Recognition of cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients: a flash mob study.

Background: It is important that healthcare professionals recognise cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients in order to address associated care needs, such as enhanced involvement of relatives and extra cognitive and functional support. However, studies analysing medical records suggest that healthcare professionals have low awareness of cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients, the percentage of patients in which cognitive dysfunction was recognised by healthcare professionals, and which variables were associated with recognition.

Initial cognitive response to cholinesterase inhibitors and subsequent long-term course in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Some guidelines recommend to discontinue treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) without an initial response to ChEI treatment. Evidence supporting this recommendation, however, is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relation between the initial cognitive response to ChEI treatment and the subsequent long-term course of cognition of AD patients.

Inappropriate benzodiazepine use in older adults and the risk of fracture.

Aims: The Beers criteria for prescribing in elderly are well known and used for many drug utilization studies. We investigated the clinical value of the Beers criteria for benzodiazepine use, notably the association between inappropriate use and risk of fracture.

Methods: We performed a nested case-control study within the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study in 7983 elderly.

Adverse drug reaction-related hospitalisations: a population-based cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate the extent, characteristics and determinants of adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related hospitalisations on a population-based level in 2003.

Methods: We performed a cohort study in the Integrated Primary Care Information (IPCI) database, a general practitioners (GPs) research database with longitudinal data from electronic patient records of a group of 150 GP throughout the Netherlands. Hospital discharge letters and patient records were reviewed to evaluate ADR-related hospitalisations applying WHO causality criteria.

Corticosteroids and the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Background: High-dose (pulse) corticosteroid therapy has been associated with the development of atrial fibrillation. This association, however, is mainly based on case reports.

Methods: To test the hypothesis that high-dose corticosteroid exposure increases the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, we performed a nested case-control study within the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study among 7983 older adults.

Adverse drug reaction-related hospitalisations: a nationwide study in The Netherlands.

Background: The incidence of adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related hospitalisations has usually been assessed within hospitals. Because of the variability in results and methodology, it is difficult to extrapolate these results to a national level.

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of ADR-related hospitalisations in The Netherlands in 2001.

Prolonged QTc interval and risk of sudden cardiac death in a population of older adults.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether prolongation of the heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death in the general population.

Background: In developed countries, sudden cardiac death is a major cause of cardiovascular mortality. Prolongation of the QTc interval has been associated with ventricular arrhythmias, but in most population-based studies no consistent association was found between QTc prolongation and total or cardiovascular mortality.

Inappropriate drug prescribing in older adults: the updated 2002 Beers criteria--a population-based cohort study.

Background: In 1997, Beers and colleagues developed explicit criteria for potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in ambulatory older adults aged 65 years and over. Several studies have been performed to estimate the prevalence of inappropriate drug prescribing based on these criteria. In 2002, the criteria were updated.

Drug-induced atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained rhythm disorder observed in clinical practice and predominantly associated with cardiovascular disorders such as coronary heart disease and hypertension. However, several classes of drugs may induce AF in patients without apparent heart disease or may precipitate the onset of AF in patients with preexisting heart disease. We reviewed the literature on drug-induced AF, using the PubMed/Medline and Micromedex databases and lateral references.

Plasma fluorescence scanning and fecal porphyrin analysis for the diagnosis of variegate porphyria: precise determination of sensitivity and specificity with detection of protoporphyrinogen oxidase mutations as a reference standard.

Background: Variegate porphyria (VP) is the autosomal dominant disorder associated with deficiency of the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX). Plasma fluorescence scanning has been reported to be a more sensitive test for VP than traditional fecal chromatography. Previous comparisons of these techniques predated identification of the PPOX gene.