Deprescribing in older patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in a cohort of older adults with advanced cancer referred to palliative care. Secondary objectives were to describe the categories of identified PIMs and assess risk factors associated with their presence in this population.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study evaluated patients with advanced cancer admitted to a tertiary university hospital in Madrid, Spain and referred to palliative care between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020.

Characteristics, hospital referrals and 60-day mortality of older patients living in nursing homes with COVID-19 assessed by a liaison geriatric team during the first wave: a research article.

Background: The infection by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has been especially serious in older patients. The aim of this study is to describe baseline and clinical characteristics, hospital referrals, 60-day mortality, factors associated with hospital referrals and mortality in older patients living in nursing homes (NH) with suspected COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed during March and April 2020 of institutionalized patients assessed by a liaison geriatric hospital-based team.

[Inappropriate drug use in palliative care: SPANISH version of the STOPP-Frail criteria (STOPP-Pal)].

Multiple medication and inappropriate drug prescription are prevalent and challenging problems in older patients in end-of-life situations, and increases both preventable adverse events and health care costs. Recent literature recommends de-prescribing some drugs in patients with short life expectancy, when the aim of drug treatments is not prevention or cure, but symptom control. Recently, a list of explicit criteria (STOPP-Frail) intended to guide prescribing physicians in decision making on the use of drugs in older patients with terminal conditions.

[Regional protocol for adjusting the therapeutic intensity. Southern Metropolitan Area of Barcelona].

The identification of patients with advanced and complex chronic diseases, and the fragmentation of care towards the end of life, requires the drawing up a long-term therapeutic plan. This should take into account the values and preferences of the patients, as well as the vital and functional prognosis. Having an adjustment tool for determining the diagnostic and therapeutic effort is helpful in the continuity of care, as well as in decision-making in the transitions and dynamic changes of patients as they approach the end of life process.

[Analysis of palliative sedation in hospitalised elderly patients: Effectiveness of a protocol].

Objective: To measure changes in the practice of palliative sedation during agony in hospitalised elderly patients before and after the implementation of a palliative sedation protocol.

Material And Methods: A retrospective before-after study was performed in hospitalised patients over 65 years old who received midazolam during hospital admission and died in the hospital in two 3-month periods, before and after the implementation of the protocol. Non-sedative uses of midazolam and patients in intensive care were excluded.