Safety, Effectiveness, and Immunogenicity 6 Months After BNT162B2 mRNA Vaccine in Frail Nursing Home Residents.

Background: Elderly people who reside in long-term care facilities form a frail and vulnerable population, with multiple pathologies and high percentages of cognitive and functional disability.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the safety of vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in frail nursing home residents and to evaluate its effectiveness 6 months after full vaccination.

Design: This was an ambispective observational study.

[Seasonal flu vaccination for older people: Evaluation of the quadrivalent vaccine. Positioning report].

Influenza is a significant health problem, particularly in those persons susceptible to having associated complications, older people, children less than 2 years, patients with chronic diseases, immunocompromised patients, and pregnant women. But influenza also has a large impact on the health system, with an increase in the healthcare demand and a spectacular increase in outpatient visits, overloading the emergency and hospital services. During epidemic outbreaks, the hospital admission rates of people over 65 years are at a maximum, and the mortality notified for the 2017/2018 influenza season was 960 deaths.

[Seasonal flu vaccination for older people: Evaluation of the adjuvanted vaccine. Positioning report].

Flu is a major public health problem, particularly for older people, and creates an important clinical and economic burden. A high mortality rate was reported in Spain during the period 2015 to 2016; 3,101 serious cases were hospitalised with a confirmed diagnosis of flu, of which 11% died (352 cases). Furthermore, financial and health costs are greatly increased by the complications of flu; people aged over 65 years represent approximately 64% of the total costs.

Delphi consensus of an expert committee in oncogeriatrics regarding comprehensive geriatric assessment in seniors with cancer in Spain.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to reach a national consensus in Spain regarding the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) domains in older oncological patients and the CGA scales to be used as a foundation for widespread use.

Material And Methods: The Delphi method was implemented to attain consensus. Representatives of the panel were chosen from among the members of the Oncogeriatric Working Group of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM).

[Non-pharmacological treatment of cognitive impairment].

This article reviews the effect of non-pharmacological therapies in persons with cognitive impairment, especially treatments aimed at brain stimulation and functional maintenance, since both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies affecting the cognitive and psychoaffective domains are reviewed in another article in this supplement. The article also discusses the close and reciprocal relationship between cognitive impairment, diet and nutritional status and describes the main nutritional risk factors and protective factors in cognitive decline.

[Physical and pharmacological restraints in geriatric and gerontology services and centers].

Physical and pharmacological restraints are a controversial issue in the context of geriatric care due to their moral, ethical, social and legal repercussions and, despite this fact, no specific legislation exists at a national level. The use of restraints is being questioned with growing frequency, as there are studies that demonstrate that restraints do not reduce the number of falls or their consequences, but rather can increase them, cause complications, injuries and potentially fatal accidents. Restraints are not always used rationally, despite compromising a fundamental human right, that is, freedom, protected in the Constitution, as well as values and principles, such as dignity and personal self-esteem.

[Use of physical restraints in an elderly population living in public nursing homes].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the use of physical restraints in public nursing homes through the Residents' Functional Classification Information System in order to assess the introduction of a protocol designed to reduce and rationalize the use of these devices.

Material And Methods: Twenty-five public nursing homes in the autonomous region of Madrid were included in this study. The following data on the use of physical restraints were analysed: frequency of use (daily or less than daily), type of device, level of functional dependence for activities of daily living, and severity of cognitive impairment.