The association between Norton scale gain and functional outcome among older hip fracture patients.

Aim: This study examines interrelations between gains of Norton Scale Score (NSS) and functional outcome measured by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) among older hip fracture patients.

Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: We examined 227 patients consecutively hospitalized in a geriatric postacute rehabilitation ward.

Prerehabilitation alanine aminotransferase blood levels and one-year mortality rates in older adults following hip fracture.

Low alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood levels prior to rehabilitation are associated with poor function in older adults following hip fracture. We hypothesized that low ALT blood levels prior to rehabilitation were also associated with one-year mortality in this population. Included were 456 older adults (age ≥ 60 years, 82.

Statins and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are Associated with Longer Survival in Nursing Home Residents.

Background: Statins and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have beneficial effects on health outcomes in the general population. Their effect on survival in debilitated nursing home residents is unknown.

Objectives: To assess the relationships between statins, SSRIs, and survival of nursing home residents.

Functional Outcome of Elderly Hip Fracture Patients Is Not Affected By Prefracture Dementia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine whether a diagnosis of prefracture dementia (PFD) affects functional outcome at discharge from a geriatric rehabilitation setting.

Design: A total of 211 consecutive elderly hip fracture patients were evaluated retrospectively. We used the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and analyzed data by t test, χ(2) test, and multiple linear regression analysis.

Alanine aminotransferase blood levels and rehabilitation outcome in older adults following hip fracture surgery.

Low alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood levels are associated with frailty and poor outcome in older adults. Therefore, we studied the association between ALT blood levels before rehabilitation and rehabilitation outcome in older adults following hip fracture surgery. A total of 490 older adults (age>60 years, mean age: 82.

Does Polypharmacy in Nursing Homes Affect Long-Term Mortality?

Objectives: To investigate the association between polypharmacy and mortality in nursing home (NH) residents.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Settings: Six NHs in central Israel.

Pre-stroke dementia does not affect the post-acute care functional outcome of old patients with ischemic stroke.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether a diagnosis of dementia before stroke onset (pre-stroke dementia [PSD]) affects the short-term functional outcome of elderly ischemic stroke patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study comprising of consecutive elderly ischemic stroke patients. Functional outcome was assessed by the Functional Independence Measure scale (FIM) at admission and discharge.

Functional gain following rehabilitation of recurrent ischemic stroke in the elderly: experience of a post-acute care rehabilitation setting.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether rehabilitation of patients with recurrent ischemic strokes is associated with functional gain. We studied a total of 919 consecutive post-acute ischemic stroke elderly patients admitted for rehabilitation. 22% out of the patients had recurrent stroke on index day.

Perioperative urinary retention, short-term functional outcome and mortality rates of elderly hip fracture patients.

Aim: Perioperative urinary retention (POUR) is common among hip fracture patients. The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence, risk factors, functional outcomes and survival rates of patients with and without POUR.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study that was carried out in an orthogeriatric hip fracture unit.

Rates, variability, and associated factors of polypharmacy in nursing home patients.

Objectives: To determine the rate and variability of polypharmacy in nursing home (NH) residents and investigate its relationship to age, sex, functional status, length of stay, and comorbidities.

Methods: We conducted a cross sectional, multicenter study that included six nursing homes. Demographic, clinical characteristics, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), the number and classes of chronic medications, rate of polypharmacy >5 drugs (per day) and polypharmacy >7 drugs (per day) were recorded.

Gender differences in functional outcome of elderly hip fracture patients.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether gender might affect functional outcome of hip fractured patients undergoing in-hospital rehabilitation.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study comprising of 759 consecutive elderly patients suffering traumatic hip fracture. All patients underwent a standard orthogeriatric care of surgical hip repair and post-acute rehabilitation care.

Short-term functional outcome of ischemic stroke in the elderly: a comparative study of atrial fibrillation and non-atrial fibrillation patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether atrial fibrillation affects the short-term functional outcome of elderly patients with ischemic stroke, undergoing post-acute in-hospital rehabilitation. We studied 919 consecutive patients admitted for ischemic stroke rehabilitation, out of whom 19.6% were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

A cost-utility analysis of a comprehensive orthogeriatric care for hip fracture patients, compared with standard of care treatment.

Background: The economic burden associated with hip fractures calls for the investigation of innovative new cost-utility forms of organisation and integration of services for these patients.

Objective: To carry out a cost-utility analysis integrating epidemiological and economic aspects for hip fracture patients treated within a comprehensive orthogeriatric model (COGM) of care, as compared with standard of care model (SOCM).

Design: A demonstration study conducted in a major tertiary medical centre, operating both a COGM ward and standard orthopaedic and rehabilitation wards.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube feeding of nursing home residents is not associated with improved body composition parameters.

Objectives: To study differences in nutritional status and body composition, by feeding modality, among disabled nursing home residents.

Design: A retrospective chart-review study.

Setting: A nursing wing of a public urban geriatric center.

Eating management and functional outcome of elderly patients with symptomatic ischemic stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether, and to what extent, post-stroke eating management (EM) at admission to a rehabilitation ward is associated with functional outcome.

Methods: This was a retrospective study comprising 716 consecutive elderly patients with first ever symptomatic ischemic stroke. Level of eating management was determined by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) subscale scores relevant to eating management, where scores ≤ 5 points define low-eating management (Low-EM) ability and scores >5 indicate independent eating management.

Increased 1-year mortality rates among elderly hip fracture patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background And Aims: Prediction of factors associated with survival following hip fracture is important. We studied crude and adjusted survival rates in elderly hip fracture patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) to assess possible risk of death associated with AF.

Methods: A historical prospective cohort study, comprising 1114 consecutive patients with hip fractures.

Skeletal muscle mass abnormalities are associated with survival rates of institutionalized elderly nursing home residents.

Background: Knowledge about the changes in skeletal muscle mass in nursing home residents is very limited. We hypothesized that such patients have different types of skeletal muscle mass abnormalities that may affect mortality rates. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and extent of skeletal muscle mass decline, its different clinical phenotypes (sarcopenia, wasting/atrophy and cachexia) and the mortality rates associated with these abnormalities.

Atrial fibrillation is not associated with rehabilitation outcomes of elderly hip fracture patients.

Aim: To study possible differences in rehabilitation outcomes of patients with hip fracture, with and without atrial fibrillation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study comprising 1114 patients, divided into three groups: patients with sinus rhythm, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or chronic atrial fibrillation. All patients underwent a standard orthogeriatric care comprising surgical hip repair and a rehabilitation course.

Atrial fibrillation predicts cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as a risk factor for cognitive impairment.

Methods: This retrospective chart review study was conducted in a patient stroke rehabilitation ward of a university-affiliated referral hospital. The participants were 707 patients admitted for a standard rehabilitation course after an ischemic stroke.

Gender and the functional outcome of elderly ischemic stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gender on the functional outcome after ischemic stroke. In a retrospective chart review we studied 919 survivors of ischemic stroke admitted for rehabilitation at a geriatric rehabilitation ward of a university affiliated hospital. Functional outcome of female and male patients was assessed by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) at admission and discharge.

Functional outcome of elderly survivors of ischemic stroke: a retrospective study comparing nonhypercholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic patients.

Background: Total cholesterol is significantly associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. Patients with ischemic stroke and high cholesterol levels may show better functional outcome after rehabilitation.

Objectives: To study the possible interrelations between hypercholesterolemia and functional outcome in elderly survivors of ischemic stroke.

Improved survival of hip fracture patients treated within a comprehensive geriatric hip fracture unit, compared with standard of care treatment.

Objectives: To compare survival rates of hip fracture patients treated within a comprehensive geriatric hip fracture unit (CGHFU) with those undergoing a standard of care treatment (SOCT) in general orthopedic wards.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: A geriatric hip fracture unit of a division of geriatric medicine and rehabilitation and departments of general orthopedic surgery of a tertiary hospital.

MK-0677 (ibutamoren mesylate) for the treatment of patients recovering from hip fracture: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIb study.

Most elderly patients admitted for hip fracture suffer functional decline. Previous studies with MK-0677 in hip fracture patients suggested possible benefits to functional recovery. This is a randomized, double-blind study of 123 elderly hip fracture patients assigned to receive 25mg/day of MK-0677 (n = 62) or placebo (n = 61).

[The bacteriological profile of bacteriuria in residents of a long-term geriatric facility].

Background: Little is known on the bacteriological profile of consecutive urine samples in elderly patients institutionalized in nursing homes.

Aim: This retrospective study aims to characterize urinary pathogens, rates of isolation of the same pathogen in subsequent urine samples and predicting factors associated with such repeated isolations. Data were retrospectively retrieved from medical charts of nursing home patients during a four-year period.

Elevated blood urea, independent of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), confers increased risk of adverse functional outcome in elderly hip fracture patients.

This retrospective cohort study investigated the possible interrelations of GFR and functional outcome in elderly hip fracture patients. The final analyses comprised 499 consecutive patients undergoing standard medical, surgical and rehabilitation treatment in an orthogeriatric unit of a tertiary care hospital. Functional outcomes were assessed by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM™) scores.