Barriers and facilitators for physical activity on acute geriatric and rehabilitation wards: a survey study.

Objectives: During hospitalisation, physical inactivity is common among older patients and is associated with adverse outcomes, e.g. functional decline.

Prognostic factors and prediction model for 1-year mortality after proximal humeral fracture.

Unlabelled: The goal was to investigate if patient characteristics can be used to predict 1-year post-fracture mortality after proximal humeral fracture (PHF). A clinical prediction model showed that the combination of 6 pre-fracture characteristics demonstrated good predictive properties for mortality within 1 year of PHF.

Introduction: Proximal humeral fractures (PFH) are the third most common major non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures in older persons and result in an increased mortality risk.

Association between preoperative anxiety and postoperative delirium in older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication associated with multiple adverse consequences on patient outcomes and higher medical expenses. Preoperative anxiety has been suggested as a possible precipitating factor for the development of POD. As such, we aimed to explore the association between preoperative anxiety and POD in older surgical patients.

Effectiveness of transmural team-based palliative care in prevention of hospitalizations in patients at the end of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Team-based palliative care interventions have shown positive results for patients at the end of life in both hospital and community settings. However, evidence on the effectiveness of transmural, that is, spanning hospital and home, team-based palliative care collaborations is limited.

Aim: To systematically review whether transmural team-based palliative care interventions can prevent hospital admissions and increase death at home.

Experiences with the implementation of remote monitoring in patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study with patients and healthcare professionals.

Introduction: This study investigated how patients with COVID-19, telemonitoring (TM) teams, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses in Belgium experienced remote patient monitoring (RPM) in 12 healthcare organizations, in relation to the patients' illness, health, and care needs, perceived quality of care, patient and health system outcomes, and implementation challenges.

Design: A qualitative research approach was adopted, including focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews.

Methods: Four different groups of participants were interviewed, that is, patients (n = 17), TM teams (n = 27), GPs (n = 16), and primary care nurses (n = 12).

Prediction models for functional status in community dwelling older adults: a systematic review.

Background: Disability poses a burden for older persons, and is associated with poor outcomes and high societal costs. Prediction models could potentially identify persons who are at risk for disability. An up to date review of such models is missing.

How to implement geriatric co-management in your hospital? Insights from the G-COACH feasibility study.

Background: Geriatric co-management is advocated to manage frail patients in the hospital, but there is no guidance on how to implement such programmes in practice. This paper reports our experiences with implementing the 'Geriatric CO-mAnagement for Cardiology patients in the Hospital' (G-COACH) programme. We investigated if G-COACH was feasible to perform after the initial adoption, investigated how well the implementation strategy was able to achieve the implementation targets, determined how patients experienced receiving G-COACH, and determined how healthcare professionals experienced the implementation of G-COACH.

Patient-related risk factors for in-hospital functional decline in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Functional decline (FD) is a common and serious problem among hospitalised older adults.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to identify patient-related risk factors for in-hospital FD in older adults.

Methods: Previous reviews on this topic (1970-2007) and the databases PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL (January 2007-December 2020) were searched.

Identifying vulnerable older adults at risk for functional decline in cardiac care wards: time to shift the paradigm.

Objective: To determine whether routine screening with the Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (fTRST) is a valid approach to determine which patients on cardiac care wards are at risk for inhospital functional decline and would benefit from geriatric expertise consultation.

Methods: A secondary data-analysis of the G-COACH before-cohort, describing patient profiles and routine care processes, in 189 older adults on two cardiac care wards in the University Hospitals Leuven between September 2016 and June 2017. Inhospital functional decline was defined as an increase of at least one point on the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living or death between hospital admission and discharge.

Prediction models for hospital readmissions in patients with heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To describe the discrimination and calibration of clinical prediction models, identify characteristics that contribute to better predictions and investigate predictors that are associated with unplanned hospital readmissions.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Source: Medline, EMBASE, ICTPR (for study protocols) and Web of Science (for conference proceedings) were searched up to 25 August 2020.

Care programs and their components for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review.

Background: The multidimensional and complex care needs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) call for appropriate care models. This systematic review aimed to identify care models or components thereof that have been developed for patients with IPF in the outpatient clinical care, to describe their characteristics from the perspective of chronic integrated care and to describe their outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using state-of-the-art methodology with searches in PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Web Of Science.

Geriatric co-management for cardiology patients in the hospital: A quasi-experimental study.

Background/objectives: Older patients admitted to cardiac care units often suffer functional decline. We evaluated whether a nurse-led geriatric co-management program leads to better functional status at hospital discharge.

Design: A quasi-experimental before-and-after study was performed between September 2016 and December 2018, with the main endpoint at hospital discharge and follow-up at 6 months.

Is preoperative anxiety associated with postoperative delirium in older persons undergoing cardiac surgery? Secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although many studies have reported numerous risk factors for postoperative delirium, data are scarce about preoperative anxiety as a risk factor. The study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative anxiety and postoperative delirium in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of a randomized, observer-blind, controlled trial.

Adherence to recommendations of inpatient geriatric consultation teams: a multicenter observational study.

Purpose: Inpatient geriatric consultation teams (IGCTs) provide recommendations for the care of older patients hospitalized on non-geriatric wards based on comprehensive geriatric assessment. The lack of adherence to their recommendations hinders the potential impact of IGCTs. We evaluated the adherence to IGCT recommendations and determined which team and recommendation characteristics are related to higher adherence rates.

Predicting hospitalisation-associated functional decline in older patients admitted to a cardiac care unit with cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Up to one in three of older patients who are hospitalised develop functional decline, which is associated with sustained disability, institutionalisation and death. This study developed and validated a clinical prediction model that identifies patients who are at risk for functional decline during hospitalisation. The predictive value of the model was compared against three models that were developed for patients admitted to a general medical ward.

Impact of geriatric co-management programmes on outcomes in older surgical patients: update of recent evidence.

Purpose Of Review: To determine the impact of geriatric co-management programmes on outcomes in older patients undergoing a surgical procedure.

Recent Findings: Twelve programmes were identified. Time to surgery was decreased in two of four studies [pooled mean difference = -0.

Clinical Outcomes of Rate vs Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation in Older People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent in older adults and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. To reduce this AF-related morbidity in older adults, antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are regularly used for rhythm control, assuming that increasing time in sinus rhythm reduces AF-related morbidity. However, whether AADs can improve clinical outcomes in older adults remains unclear because of the increased risk for adverse drug events compared with rate control.

Geriatric CO-mAnagement for Cardiology patients in the Hospital (G-COACH): study protocol of a prospective before-after effectiveness-implementation study.

Introduction: Although the majority of older patients admitted to a cardiology unit present with at least one geriatric syndrome, guidelines on managing heart disease often do not consider the complex needs of frail older patients. Geriatric co-management has demonstrated potential to improve functional status, and reduce complications and length of stay, but evidence on the effectiveness in cardiology patients is lacking. This study aims to determine if geriatric co-management is superior to usual care in preventing functional decline, complications, mortality, readmission rates, reducing length of stay and improving quality of life in older patients admitted for acute heart disease or for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and to identify determinants of success for geriatric co-management in this population.

Quality indicators for in-hospital geriatric co-management programmes: a systematic literature review and international Delphi study.

Objective: To find consensus on appropriate and feasible structure, process and outcome indicators for the evaluation of in-hospital geriatric co-management programmes.

Design: An international two-round Delphi study based on a systematic literature review (searching databases, reference lists, prospective citations and trial registers).

Setting: Western Europe and the USA.

Hospitalization-associated disability in older adults with valvular heart disease: incidence, risk factors and its association with care processes.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and recovery of hospitalisation-associated disability (HAD), the associated risk factors, and the link with care processes in patients aged 70 years or older hospitalised with valvular heart disease (VHD).

Methods: Prospective cohort study performed on the cardiology and cardiac surgery units of University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. HAD was defined as the loss of independence to complete one of the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) between hospital admission and discharge.

Effectiveness of in-hospital geriatric co-management: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: geriatric consultation teams have failed to impact clinical outcomes prompting geriatric co-management programmes to emerge as a promising strategy to manage frail patients on non-geriatric wards.

Objective: to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of in-hospital geriatric co-management.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and CENTRAL were searched from inception to 6 May 2016.

The European Union's Ambient and Assisted Living Joint Programme: An evaluation of its impact on population health and well-being.

The Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme, instituted in 2008 by the European Union, aimed to create better living conditions for older adults through the funding of information and communications technology projects. This review aimed to uncover what can be learned from the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme by determining (1) the target populations served, (2) technology-based interventions used and (3) effects on health and well-being outcomes. Information from the Ambient Assisted Living catalogue, project websites and deliverables and from papers in PubMed and EMBASE was reviewed.