.

BRIEF SUMMARY: The addition of home monitoring to an integrated care model in patients with advanced chronic heart/lung diseases decreases mortality, hospital and emergency admissions, improves functional status, HRQoL, and is cost-effective. BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring is a promising implement for medicine, but its efficacy is unknown in patients with advanced heart and lung failure (AHLF). OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a telemonitoring system added to coordinated clinical care in patients with AHLF. DESIGN: Randomized phase 3 multicenter clinical trial with parallel groups in adult patients. PARTICIPANTS: Five spanish centers including patients with AHLF at discharge or in out-patient clinics. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to receive a remote bio-parameters telemonitoring system (TELECARE) or best usual care (UCARE). TELECARE patients were provided with devices that collected symptoms and bio-parameters, and transferred them synchronously to a call-center, with a real-time health-care response. MAIN MEASURES: Primary end point was the need of admissions/emergency room visits at 45, 90, 180 days. Secondary end points included health care requirements, mortality, functional assessment, health related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived satisfaction, and cost-efficacy. RESULTS: 510 patients were included (54.5% women, median age 76.5 years; 63.1% suffered heart failure, 13.9% lung failure, and 22.9% both conditions). Clinical and functional features were comparable in both arms. TELECARE globally needed less admissions with respect UCARE after 45 days of inclusion (35.4% vs. 46.9%, p < 0.05). This tendency was maintained in the subgroups of patients with multimorbidity (34.2% vs. 46.9%, p < 0.05), intermediate risk of mortality (36.5% vs. 51.1%, p < 0.05), and those included after hospital discharge (34.9% vs. 50.5%, p < 0.01). HRQoL significantly improved (TELECARE/UCARE EuroQol baseline of 56.2 ± 18.2/55.1 ± 19.7, p = 0.054, and 64 ± 19.9/56.3 ± 21.6; p < 0.01 at the end), and perceived satisfaction was also higher (6.77 ± 0.52 vs. 6.62 ± 0.81, p < 0.001; highest possible score = 7). A trend to mortality decrease was also observed (12.9% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.13). TELECARE was cost-efficacious (TELECARE/UCARE QALY 3.94 Euros/0.81Euros). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of a telemonitoring system to an integrated care model in patients with AHLF decreases hospital and emergency admissions, improves functional status as well as HRQoL, and is cost-efficacious.

Prediction Accuracy of Serial Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients (Pred-Echovid Study).

The value of serial lung ultrasound (LUS) in patients with COVID-19 is not well defined. In this multicenter prospective observational study, we aimed to assess the prognostic accuracy of serial LUS in patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19. The serial LUS protocol included two examinations (0-48 h and 72-96 h after admission) using a 10-zones sequence, and a 0 to 5 severity score. Primary combined endpoint was death or the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curves), and discrimination power (area under the ROC curve) of both ultrasound exams (SCORE1 and 2), and their difference (DIFFERENTIAL-SCORE) were performed. A total of 469 patients (54.2% women, median age 60 years) were included. The primary endpoint occurred in 51 patients (10.9%). Probability risk tertiles of SCORE1 and SCORE2 (0-11 points, 12-24 points, and ≥25 points) obtained a high calibration. SCORE-2 showed a higher discrimination power than SCORE-1 (AUC 0.72 (0.58-0.85) vs. 0.61 (0.52-0.7)). The DIFFERENTIAL-SCORE showed a higher discrimination power than SCORE-1 and SCORE-2 (AUC 0.78 (0.66-0.9)). An algorithm for clinical decision-making is proposed. Serial lung ultrasound performing two examinations during the first days of hospitalization is an accurate strategy for predicting clinical deterioration of patients with COVID-19.

Dorsalgia tras colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica / Back pain after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

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Oxidative Stress, Telomere Shortening, and Apoptosis Associated to Sarcopenia and Frailty in Patients with Multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND: The presence of oxidative stress, telomere shortening, and apoptosis in polypathological patients (PP) with sarcopenia and frailty remains unknown. METHODS: Multicentric prospective observational study in order to assess oxidative stress markers (catalase, glutathione reductase (GR), total antioxidant capacity to reactive oxygen species (TAC-ROS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), absolute telomere length (aTL), and apoptosis (DNA fragmentation) in peripheral blood samples of a hospital-based population of PP. Associations of these biomarkers to sarcopenia, frailty, functional status, and 12-month mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 444 recruited patients, 97 (21.8%), 278 (62.6%), and 80 (18%) were sarcopenic, frail, or both, respectively. Oxidative stress markers (lower TAC-ROS and higher SOD) were significantly enhanced and aTL significantly shortened in patients with sarcopenia, frailty or both syndromes. No evidence of apoptosis was detected in blood leukocytes of any of the patients. Both oxidative stress markers (GR, p = 0.04) and telomere shortening (p = 0.001) were associated to death risk and to less survival days. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress markers and telomere length were enhanced and shortened, respectively, in blood samples of polypathological patients with sarcopenia and/or frailty. Both were associated to decreased survival. They could be useful in the clinical practice to assess vulnerable populations with multimorbidity and of potential interest as therapeutic targets.

A multicenter randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of telemonitoring in patients with advanced heart and lung chronic failure. Study protocol for the ATLAN_TIC project.

BACKGROUND: Using technologies of information and communication (TICs) is emerging in medical assistance. TICs application for medical assistance is promising. Its applicability in advanced heart and/or respiratory failure is still controversial because studies have shown methodological weakness which could put in danger their conclusions. Our objective is to evaluate efficacy of the application of home monitoring biological parameters in a multi-level model of coordinated clinical care for patients with chronic diseases with advanced heart (HF) and/or respiratory failure (RF) in comparison with conventional clinical care. METHOD: /Design: Multicentric, phase III, randomized, parallel groups, controlled clinical trial. Patients with advanced HF and/or RF were eligible to participate. Patients received medical assistance by a multi-level model of coordinated clinical care with or without home monitoring. Follow up was performed until 180 days after inclusion. Primary efficacy outcome was defined as the percentage of patients with hospitalization/emergency room visits. Secondary efficacy outcomes were hospital admissions, admissions to hospital emergencies and Primary Care Emergencies, number of days of hospital stay, total cost per patient in euros, mortality, change in functional status, quality of life, assistance and technology devices. Intention to treat, as well as per protocol, and incremental cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. The number of recruits patients per arm is set at 255, a total of 510 patients. DISCUSSION: This trial could provide some knowledge about the real impact of home monitoring for patients with advanced HF and/or RF within a multi-level model of integrated care.

A multidisciplinary approach for patients with multiple chronic conditions: IMPACTO study / Plan de asistencia continuada multidisciplinar a pacientes pluripatológicos: estudio IMPACTO

Background and objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention on the outcomes of polypathological patients (PP). Methods: A multicenter quasi-experimental pre-post study with a 12-month follow up was performed. In-hospital, at discharge and outpatient clinics patients who met criteria of PP between March 2012 and October 2013 were included. The multidisciplinary approach was defined by 11 interventions performed by general practitioners, internal medicine physicians, team care nurses and hospital pharmacists. The primary outcome was reduction in the number of hospital admissions and days of hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included mortality and the effects of 11 interventions on mortality. Results: 420 patients were included. Mean patient age was 77.3 (SD: 8.90) and average number of PP defining categories was 2.99 (SD: 1.00). Number of hospital admissions and days of hospitalization decreased significantly after intervention: 1.52 (SD: 1.35) versus 0.82 (SD: 1.29), p<0.001, and 13.77 (SD: 15.20) versus 7.21 (SD: 12.90), p<0.001 respectively. 12-month mortality was 37.7%. PP who failed to receive a structured medical visit from the internal medicine physician and educational workshops from the team care nurses had a higher risk of exitus in the next 12 months, HR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15-2.46, p=0.007 and HR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.92-4.27, p<0.001, respectively. Conclusions: This multidisciplinary intervention reduced the risk of PP hospital admission and days of hospitalization. Educational workshop programs for PP and their caregivers and structured IM medical visits were associated with improvements of survival

Introducción y objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los resultados en salud tras la implantación de una intervención multidisciplinar a pacientes pluripatológicos (PP). Metodología: Se realizó un estudio multicéntrico antes-después cuasi-experimental, con seguimiento a 12 meses. Se incluyeron pacientes que cumplían los criterios de PP entre marzo de 2012 y octubre de 2013, tanto en el ámbito hospitalario como en atención primaria. El enfoque multidisciplinar fue definido por 11 intervenciones realizadas por médicos de familia, médicos internistas, enfermeras y farmacéuticos hospitalarios. El resultado fundamental fue la reducción en el número de ingresos hospitalarios y días de hospitalización al año de seguimiento. Los resultados secundarios incluyeron la mortalidad y los efectos de las intervenciones sobre la misma. Resultados: Se incluyeron 420 pacientes. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 77,3 (DE: 8,90) y la media de categorías definitorias de PP fue de 2,99 (DE: 1,00). El número de ingresos hospitalarios y los días de hospitalización disminuyeron significativamente después de la intervención: 1,52 (DE: 1,35) versus 0,82 (DE: 1,29), p<0,001 y 13,77 (DE: 15,20) versus 7,21 (DE: 12,90), p<0,001, respectivamente. La mortalidad a los 12 meses fue del 37,7%. Los PP que no recibieron la visita médica estructurada del médico internista tras la inclusión y los talleres educativos de las enfermeras tuvieron un mayor riesgo de exitus en los 12 meses de seguimiento, HR: 1,68; IC del 95%: 1,15-2,46, p=0,007 y HR: 2,86; IC del 95%: 1,92-4,27, p<0,001, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Esta intervención multidisciplinaria reduce el riesgo de ingreso y los días de ingreso hospitalario en PP. Los programas de talleres educativos para PP y sus cuidadores, y las visitas médicas estructuradas por parte de medicina interna se asociaron con una mayor supervivencia

Concordance between the Clinical Definition of Polypathological Patient versus Automated Detection by Means of Combined Identification through ICD-9-CM Codes.

It is unknown whether the digital application of automated ICD-9-CM codes recorded in the medical history are useful for a first screening in the detection of polypathological patients. In this study, the objective was to identify the degree of intra- and inter-observer concordance in the identification of in-patient polypathological patients between the standard clinical identification method and a new automatic method, using the basic minimum data set of ICD-9-CM codes in the digital medical history. For this, a cross-sectional multicenter study with 1518 administratively discharged patients from Andalusian hospitals during the period of 2013-2014 has been carried out. For the concordance between the clinical definition of a polypathological patient and the polypathological patient classification according to ICD-9-CM coding, a 0.661 kappa was obtained (95% confidence interval (CI); 0.622-0.701) with p < 0.0001. The intraclass correlation coefficient between both methods for the number of polypathological patient categories was 0.745 (95% CI; 0.721-0.768; p < 0.0001). The values of sensitivity, specificity, positive-, and negative predictive values of the automated detection using ICD-9-CM coding were 78%, 88%, 78%, and 88%, respectively. As conclusion, the automatic identification of polypathological patients by detecting ICD-9-CM codes is useful as a screening method for in-hospital patients.

Impact of Sarcopenia and Frailty in a Multicenter Cohort of Polypathological Patients.

The prevalence, relationships and outcomes of sarcopenia and frailty in polypathological patients remain unknown. We performed a multicenter prospective observational study in six hospitals in order to assess prevalence, clinical features, outcome and associated risk factors of sarcopenia and frailty in a hospital-based population of polypathological patients. The cohort was recruited by performing prevalence surveys every 14 days during the inclusion period (March 2012-June 2016). Sarcopenia was assessed by means of EWGSOP criteria and frailty by means of Fried's criteria. Skeletal muscle mass was measured by tetrapolar bioimpedanciometry. All patients were followed for 12 months. Factors associated with sarcopenia, frailty and mortality were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier curves. A total of 444 patients (77.3 ± 8.4 years, 55% males) were included. Sarcopenia was present in 97 patients (21.8%), this being moderate in 54 (12.2%), and severe in 43 (9.6%); frailty was present in 278 patients (62.6%), and 140 (31.6%) were pre-frail; combined sarcopenia and frailty were present in the same patient in 80 (18%) patients. Factors independently associated to the presence of both, sarcopenia and frailty were female gender, older age, different chronic conditions, poor functional status, low body mass index, asthenia and depressive disorders, and low leucocytes and lymphocytes count. Mortality in the 12-months follow-up period was 40%. Patients with sarcopenia, frailty or both survived significantly less than those without these conditions. Sarcopenia and frailty are frequent and interrelated conditions in polypathological patients, shadowing their survival. Their early recognition and management could improve health-related outcomes in this population.

A multidisciplinary approach for patients with multiple chronic conditions: IMPACTO study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention on the outcomes of polypathological patients (PP). METHODS: A multicenter quasi-experimental pre-post study with a 12-month follow up was performed. In-hospital, at discharge and outpatient clinics patients who met criteria of PP between March 2012 and October 2013 were included. The multidisciplinary approach was defined by 11 interventions performed by general practitioners, internal medicine physicians, team care nurses and hospital pharmacists. The primary outcome was reduction in the number of hospital admissions and days of hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included mortality and the effects of 11 interventions on mortality. RESULTS: 420 patients were included. Mean patient age was 77.3 (SD: 8.90) and average number of PP defining categories was 2.99 (SD: 1.00). Number of hospital admissions and days of hospitalization decreased significantly after intervention: 1.52 (SD: 1.35) versus 0.82 (SD: 1.29), p<0.001, and 13.77 (SD: 15.20) versus 7.21 (SD: 12.90), p<0.001 respectively. 12-month mortality was 37.7%. PP who failed to receive a structured medical visit from the internal medicine physician and educational workshops from the team care nurses had a higher risk of exitus in the next 12 months, HR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.15-2.46, p=0.007 and HR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.92-4.27, p<0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This multidisciplinary intervention reduced the risk of PP hospital admission and days of hospitalization. Educational workshop programs for PP and their caregivers and structured IM medical visits were associated with improvements of survival.