Recently, vitamin D has aroused considerable interest for several reasons. Many epidemiological studies have shown a widespread deficiency of vitamin D at all ages, and the recent finding that many organs and tissues have vitamin D receptors has fostered the clinical and biological relevance of vitamin D. Elderly people are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency if their life style entails few outdoor activities, their skin is thick and they exhibit impairment of renal function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study explored the effect of multimorbidity, cognitive and physical impairment, and sociodemographic factors on the choice of allocation of geriatric patients at hospital discharge.
Design: Cross-sectional study
Setting And Participants: Eight hundred thirty patients 65 years or older admitted into an acute geriatric ward in Italy were evaluated (1998-2000).
Measurements: Social characteristics before hospitalization, multimorbidity, physical functioning, and cognitive status were related to allocation of living place after hospitalization (home, rehabilitation unit, or nursing home).
Background And Aims: Understanding which patients benefit from rehabilitation programs may be useful in balancing resources and needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cognitive and nutritional status are associated with functional improvement after rehabilitation in old persons.
Methods: 2650 patients (aged > or =60 years) consecutively admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation unit in Italy between August 2001 and December 2005, were included.