Frailty assessment in geriatric trauma patients: comparing the predictive value of the full and a condensed version of the Fried frailty phenotype.

Background: Frailty is associated with multiple negative outcomes in geriatric trauma patients. Simultaneously, frailty assessment including physical measurements for weakness (grip strength) and slowness (gait speed) poses challenges in this vulnerable patient group. We aimed to compare the full 5-component Fried Frailty Phenotype (fFP) and a condensed model (cFP) without physical measurements, with regard to predicting hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge disposition (DD).

Effect of vitamin D, omega-3 supplementation, or a home exercise program on muscle mass and sarcopenia: DO-HEALTH trial.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of daily supplemental vitamin D, omega-3s, and a thrice-weekly home exercise program, alone or in combination, on change of appendicular lean muscle mass index (ALMI) and incident sarcopenia in older adults.

Methods: This is a secondary endpoint analysis of a 3-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design among 2157 community-dwelling, healthy adults aged 70 + years, from 2012 to 2018 (DO-HEALTH). Participants were randomized to 2000 IU/d vitamin D and/or 1 g/d marine omega-3s and/or exercise.

Does Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Reduce the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium? A Quasi-experimental Study in Older Adults Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Purpose: Postoperative delirium (POD) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is frequent in older adults and associated with multiple negative outcomes including a higher mortality. We aimed to investigate whether a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) prior to TAVI reduces the odds of POD and results in a positive change in self-care ability, intended to lay a foundation for future geriatric comanagement.

Patients And Methods: We used a retrospective, single-center study with a quasi-experimental design enrolling patients aged 70 years and older undergoing CGA before elective TAVI, and a nonrandomized comparison group without preoperative CGA.

Validation of the ICEBERG emergency room screening tool for early identification of older patients with geriatric consultation needs.

Background: The growing number of older and oldest-old patients often present in the emergency room (ER) with undiagnosed geriatric syndromes posing them at high risk for complications in acute care.

Objective: To develop and validate an ER screening tool (ICEBERG) to capture 9 geriatric domains of risk in older patients.

Design Setting And Participants: For construct validity we performed a chart-based study in 129 ER patients age 70 years and older admitted to acute geriatric care (pilot 1).

Grip strength cut-points from the Swiss DO-HEALTH population.

Background: While grip strength (GS) is commonly assessed using a Dynamometer, the Martin Vigorimeter was proposed as an alternative method especially in older adults. However, its reference values for Swiss older adults are missing. We therefore aimed to derive sex- and age-specific GS cut-points for the dominant and non-dominant hand (DH; NDH) using the Martin Vigorimeter.

[Benefit of a Geriatric Evaluation before Operations, Interventions and Oncological Therapies].

Benefit of a Geriatric Evaluation before Operations, Interventions and Oncological Therapies Older patients face an increased risk of complications and adverse outcomes during and after operations, interventions, and intense oncological therapies. At the same time, this patient group should not be excluded per se from potentially beneficial medical procedures based on chronological age alone. The timely identification of geriatric syndromes and increased vulnerability by means of comprehensive geriatric assessment is becoming increasingly important and is already recommended in the guidelines of professional societies of several medical disciplines.

Feasibility of a 12-Month Follow-Up in Swiss Older Adults after Post-Acute Care in Nursing Homes-A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: Post-acute care (PAC) aims to support functional recovery in older adults after acute hospitalization in order to regain a sufficient level of self-care facilitating their return home. However, the long-term outcomes of PAC are understudied due to challenges in recording a follow-up. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a 12-month follow-up after PAC in Swiss nursing homes, examining practicability and potential factors influencing participation rate.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Pre-Frailty and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Adults 70+: The 3-Year DO-HEALTH Study.

The Mediterranean diet has been associated with many health benefits. Therefore, we investigated whether the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline, or changes in adherence over time, were associated with the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in generally healthy older adults. This study used the DO-HEALTH trial data.

Prevalence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns in Generally Healthy European Adults Aged 70 Years and Older-Baseline Results From the DO-HEALTH Clinical Trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is important for healthy aging and disease prevention whereas sedentary behavior (SB) accelerates health deterioration.

Aim: To investigate activity profiles regarding PA and SB among generally healthy European older adults.

Methods: Meeting PA recommendations was defined as ≥150 min/week of moderate and/or ≥75 min/week of vigorous PA.

Prevalence of healthy aging among community dwelling adults age 70 and older from five European countries.

Background: To compare the prevalence of healthy aging among adults age 70 and older from 5 European countries recruited for the DO-HEALTH clinical trial. Participants were selected for absence of prior major health events.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of DO-HEALTH baseline data.

Swiss Frailty Network and Repository: protocol of a Swiss Personalized Health Network's driver project observational study.

Introduction: Early identification of frailty by clinical instruments or accumulation of deficit indexes can contribute to improve healthcare for older adults, including the prevention of negative outcomes in acute care. However, conflicting evidence exists on how to best capture frailty in this setting. Simultaneously, the increasing utilisation of electronic health records (EHRs) opens up new possibilities for research and patient care, including frailty.

Are patients with cognitive impairment fit to fly? Current evidence and practical recommendations.

Background: The worldwide prevalence of dementia is increasing and represents a major public health concern. In the last decades, air travel services have undergone an impressive expansion and one of ten passengers is aged 65 years and older. While air travel can be stressful at all ages and health conditions, older individuals with cognitive impairment carry a greater risk for air-travel-related complications.

Frailty, underweight and impaired mobility are associated with institutionalisation after post-acute care.

Aims Of The Study: Post-acute care (PAC) is intended for older adult patients who are unable to return home directly after acute hospitalisation but who do not otherwise qualify for specific rehabilitation. However, data on potential predictors of PAC outcomes remain limited. Our aim was to identify patient characteristics upon admission to PAC that are associated with subsequent institutionalisation.

Do older adults benefit from post-acute care following hospitalisation? A prospective cohort study at three Swiss nursing homes.

Background: Post-acute care (PAC) programmes appear favourable for older adult inpatients too fragile to be discharged home without extensive support, but otherwise not qualifying for specific rehabilitation. Consequently, many Swiss nursing homes have opened PAC wards after a new federal law refined reimbursement in 2012. However, PAC outcomes in this setting have not been well studied.

Polypharmacy and Kidney Function in Community-Dwelling Adults Age 60 Years and Older: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objectives: Information on the impact of polypharmacy on kidney function in older adults is limited. We prospectively investigated the association between intake of total number of drugs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and kidney function.

Design: Our study is a prospective observational analysis of the 2-year Zurich Multiple Endpoint Vitamin D Trial in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients.

Effect of 2000 IU compared with 800 IU vitamin D on cognitive performance among adults age 60 years and older: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Findings on the effects of vitamin D on cognitive performance have been inconsistent and no clinical trials with detailed cognitive testing in healthy older adults have been reported.

Objectives: We tested whether 2000 IU is superior to 800 IU vitamin D3/d for cognitive performance among relatively healthy older adults.

Design: We analyzed data on cognitive performance as the secondary outcome of a 2-y double-blind randomized controlled trial that originally investigated the effect of vitamin D3 on knee function and pain in seniors with osteoarthritis.

Which Method of Fall Ascertainment Captures the Most Falls in Prefrail and Frail Seniors?

There is no consensus on the most reliable method of ascertaining falls among the elderly. Therefore, we investigated which method captured the most falls among prefrail and frail seniors from 2 randomized controlled trials conducted in Zurich, Switzerland: an 18-month trial (2009-2010) including 200 community-dwelling prefrail seniors with a prior fall and a 12-month trial (2005-2008) including 173 frail seniors with acute hip fracture. Both trials included the same methods of fall ascertainment: monthly active asking, daily self-report diary entries, and a call-in hotline.

[Bruxism in connection with neurocognitive disorders].

Diurnal bruxism (teeth grinding) is known as a symptom of neurocognitive disorders. However, the scientific basis regarding underlying mechanisms, influencing factors and treatment options is still scarce and large knowledge gaps exist. According to Kwak et al.

Fulminant liver failure in Wilson's disease with histologic features of postinfantile giant cell hepatitis; cytomegalovirus as the trigger for both?

Giant cell hepatitis is a well-known histological feature of several neonatal and infantile liver diseases. In contrast, postinfantile giant cell hepatitis is rarely identified in adult liver biopsies. It has been associated with varying etiologies, mainly viral infections, drug toxicity, and autoimmunity.