Impact of an interventional bundle on complications associated with peripheral venous catheters in elderly patients.

Purpose: Elderly patients admitted to geriatrics departments often require peripheral venous catheters (PVC), which should be inserted and maintained following a series of preventive recommendations. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a training bundle comprising measures aimed at reducing complications associated with the use of PVC in elderly patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of patients who received a PVC within 24 h of admission to a geriatrics department.

An intergenerational programme delays health impairment in nursing home residents: the Duplo project.

Purpose: To analyse whether an intergenerational programme in which students interacted with institutionalised older persons had any impact on the older persons' functional status.

Methods: Each academic year, a group of older adults living in nursing homes were divided into two arms. For the next four months, the first group received daily visits from a group of students during which they followed a pre-established activity plan, whilst the other arm proceeded with their normal activity.

Aging in HIV-Infected Subjects: A New Scenario and a New View.

The prevalence of HIV-infected people aged 50 years or older is increasing rapidly; the proportion will increase from 28% to 73% in 2030. In addition, HIV-infected individuals may be more vulnerable to age-related condition. There is growing evidence that the prevalence of comorbidities and other age-related conditions (geriatric syndromes, functional or neurocognitive/mental problems, polypharmacy, and social difficulties) is higher in the HIV-infected population than in their uninfected counterparts.

An early intervention program for subacute physical disability related to musculoskeletal diseases in the elderly: a pilot study.

To evaluate the efficacy of a program for subacute physical disability due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the elderly. We carried out a randomized controlled evaluator-blinded intervention study in a health district (October 2005 to April 2008). Subjects older than 64, starting a subacute MSD episode of physical disability-defined as moderate disability or higher in the Rosser classification-and identified by general practitioners, were randomized into standard care or an early specific program.

Psychotropic medications and falls in nursing homes: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Psychotropic medications are very frequently used in nursing homes and have been associated with falls. Little is known on the potential differences between types and subtypes of these medications, and also regarding different prescription patterns.

Methods: Data from 4502 residents living in 41 nursing homes belonging to a Spanish private chain were collected during a study period of 1 month and analyzed.

[1st National Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics: expert consensus document].

On 2nd of June 2011 the Institut Català d' Oncologia l'Hospitalet--Hospital Duran i Reynals hosted the first Meeting of Multidisciplinary Work in Oncogeriatrics. The reason for the meeting, which follows on from an initiative of the Medical Societies of Radiotherapy, Oncology, Geriatrics and Gerontology and Palliative Care and Medical Oncology, was to initiate a joint line of work among the different specialties that generally take part in the handling of the elderly patient suffering from oncologic pathologies. This document summarises the different subjects covered during the Meeting.

[Vitamin D and fractures in the elderly].

Osteoporosis and the subsequent fractures caused by this are a source of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. It is also often the start of the cascade that culminates in frailty and dependence. Vitamin D has a direct relationship with the appearance of osteoporosis and with the risk of fractures.

Nutritional assessment of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs): recommendations of the task force on nutrition and ageing of the IAGG European region and the IANA.

Unintentional weight loss and Undernutrition are major problems among older people living in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF). Undernutrition manifests in LTCF particularly as weight loss and low Body Mass Index (BMI) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as with functional decline. There are many factors associated with poor nutritional status and affecting protein-energy intake and/or energy expenditure.

[HIV Infection in the elderly].

HIV infection is increasingly common in the elderly. This population is a heterogeneous group with particular epidemiologic characteristics and often with associated comorbidities, which frequently delay diagnosis and lead to poor immunological status at the start of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). There are no differences between elderly and young HIV infected patients in the recommended antiretroviral regimens.

The eldest of older adults living with HIV: response and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: The study objective was to analyze the characteristics and the response to therapy in the eldest of the older adults living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Methods: The study included a cohort of patients with human immunodeficiency virus aged 55 years or more on initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Immunologic and virologic response, morbidity, and mortality were assessed.

Epidemiology of hip fracture in the elderly in Spain.

Objective: To describe the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of hip fracture (HF) in patients aged 65 years or over in the various autonomous regions (AR) of Spain from the year 2000 to 2002 and to determine which factors affect in-hospital mortality.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study including all patients aged >65 years with acute hip fracture in the 19 AR of Spain from 2000 to 2002. Data were obtained from the National Record of the Minimum Basic Data Set of the Ministry of Health.

[General coordination of hospital activity].

The present article describes the organizational and general coordination measures taken by the hospital management to attend the 325 victims who arrived at our hospital after the terrorist attack on the morning of 11 March. Firstly, we summarize the activity performed by the extra-hospital emergency services and the distribution of the victims in centers. Secondly, we describe in greater detail the interventions performed to initiate the External Emergency Action Plan in our hospital, the triage system and identification of patients who used it, as well as the resources in terms of beds, operating rooms and personnel that were used on that day.