A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Geriatrics Update: Clinical Pearls Course.

Background: The University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Annual Geriatrics Update: Clinical Pearls Course (Geriatrics Update) is a one-day, continuing medical education (CME) course designed to enhance geriatrics competency for family physicians (FPs), given increasing population age and complexity. We aimed to evaluate how the course meets FPs' perceived learning needs and identify modifications that may better support FPs.

Methods: Descriptive data from 2018-2019 course evaluation surveys including demographic data, evaluations, and narrative feedback from participating FPs.

Comparing frailty measures in their ability to predict adverse outcome among older residents of assisted living.

Background: Few studies have directly compared the competing approaches to identifying frailty in more vulnerable older populations. We examined the ability of two versions of a frailty index (43 vs. 83 items), the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty criteria, and the CHESS scale to accurately predict the occurrence of three outcomes among Assisted Living (AL) residents followed over one year.

Operationalizing frailty among older residents of assisted living facilities.

Background: Frailty in later life is viewed as a state of heightened vulnerability to poor outcomes. The utility of frailty as a measure of vulnerability in the assisted living (AL) population remains unexplored. We examined the feasibility and predictive accuracy of two different interpretations of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty criteria in a population-based sample of AL residents.

A pragmatic study exploring the prevention of delirium among hospitalized older hip fracture patients: Applying evidence to routine clinical practice using clinical decision support.

Delirium occurs in up to 65% of older hip fracture patients. Developing delirium in hospital has been associated with a variety of adverse outcomes. Trials have shown that multi-component preventive interventions can lower delirium rates.

Patient sex does not modify ejection fraction as a predictor of death in heart failure: insights from the APPROACH cohort.

Background: Normal and low ejection fraction (EF) heart failure patients appear to have similar outcomes.

Objective: The object of this study was to determine whether sex modifies the effects of left ventricular EF on prevalent heart failure mortality.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Living alone, patient sex and mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Psychosocial factors, including social support, affect outcomes of cardiovascular disease, but can be difficult to measure. Whether these factors have different effects on mortality post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in men and women is not clear.

Objective: To examine the association between living alone, a proxy for social support, and mortality postdischarge AMI and to explore whether this association is modified by patient sex.

Chronic cytomegalovirus infection and inflammation are associated with prevalent frailty in community-dwelling older women.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between asymptomatic chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and the frailty syndrome and to assess whether inflammation modifies this association.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Women's Health and Aging Study I & II, Baltimore, Maryland.