Clinical Implications of Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing According to STOPP/START Version 2 Criteria in Older Polymorbid Patients Discharged From Geriatric and Internal Medicine Wards: A Prospective Observational Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To evaluate whether STOPP/START v2 potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) are associated with 6-month mortality and unplanned hospitalization in hospital-discharged older patients.

Design: Multicenter prospective cohort observational study.

Setting And Participants: Patients aged ≥65 years consecutively discharged from acute geriatric and internal medicine wards of 2 teaching hospitals in northwestern Italy.

Prevalence, predictors and clinical implications of prolonged corrected QT in elderly patients with dementia and suspected syncope.

Background: Long QT and use of QT-prolonging drugs are common among older patients receiving polytherapies, but real-world evidence on their impact in clinical practice is controversial. We investigated prevalence, variables associated and clinical implications of prolonged corrected QT (QTc) among patients from the Syncope and Dementia study.

Methods: Observational, prospective, multicenter study.

Prevalence and predictors of inappropriate prescribing according to the Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment version 2 criteria in older patients discharged from geriatric and internal medicine wards: A prospective observational multicenter study.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) and potential prescribing omissions (PPO) in hospital-discharged older patients, according to the recently updated Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment version 2 criteria.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective observational study of patients aged ≥65 years consecutively discharged from geriatric and internal medicine wards. Each patient underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and PIM and PPO at discharge were determined according to the Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment version 2 criteria.

Extent of, and variables associated with, blood pressure variability among older subjects.

Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) may have prognostic implications for cardiovascular risk and cognitive decline; however, BPV has yet to be studied in old and very old people.

Aims: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of BPV and to identify variables associated with BPV among older subjects.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was carried out.

Prevalence, predictors and clinical impact of potentially inappropriate prescriptions in hospital-discharged older patients: A prospective study.

Aim: Potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) have been highly reported in older patients, but few studies have investigated their association with adverse clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of PIP in hospital-discharged older adults, and to explore the association of PIP with death and rehospitalization.

Methods: We carried out a multicenter prospective cohort study on hospital-discharged patients aged ≥65 years.

Oral anticoagulant therapy for older patients with atrial fibrillation: a review of current evidence.

Atrial fibrillation is more frequent in older patients, who have a higher risk of cardioembolic stroke and thromboembolism. Oral anticoagulant therapy is the standard of treatment for stroke prevention; however, under-prescription is still very common in older patients. The reasons underlying this phenomenon have not been systematically investigated, and true contraindications only partially account for it.

Effects of oral anticoagulant therapy in older medical in-patients with atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort observational study.

Background: Uncertainties about efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) among older and frail medical patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) largely contribute to under-prescription of these drugs.

Aims: In this prospective observational cohort study, we investigated mortality, and ischemic and hemorrhagic events, in hospital-discharged older patients with AF.

Methods: Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated using CHA2DS2-VASC and HAS-BLED scores.

Health status, geriatric syndromes and prescription of oral anticoagulant therapy in elderly medical inpatients with atrial fibrillation.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of geriatric syndromes among older medical inpatients with atrial fibrillation, and their association with use of vitamin K antagonists.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients aged ≥65 years discharged with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation from the Acute Geriatric Ward was carried out. Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated according to the CHA DS -VASC and HAS-BLED scores.

Effects of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in Medical Inpatients ≥65 Years With Atrial Fibrillation.

In this retrospective cohort observational study, we investigated mortality, ischemic, and hemorrhagic events in patients ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation consecutively discharged from an Acute Geriatric Ward in the period 2010 to 2013. Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated using CHA2DS2-VASC (congestive heart failure/left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension, aged ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism, vascular disease, aged 65 to 74 years, gender category) and HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly) scores. Co-morbidity, cognitive status, and functional autonomy were evaluated using standardized scales.

Prevalence of and factors associated with prolonged length of stay in older hospitalized medical patients.

Aim: To characterize elderly medical patients and identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay.

Methods: The present prospective observational study evaluated consecutive patients aged ≥65 years admitted in acute geriatric and medical wards. A comprehensive assessment including demographic, clinical, functional and cognitive variables was carried out.