Evaluating antimicrobial utilization in 20 Korean long-term care hospitals: a call to action for antimicrobial stewardship.

Background: Evaluation of hospital-specific antimicrobial use is necessary for successful national antimicrobial stewardship. This study aimed to identify antimicrobial use in long-term care hospitals (LCHs) in Korea.

Methods: A multi-centre retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the prescription patterns and appropriateness of antimicrobials in 20 LCHs in Korea.

Bounce Forward Better: Geriatric and Gerontological Research in the Post-pandemic Future.

In recent years, we have faced challenges in managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in older adults. The pandemic has precipitated a global health crisis that impeded older adults from maintaining their health. Disruption of the routine management of chronic diseases, physical inactivity deteriorating physical function and quality of life, malnutrition, and mental disorders have been suggested as major threats to the health of older adults.

Ethical Guidelines for Publishing in the Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research.

Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research (AGMR) aims to provide new information on clinical and biological science and issues on policymaking for older adults. This article summarizes the ethical guidelines of AGMR based on relevant recommendations from the International Standards for Editors and Authors, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. All authors whose articles are to be published in AGMR should refer to these guidelines, which will mention that authors need to comply with the guidelines.

Prescriptions patterns and appropriateness of usage of antibiotics in non-teaching community hospitals in South Korea: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Although non-teaching community hospitals form the majority of healthcare providers in South Korea, there is limited data on antibiotic usage in them. To evaluate the pattern of antibiotic usage and its appropriateness in hospitals with < 400 beds in South Korea.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective study was conducted in 10 hospitals (six long-term care hospitals, three acute care hospitals, and one orthopaedic hospital), with < 400 beds in South Korea.

Challenges and Opportunities for Academic Journals to Serve the Older Population in Western Pacific Region.

Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research held its inaugural international editorial board virtual meeting on September 16, 2021, to brainstorm ideas for sustainable growth. This special article summarizes the key concepts obtained from the webinar proceedings, with further development of ideas from ensuing discussions occurring after the meeting. From the initial discussion points provided by eight editorial board members, including six presenters, email discussions further enriched these ideas to construct the current special article.

Development and Application of a Surveillance Method for Healthcare-Associated Infections in Long-Term Care Hospitals in Korea.

Background: This study developed a surveillance method for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and investigated the current status of HAIs in LTCHs in Korea.

Methods: We applied the HAI-related surveillance criteria for long-term care facilities developed by McGeer in six LTCHs.

Results: The 197 confirmed HAIs corresponded to incidence rates of 30.

Impaired Odor Identification of Culturally Familiar Odorants Associated with Dementia in South Korean Older Adults.

Among olfactory functions, odor identification is the most studied predictor of dementia. We aimed to verify whether patients with dementia are less aware of specific odors than cognitively normal individuals using an odor identification test, which includes odorants that are culturally familiar to South Koreans. We divided 139 older adults aged 57-79 years into the dementia and normal cognition groups.

Cut-Off Scores of an Olfactory Function Test for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.

Objective: We aimed to find the optimal cut-off scores for screening of odor detection threshold, odor discrimination, and odor identification tests for detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in Korean elderly.

Methods: A total of 195 elderly people were divided into three groups: the normal cognition (NC), MCI, and dementia groups. All participants underwent neurocognitive and olfactory function tests.

Long-Term Care System in Korea.

Korea is a country with unexpectedly fast ageing speed, which gives burden on caregivers of older adults. Thanks to long-term care insurance and national health insurance system, most people who need long-term care are currently staying in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and long-term care hospitals. However, new project of integrated community care system is under trial implementation.

Korean frailty and aging cohort study (KFACS): cohort profile.

Purpose: The purpose of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS) is to initiate a nationwide, population-based prospective cohort study of older adults living in the community to assess their frailty status and explore transitions between frailty states over time in Korea.

Participants: The KFACS is a multicentre longitudinal study with the baseline survey conducted from May 2016 to November 2017. Each centre recruited participants using quota sampling stratified by age and sex.

Biosignals to Detect the Imbalance of Explicit and Implicit Affect in Dementia: A Pilot Study.

Background: We assessed implicit and explicit emotion in older patients with dementia using biosignals.

Methods: Fifty patients with dementia and 34 healthy individuals watched 3 videos that aimed to elicit various emotional responses. Electroencephalogram and heart rate variability were recorded.

Development of a Consensus List of Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Korean Older Adults.

Background: Korea has recently attained the aged society status and the growth rate of the aging population will be among the most rapid worldwide. The objective of this study was to develop a credible list of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for Korean older adults.

Methods: A new Korean PIMs list was produced through a comprehensive structured expert survey (modified Delphi method).

Use of the Frailty Index and FRAIL-NH Scale for the Assessment of the Frailty Status of Elderly Individuals Admitted in a Long-term Care Hospital in Korea.

Background: Numerous elderly individuals with multimorbidity and impaired function are admitted in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) in Korea. In this study, we aimed to describe the frailty status of elderly patients admitted in a LTCH using the FRAIL-NH scale and to identify the clinical relevance of frailty status on clinical outcomes, including death.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 elderly patients who were hospitalized and died in an LTCH from March 2011 to February 2017.

An international definition for "nursing home".

There is much ambiguity regarding the term "nursing home" in the international literature. The definition of a nursing home and the type of assistance provided in a nursing home is quite varied by country. The International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and AMDA foundation developed a survey to assist with an international consensus on the definition of "nursing home.