Hydration Status Assessment in Older Patients.

Background: Hydration disturbances are common in old age: the reported prevalence of dehydration in elderly patients ranges from 19% to 89%, depending on the definition and the population in question. However, the clinical assessment of patients' hydration status is difficult. In this review, we discuss the diagnostic value of currently used methods that may or may not be suitable for assessing older patients' hydration status.

[Geriatric assessment-evidence and application in otorhinolaryngology].

Background: Like most medical disciplines, otorhinolaryngology is confronted with an increasing number of elderly and very old patients. In addition to the challenges of diagnostics and treatment, questions related to the influence of geriatric multimorbidity and functional limitations on treatment decisions and success also arise.

Materials And Methods: A literature search was performed on the use of geriatric assessment instruments in otorhinolaryngology.

[Operative risk of geriatric patients in cardiac surgery].

Background: Despite substantial progress in interventional cardiology, there are still many geriatric patients who require cardiac surgery. Estimation of the operative risk is therefore of great importance.

Objective: The prognostic value of the geriatric assessment for estimation of the operative risk was evaluated.

Geriatric patients with cognitive impairment.

Background: Hospitals are now faced with increasing numbers of cognitively impaired patients aged 80 and older who are at increased risk of treatment complications. This study concerns the outcomes when such patients are treated in a specialized ward for cognitive geriatric medicine.

Methods: Observation of a cohort of 2084 patients from 2009 to 2014, supplemented by a sample of 380 patients from the hospital cohort of the Longitudinal Urban Cohort Ageing Study (LUCAS) for the years 2010 and 2011.

Treatment of dementia patients with fracture of the proximal femur in a specialized geriatric care unit compared to conventional geriatric care.

To prove the efficiency of a specialized geriatric ward (cognitive geriatric unit, CGU) for patients with a fracture of the proximal femur and additional dementia, we conducted a matched-pair analysis comparing 96 patients with fracture of the proximal femur and additional dementia matched for age, sex, surgical treatment and the degree of cognitive impairment by MMSE score. A total of 48 patients were treated in the CGU, offering extended geriatric assessment, special education of staff, and architecture appropriate for patients with cognitive decline. Target criteria were a gain in the Barthel index and Tinetti score, the length of stay, new admissions to nursing home, the frequency of neuroleptic, antidepressant, and antidementive medication, and the number of specified clinical diagnoses for the dementia syndrome.

[Evidence-based treatment for elderly patients in cardiology].

More than half of all patients hospitalized with cardiovascular disease today are older than 75 years. The evidence level for recommendations in cardiovascular guidelines is often low despite the large number of randomized trials. This is especially true for elderly patients who have not been represented well in cardiovascular trials.

Evaluation of operative risk in elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement: the predictive value of operative risk scores.

Objectives: An increasing number of elderly patients develop aortic valve disease requiring surgery. Operative risk scores are currently used to identify patients at high operative risk who may benefit from interventional treatment options. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of these risk scores in geriatric patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Reperfusion therapy for acute ST-elevation and non ST-elevation myocardial infarction: what can be achieved in daily clinical practice in unselected patients at an interventional center?

Background: In the year 2000 a new definition of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was introduced, now differentiating ST segment elevation AMI (STEMI) from non-ST segment elevation AMI (NSTEMI). The characterization of AMI patients according to this definition is still incomplete.

Methods And Results: 888 consecutive AMI patients at a single interventional center were included: 493 (55.

Antibody levels against Chlamydia pneumoniae and outcome of roxithromycin therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Results from a sub-study of the randomised Antibiotic Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction (ANTIBIO) trial.

Background: Results of studies concerning prevention of cardiovascular disease by treatment with macrolide antibiotics targeting C. pneumoniae infection are still controversial. This study describes the results of different tests for infection with C.

Too little aspirin for secondary prevention after acute myocardial infarction in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events: Results from the MITRA study.

Background: A meta-analysis of randomized trials has shown a significant reduction of mortality rate in patients receiving aspirin for secondary prevention after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, a significant number of patients do not receive aspirin after AMI. Little is known about why aspirin is withheld or the long-term outcome of these patients today.

Laboratory monitoring of heparin and the combination of heparin and the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antibody fragment abciximab (c7E3) in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Background: Previous studies in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have restricted laboratory monitoring to the activated clotting time (ACT). It remains unknown whether the ACT-prolonging effect of abciximab is clinically equivalent to a comparable degree of anti-coagulation by heparin.

Patients And Methods: 30 patients undergoing PTCA received 100 IU of heparin/kg body weight.

Antibiotic therapy after acute myocardial infarction: a prospective randomized study.

Background: Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae is suspected to contribute to the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis. We investigated whether treatment with the macrolide antibiotic roxithromycin would reduce mortality or morbidity in patients with an acute myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: Eight hundred seventy-two patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were randomly assigned to receive double-blind treatment with either 300 mg roxithromycin or placebo daily for 6 weeks.

[Use of heparin in acute myocardial infarction in routine clinical practice in Germany. Results of the MITRA and MIR registries].

Objective: Among other adjunctive medication, heparin is widely used in the therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) today. Large randomized trials, however, have shown inconclusive data on the benefit of adjunctive heparin therapy for patients with AMI. The aim of this study was to describe the use of heparin and complication rates in routine clinical practice today.

[Not Available].

Objective Among other adjunctive medication, heparin is widely used in the therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) today. Large randomized trials, however, have shown inconclusive data on the benefit of adjunctive heparin therapy for patients with AMI. The aim of this study was to describe the use of heparin and complication rates in routine clinical practice today.

Characterization and clinical course of patients not receiving aspirin for acute myocardial infarction: results from the MITRA and MIR studies.

Background: Clinical trials have shown the efficacy of aspirin for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, not all patients receive aspirin for AMI. The aim of this study was to provide information on characteristics and clinical course of patients not treated with aspirin for AMI.