Publications by authors named "Elisabetta Tonon"
Dementia Day Care Centres (DDCCs) are defined as services providing care and rehabilitation to people with dementia associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) in a semi-residential setting. According to available evidence, DDCCs may decrease BPSD, depressive symptoms and caregiver burden. The present position paper reports a consensus of Italian experts of different disciplines regarding DDCCs and includes recommendations about architectural features, requirements of personnel, psychosocial interventions, management of psychoactive drug treatment, prevention and care of geriatric syndromes, and support to family caregivers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To compare one-year mortality risk associated with syncope and unexplained fall in older adults with dementia.
Methods: 522 patients (aged >65 years) with dementia and history of transient loss of consciousness and/or unexplained falls were evaluated. The diagnosis of syncope was based on European Society of Cardiology guidelines.
Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and the long-term outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with dementia and history of syncope or falls.
Design: Observational: analysis of a prospective registry.
Setting And Participants: Between 2012 and 2016, the Syncope and Dementia Registry enrolled patients in 12 geriatric departments.
Background: Long QT and use of QT-prolonging drugs are common among older patients receiving polytherapies, but real-world evidence on their impact in clinical practice is controversial. We investigated prevalence, variables associated and clinical implications of prolonged corrected QT (QTc) among patients from the Syncope and Dementia study.
Methods: Observational, prospective, multicenter study.
Importance: The prognostic role of high blood pressure and the aggressiveness of blood pressure lowering in dementia are not well characterized.
Objective: To assess whether office blood pressure, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or the use of antihypertensive drugs (AHDs) predict the progression of cognitive decline in patients with overt dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Design, Setting, And Participants: Cohort study between June 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012, with a median 9-month follow-up of patients with dementia and MCI in 2 outpatient memory clinics.
Objective: Recent guidelines have widened clinical indications for out-of-office blood pressure measurement, including home blood pressure monitoring and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), suggesting the latter as recommended method in cognitively impaired patients. There is, however, a widespread belief that ABPM could be poorly tolerated in dementia, often leading to withdraw from its use in these patients.
Aim: To assess the actual tolerability of ABPM in a group of cognitively impaired elderly, affected by dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Objective: To assess the effects of Day Care (DC) on older subjects with dementia and their caregivers.
Methods: Thirty patients with dementia, consecutively admitted to a DC, were compared with 30 patients, matched for age and cognitive function, who received usual home care (HC). Primary caregivers were compared as well.
Objective: We investigated cardiac and vascular remodeling in an unselected older population with either diastolic hypertension (HTN) or isolated systolic hypertension (ISH).
Background: Isolated systolic hypertension accounts for a substantial proportion of hypertension in individuals older than 65 years and is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events. The exact mechanisms underlying the increased risk associated with ISH and elevated pulse pressure (PP), in comparison with HTN, have not been extensively investigated.