Start low, go slow, but look far: the case of geriatric medicine in Balkan countries.

Purpose: To present an insight of the situation of geriatric medicine in Balkan countries, as it was presented in the context of the 2nd pre-congress seminar of the 16th European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Congress Athens 2021.

Methods: Representatives from 8 Balkan countries (Albania, Croatia, Greece, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey) answered 3 questions to reflect the state of geriatric medicine in their country: education on geriatrics; systems/methods for assessment of functional status and frailty; pre-operative risk assessment. An open discussion followed.

Dermatological diseases in palliative care patients: a prospective study of 271 patients.

Background: Numerous risk factors place palliative care patients at an increased risk of skin infections, dermatitis, and pressure sores. Furthermore, worsening of chronic skin disorders can be expected, as well as the development of treatment-induced and malignancy-related dermatoses. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and treatment of dermatological conditions in patients receiving hospital-based palliative care.

The Association between Malnutrition and Pressure Ulcers in Elderly in Long-Term Care Facility.

Background: Malnutrition is common in elderly and is a risk factor for pressure ulcers.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in geriatric and palliative patients hospitalised in long-term care facility, and to examine the influence of nutritional status on the prevalence of pressure ulcers (PU).

Material And Methods: Descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study including 2099 patients admitted to the Hospital during a 24 month period (January 2013 to December 2014).

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction - Concept, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Challenges for Treatment.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFpEF) occurs in 40 to 60% of the patients with HF, with a prognosis which is similar to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). HFpEF pathophysiology is different from that of HFrEF, and has been characterized with diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction has been defined with elevated left ventricular stiffness, prolonged iso-volumetric LV relaxation, slow LV filing and elevated LV end-diastolic pressure.