Has Muscle Power Better Discriminative Capacity Compared To Muscle Strength In Predicting Worsening Disability In Older Adults?

Background: Poor muscle strength is a risk factor for disability; nonetheless its discriminative capacity in identifying people who will become disabled is poor. We evaluated whether muscle power, which also is a risk factor for disability, has better discriminative capacity compared to muscle strength.

Methods: We used data from the population based InCHIANTI study.

Mediterranean Diet in Older Adults: Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality from Observational and Interventional Studies-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/objectives: there is conflicting evidence on the role of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) in reducing the risk of long-term outcomes in older adults. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of high adherence to MD in reducing all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes among older adults.

Methods: PubMed database was searched up to 31 May 2023.

Perceived Health Status Predicts Resilience after Hip Fracture in Older People.

Perceived health status (PHS) is associated with various health outcomes in older adults, but its relationship with resilience in the context of events with a major impact on functional status (FS), such as hip fracture, has not been explored. Our objective was to evaluate whether older adults who report good PHS before a hip fracture have a higher probability of returning to their baseline physical performance (PP) and personal independence. We analyzed data from waves 1 and 2 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study, enrolling patients ≥ 65 years who experienced a hip fracture between these two waves.

Breath Analysis via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in Chronic Coronary Syndrome (CCS): A Proof-of-Concept Study.

This proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in profiling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from exhaled breath as a diagnostic tool for the chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Exhaled air was collected from patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (ICA), with all samples obtained prior to ICA. Post hoc, patients were divided into groups based on coronary lesion severity and indications for revascularization.

Remifentanil Target-controlled Infusion Versus Standard of Care for Conscious Sedation During Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration and Biopsy: A Randomized, Prospective, Control Study.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure that has become an important tool in the diagnosis and staging of mediastinal lymph node lesions in lung cancer. Adequate sedation is an important part of the procedure as it provides patient comfort and potentially increases diagnostic yield. The sedation modality varies among centers and includes moderate sedation/conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia.

Long COVID Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Burden of Age and Vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID, which presents a significant challenge due to its varied symptoms and unpredictable course, particularly in older adults. Similar to COVID-19 infections, factors such as age, pre-existing health conditions, and vaccination status may influence the occurrence and severity of long COVID. The objective is to analyze the role of aging in the context of long COVID and to investigate prevalence rates and vaccination efficacy to improve prevention strategies and treatment in this age group.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and disease burden of chronic cough in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Chronic cough has been associated with reduced health-related quality of life, negative impacts on sleep, work, and other daily activities, and increased use of health care resources. Little is known about the prevalence of chronic cough in Italy. In the present study we sought to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough in Italy, describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with chronic cough, and characterize the impact of chronic cough on overall health and wellness, work and other daily activities, and health care resource use.

Electrocardiographic alterations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and its incidence has grown within several years, quickly becoming the third leading cause of mortality. The disease is characterized by alveolar destruction, air-trapping, and chronic inflammation due to persistent exposure to a large spectrum of harmful particles. The diagnosis of COPD is made by demonstration of persistent and not fully reversible airflow limitation, and different phenotypes may be recognized based on pathophysiological, clinical, and radiological features.

Clinical outcomes and phenotypes of respiratory failure in older subjects admitted to an acute care geriatric hospital ward.

Respiratory failure (RF) is frequent in hospitalized older patients, but was never systematically investigated in large populations of older hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective administrative study based on hospitalizations of a Geriatrics Unit regarding 2014, 2015, and 2016. Patients underwent daily screening for hypoxia.

Poor accuracy and sustainability of the first-step FIB4 EASL pathway for stratifying steatotic liver disease risk in the general population.

Background And Aims: The European Association for the Study of the Liver introduced a clinical pathway (EASL CP) for screening significant/advanced fibrosis in people at risk of steatotic liver disease (SLD). We assessed the performance of the first-step FIB4 EASL CP in the general population across different SLD risk groups (MASLD, Met-ALD and ALD) and various age classes.

Methods: We analysed a total of 3372 individuals at risk of SLD from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES17-18), projected to 152.

Diaphragmatic ultrasound evaluation in acute heart failure: clinical and functional associations.

Heart failure patients often experience respiratory symptoms due to diaphragmatic involvement, but the diaphragmatic motion in heart failure remains understudied. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between ultrasonographically assessed diaphragmatic motion and thickness with cardiac performance indexes in an emergency setting. Seventy-two acutely decompensated heart failure patients and 100 non-heart failure individuals were enrolled.

Effect of Macronutrients or Micronutrients Supplementation on Nutritional Status, Physical Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Given the importance that a correct and balanced nutrition has on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), supplementation of macro and micronutrients has been proposed, but the results of previous meta-analyses are contrasting. We performed an update of the latest evidence through a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to assess the role of nutritional supplements in improving nutritional status, pulmonary function, physical performance, and quality of life of these patients.We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 01-01-2010 and 11-01-2023 evaluating the effectiveness of nutritional support in patients affected by stable COPD with an intervention of at least 2 weeks.

Appropriateness of direct oral anticoagulant prescribing in older subjects with atrial fibrillation discharged from acute medical wards.

Aims: Knowledge on the prescriptive practice of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in older subjects with atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalized in acute medical wards is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and appropriateness of DOAC prescriptions in hospitalized older subjects with AF, discharged from acute medical wards.

Methods: We analysed a cohort of 609 subjects with AF, aged ≥65 years (mean age 85 years) enrolled from 39 geriatric and nephrology wards in Italy.

Kodamaea ohmeri Leg Skin Ulcer Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.

Introduction: Kodamaea ohmeri is an emerging fungus recognised as an important pathogen in immunocompromised hosts, responsible for life-threatening infections.

Case Presentation: We describe a case of a 69-year-old immunocompetent man with a long history of leg skin ulcers infected by K. ohmeri.

Dementia, osteoporosis and fragility fractures: Intricate epidemiological relationships, plausible biological connections, and twisted clinical practices.

Dementia, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures are chronic diseases, often co-existing in older adults. These conditions pose severe morbidity, long-term disability, and mortality, with relevant socioeconomic implications. While in the research arena, the discussion remains on whether dementia is the cause or the consequence of fragility fractures, healthcare professionals need a better understanding of the interplay between such conditions from epidemiological and physiological standpoints.