Comprehensive geriatric assessment as an essential tool to register or update DNR codes in a tertiary care hospital.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of Do not Resuscitate (DNR) code registration in patients with a geriatric profile admitted to Antwerp University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Flanders, Belgium, and the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) on DNR code registration.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of a population of 543 geriatric patients (mean age 82.4 ± 5.

Validation of SARC-F-Proxy for the Screening of Sarcopenia in Older Patients with Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives: The SARC-F is a validated questionnaire for the screening of sarcopenia in an older population. However, the clinical relevance of this self-reported questionnaire in patients with cognitive problems is questionable. This study aims to validate the SARC-F-Proxy as an alternative screening tool for sarcopenia in patients with cognitive impairment.

Muscle measurements in daily clinical practice: correlations between ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance analysis and hand grip strength.

Objectives: Muscle ultrasound is gaining importance as a measurement tool to evaluate sarcopenia in daily clinical practice. This study sought to collect reference values of the biceps brachii (BB) in healthy subjects, and to correlate them to bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and hand grip strength (HGS).

Methods: Ultrasound was used to measure muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle stiffness (EG).

Bedside medication review with cognitive and depression screening by a clinical pharmacist as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment in hospitalized older patients with polypharmacy: A pilot study.

Background: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent in older patients with multimorbidity and is associated with increased risk of adverse drug events. This pilot study investigated the added value of a bedside medication review with cognitive and depression screening by a clinical pharmacist to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and medication use issues in older patients with polypharmacy.

Methods And Results: In the period from September 2018 to March 2019, a clinical pharmacist took part in the comprehensive geriatric assessment of 37 older patients hospitalized at Antwerp University Hospital and conducted a medication review consisting of a record review, a bedside interview questionnaire covering medication use, evaluation of cognitive function (abbreviated MMSE), depression (GDS-4), and systematic check for possible PIMs (STOPP/START criteria).

Application of ultrasound for muscle assessment in sarcopenia: 2020 SARCUS update.

Purpose: In 2018, the SARCUS working group published a first article on the standardization of the use of ultrasound to assess muscle. Recommendations were made for patient positioning, system settings and components to be measured. Also, shortcomings in knowledge were mentioned.

[Validation of the Dutch EAT-10 for screening of oropharyngeal dysphagia in the elderly population].

The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in the elderly population >76y is estimated at 26%. OD can lead to malnutrition, depression, diminished quality of life and increased mortality in the elderly. Despite these important complications, OD is still underdiagnosed due to a lack of a reliable and easily applicable screening tool.

Usability and Pitfalls of Shear-Wave Elastography for Evaluation of Muscle Quality and Its Potential in Assessing Sarcopenia: A Review.

Sarcopenia is age-related progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Its prevalence is rising, which poses a burden for society because it increases disability and dependency and therefore raises health care costs. Muscle mass quality, however-an essential part of sarcopenia-is not easily diagnosable yet.

The association between muscle mass and the degree of myosteatosis of the psoas muscle and mortality in older patients with cancer.

Objective: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is used for oncological management in older patients. The evaluation of muscle characteristics is currently not included in the CGA. This study investigates whether muscle mass and the degree of myosteatosis is associated with mortality in older patients with cancer.

Physical components of frailty in predicting mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Objective: This study investigates physical, nutritional and psychological components of frailty in predicting postoperative mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: A single centre retrospective observational study was conducted from July 2015 until January 2019. Psychological, nutritional and physical components of frailty were measured.

Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Context: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This umbrella review presents the results of the Working Group on Nutritional Interventions.

Comprehensive Quantitative Spatiotemporal Gait Analysis Identifies Gait Characteristics for Early Dementia Subtyping in Community Dwelling Older Adults.

Recent studies associated gait patterns with cognitive impairment stages. The current study examined the relation between dementia type and spatiotemporal gait characteristics under different walking conditions in pre and mild neurocognitive disorder stage. Community-dwelling older adults (age 50+) with memory complaints consulting a memory clinic underwent, at baseline and during follow-up (every 4 months), a standard dementia assessment and a comprehensive spatiotemporal gait analysis [walking on an electronic walkway at usual pace (UP) with and without a counting-backwards (CW) or animal-reciting dual-task (AW), at fast (FP) and at slow (SP) pace].

The relation between mortality, intramuscular adipose tissue and sarcopenia in hospitalized geriatric patients.

Introduction: One of the biggest healthcare challenges that arises with increasing age expectations is sarcopenia. However, as a multi-dimensional construct with both neurological and musculoskeletal factors involved, the exact contribution of these different components of sarcopenia to mortality outcomes is not clear. Therefore, in mortality assessment, it is advisable to use subitems of sarcopenia such as the intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), instead of using sarcopenia as a construct itself.

Application of ultrasound for muscle assessment in sarcopenia: towards standardized measurements.

Purpose: Measurement of muscle mass is paramount in the screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia. Besides muscle quantity however, also quality assessment is important. Ultrasonography (US) has the advantage over dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and bio-impedance analysis (BIA) to give both quantitative and qualitative information on muscle.

Antidepressant use in older inpatients: current situation and application of the revised STOPP criteria.

Objectives: Antidepressant use increases as age rises. Moreover, older patients are more sensitive to side effects and drug interactions. This descriptive study aims to map antidepressant use among patients at the geriatrics department of a university hospital and to evaluate whether prescribing happens in an evidence-based manner.

Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis.

Background: in 2010, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) published a sarcopenia definition that aimed to foster advances in identifying and caring for people with sarcopenia. In early 2018, the Working Group met again (EWGSOP2) to update the original definition in order to reflect scientific and clinical evidence that has built over the last decade. This paper presents our updated findings.

Prevalence of sarcopenia and 9-year mortality in nursing home residents.

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. It is linked to functional decline, and secondary to this, to nursing home admission.

Aims: To look into the prevalence of sarcopenia in a nursing home population and to gain insight into the relation of sarcopenia with mortality in this cohort.

The impact of cognitive impairment on the physical ageing process.

Background: Physical decline and cognitive degeneration characterise the ageing process.

Aim: Physical parameters, performance and the functional indexes were studied in relation to age in healthy and cognitively impaired older persons to understand the interactions and changes during normal ageing, cognitive decline and progression to frailty.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was performed on a data registry of an ambulatory Memory Diagnosis Centre.

Correction to: The prevalence and health burden of malnutrition in Belgian older people in the community or residing in nursing homes: results of the NutriAction II study.

In the original publication, table row alignment was incorrectly formatted for all the tables. The corrected tables are given below.

The prevalence and health burden of malnutrition in Belgian older people in the community or residing in nursing homes: results of the NutriAction II study.

Introduction: In 2008, the NutriAction study showed that (risk of) malnutrition was highly prevalent (57%) among Belgian older people living in the community or in a nursing home. In 2013, this study was repeated to re-evaluate the occurrence of malnutrition, as well as mobility problems and dependence in activities of daily living (ADL).

Methods: Health care professionals (HCPs) associated with homecare organizations and nursing homes across Belgium were invited to screen their patients and complete an online questionnaire.

Prevalence of dynapenia and presarcopenia related to aging in adult community-dwelling Mexicans using two different cut-off points.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of dynapenia, presarcopenia, and sarcopenia in a Mexican community using two different cutoffs.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 724 subjects (521 women and 203 men) adults ≥ 50 years community-dwelling from Mexico City. We determined the prevalence of different muscle-related syndromes.

The mortality determinants of sarcopenia and comorbidities in hospitalized geriatric patients.

Objectives: Determine the influence of muscle mass, muscle strength, physical performance, nutritional status and certain comorbidities on the four years mortality risk of hospitalized geriatric patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: During hospitalization of the included geriatric patients, the determinants of sarcopenia and nutritional status were obtained.

Alzheimer's disease and driving: review of the literature and consensus guideline from Belgian dementia experts and the Belgian road safety institute endorsed by the Belgian Medical Association.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly prevalent condition and its prevalence is expected to further increase due to the aging of the general population. It is obvious that the diagnosis of AD has implications for driving. Finally, driving discussions are also emotionally charged because driving is associated with independence and personal identity.

Gait characteristics under different walking conditions: Association with the presence of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older people.

Background: Gait characteristics measured at usual pace may allow profiling in patients with cognitive problems. The influence of age, gender, leg length, modified speed or dual tasking is unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was performed on a data registry containing demographic, physical and spatial-temporal gait parameters recorded in five walking conditions with a GAITRite® electronic carpet in community-dwelling older persons with memory complaints.