Prevalence of anemia in skilled-nursing home residents.

Anemia is a frequent problem among older persons, the prevalence of which may be particularly high in skilled-nursing facilities but recent data in this regard is lacking. The purpose of this study was to define the prevalence of anemia and its association with hospitalization in skilled-nursing home residents. We retrospectively reviewed randomly selected charts among five skilled-nursing facilities within the National Geriatrics Research Consortium (NGRC).

Mechanisms of unexplained anemia in the nursing home.

Objectives: To characterize anemia in elderly nursing home residents.

Design: Prospective multiinstitutional cohort study.

Setting: Five nursing homes.

The effect of nutritional status on length of stay in elderly hip fracture patients.

Background: In this period of cost constraints, any indicator, such as nutritional status, which may predict the outcome of rehabilitation for a common problem, such as hip fractures, merits evaluation.

Methods: Nutritional indices--serum albumin, cholesterol, and body mass index--were assessed in 114 subacute rehabilitation hip fracture patients.

Results: Hypoalbuminemia was very common, occurring in 101 of 114 patients (88.

Use of a reduced-carbohydrate, modified-fat enteral formula for improving metabolic control and clinical outcomes in long-term care residents with type 2 diabetes: results of a pilot trial.

Physiologic responses of 30 enterally-fed long-term care residents with type 2 diabetes receiving total nutrition support via either a disease-specific (reduced-carbohydrate, modified-fat) formula or a standard high-carbohydrate formula for 3 mo were compared. Objectives of the study included evaluating metabolic response (glycemic control and lipids) and clinical outcomes. Thirty-four subjects requiring total enteral nutrition support by tube were enrolled in this prospectively randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel group 3-mo pilot trial.

Seroprevalence of tetanus antibodies among adults older than 65 years.

Study Objective: To define the extent of immunity against tetanus among patients older than 65 years of age by measuring antitetanus antibody levels.

Methods: A convenience sample of 129 patients from an urban comprehensive care geriatric center was studied. Serum was obtained and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing performed.