The association between Norton scale gain and functional outcome among older hip fracture patients.

Aim: This study examines interrelations between gains of Norton Scale Score (NSS) and functional outcome measured by Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) among older hip fracture patients.

Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: We examined 227 patients consecutively hospitalized in a geriatric postacute rehabilitation ward.

An Information Theory Approach for the Analysis of Individual and Combined Evaluation Parameters of Multiple Age-Related Diseases.

In view of the frequent presence of several aging-related diseases in geriatric patients, there is a need to develop analytical methodologies that would be able to perform diagnostic evaluation of several diseases at once by individual or combined evaluation parameters and select the most informative parameters or parameter combinations. So far there have been no established formal methods to enable such capabilities. We develop a new formal method for the evaluation of multiple age-related diseases by calculating the informative values (normalized mutual information) of particular parameters or parameter combinations on particular diseases, and then combine the ranks of informative values to provide an overall estimation (or correlation) on several diseases at once.

Functional Outcome of Elderly Hip Fracture Patients Is Not Affected By Prefracture Dementia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine whether a diagnosis of prefracture dementia (PFD) affects functional outcome at discharge from a geriatric rehabilitation setting.

Design: A total of 211 consecutive elderly hip fracture patients were evaluated retrospectively. We used the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and analyzed data by t test, χ(2) test, and multiple linear regression analysis.

The application of information theory for the estimation of old-age multimorbidity.

Elderly patients are commonly characterized by the presence of several chronic aging-related diseases at once, or old-age "multimorbidity," with critical implications for diagnosis and therapy. However, at the present there is no agreed or formal method to diagnose or even define "multimorbidity." There is also no formal quantitative method to evaluate the effects of individual or combined diagnostic parameters and therapeutic interventions on multimorbidity.

Low Borderline Levels of Serum Vitamin B12 May Predict Cognitive Decline in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients.

Background: The progression from cognitive impairment to dementia is a multifactorial process that involves genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be an important factor in the progress from cognitive decline to dementia.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between borderline low level of vitamin B12 (≤ 350 pg/ml) and cognitive decline among a group of elderly hip fracture patients.

Impact of the Holocaust on the Rehabilitation Outcome of Older Patients Sustaining a Hip Fracture.

Background: Holocaust survivors report a much higher prevalence of osteoporosis and fracture in the hip joint compared to those who were not Holocaust survivors.

Objectives: To evaluate whether being a Holocaust survivor could affect the functional outcome of hip fracture in patients 64 years of age and older undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study compromising 140 consecutive hip fracture patients was conducted in a geriatric and rehabilitation department of a university-affiliated hospital.

The impact of refeeding on blood fatty acids and amino acid profiles in elderly patients: a metabolomic analysis.

Background: Refeeding of elderly frail patients after food deprivation is commonly associated with a high mortality rate.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of refeeding on metabolite fluctuation of blood carnitine fatty acids (15 compounds) and free amino acids (14 compounds).

Methods: Metabolite fluctuation was followed up in an exploratory, cohort, and noninterventional study in elderly and frail patients (84.

Phenytoin blood concentrations in hospitalized geriatric patients: oral versus nasogastric feeding tube administration.

Many medications administered to frail geriatric patients are not in a liquid form, but are crushed and dissolved in water before their administration through a nasogastric tube (NGT). Some medications are enteric coated and others are extended release. Only sparse information is available on their pharmacokinetics when administered through NGT.

Serum trace elements in elderly frail patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Microelements have an important role in many vital enzymatic functions. Their optimal intake and serum concentration are not properly defined. For nursing home residents, this issue is further complicated by the high prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

QT interval disturbances in hospitalized elderly patients.

Background: The QT interval reflects the total duration of ventricular myocardial repolarization. Its prolongation is associated with increased risk of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or torsade de pointes, which can be fatal.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of both prolonged and short QT interval in patients admitted to an acute geriatric ward.

Mortality after nasogastric tube feeding initiation in long-term care elderly with oropharyngeal dysphagia--the contribution of refeeding syndrome.

Background: The refeeding syndrome (RS) is an underappreciated but clinically important entity characterized by acute electrolyte abnormalities, mainly hypophosphatemia, fluid retention and dysfunction of various organs and systems, which can result in significant morbidity and occasionally death.

Objective: To examine the incidence of death cases and death causes following nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding initiation in frail elderly with particular reference to RS.

Methods: Forty patients with feeding problems for at least 72 h before restarting of alimentation by NGT were included.

Renal effects of low dose aspirin in elderly patients.

Background: Aspirin is commonly used by elderly patients. In previous studies we found transient changes in renal function induced by low doses of aspirin.

Objectives: To investigate the mechanisms of these effects.

Attitudes of relatives and nursing staff toward tuboenteral feeding in severely demented patients.

Elderly patients with advanced dementia present a challenge with respect to efficient nutrition and hydration because of oropharyngeal dysphagia and lack of patient cooperation. For increasing numbers of patients, long-term tuboenteral feeding (TEF) is an alternative for providing food and fluids, with the hope of reducing the risk of aspiration. The purpose of this study is to learn about the opinions and the attitudes of relatives and nursing staff regarding patients on TEF for at least one year.

Early and late effects of low-dose aspirin on renal function in elderly patients.

Background: Although low-dose aspirin is used by many elderly patients, monitoring of renal function is currently not recommended. We recently reported transient retention of uric acid and creatinine caused by aspirin in doses of 75 to 325 mg/d. We therefore evaluated the renal effects of aspirin (100 mg/d), including post-treatment effects.