Predictors of Preference for Hospice Care Among Diverse Older Adults.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of preference for hospice care and explore whether the effect of these predictors on preference for hospice care were moderated by race.

Methods: An analysis of the North Carolina AARP End of Life Survey (N = 3035) was conducted using multinomial logistic modeling to identify predictors of preference for hospice care. Response options included yes, no, or don't know.

Emergency medical service, nursing, and physician providers' perspectives on delirium identification and management.

Purpose of the study The study objective was to understand providers' perceptions regarding identifying and treating older adults with delirium, a common complication of acute illness in persons with dementia, in the pre-hospital and emergency department environments. Design and methods The authors conducted structured focus group interviews with separate groups of emergency medical services staff, emergency nurses, and emergency physicians. Recordings of each session were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes with representative supporting quotations identified.

Delirium superimposed on dementia strongly predicts worse outcomes in older rehabilitation inpatients.

Objective: Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is common in many settings. Nonetheless, little is known about the association between DSD and clinical outcomes. The study aim was to evaluate the association between DSD and related adverse outcomes at discharge from rehabilitation and at 1-year follow-up in older inpatients undergoing rehabilitation.

Screening for delirium in the emergency department: a systematic review.

Older adults who visit emergency departments (EDs) often experience delirium, but it is infrequently recognized. A systematic review was therefore conducted to identify what delirium screening tools have been used in ED-based epidemiologic studies of delirium, whether there is a validated set of screening instruments to identify delirium among older adults in the ED or prehospital environments, and an ideal schedule during an older adult's visit to perform a delirium evaluation. MEDLINE/EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception through February 2013 for original, English-language research articles reporting on the assessment of older adults' mental status for delirium.

Predictive value of initial triage vital signs for critically ill older adults.

Introduction: Triage of patients is critical to patient safety, yet no clear information exists as to the utility of initial vital signs in identifying critically ill older emergency department (ED) patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate a set of initial vital sign thresholds as predictors of severe illness and injury among older adults presenting to the ED.

Methods: We reviewed all visits by patients aged 75 and older seen during 2007 at an academic ED serving a large community of older adults.

Validity and reliability of the Self-Reported Physical Fitness (SRFit) survey.

Background: An accurate physical fitness survey could be useful in research and clinical care.

Purpose: To estimate the validity and reliability of a Self-Reported Fitness (SRFit) survey; an instrument that estimates muscular fitness, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, BMI, and body composition (BC) in adults ≥ 40 years of age.

Methods: 201 participants completed the SF-36 Physical Function Subscale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Older Adults' Desire for Physical Competence Scale (Rejeski), the SRFit survey, and the Rikli and Jones Senior Fitness Test.

Adverse housing and neighborhood conditions and inflammatory markers among middle-aged African Americans.

Adverse housing and neighborhood conditions are independently associated with an increased risk of various diseases and conditions. One possible explanation relates to systemic inflammation, which is associated with these adverse health outcomes. The authors investigated the association between housing and neighborhood conditions with inflammatory markers using data about 352 persons aged 49-65 years from the African American Health study.

Predictors of change in grip strength over 3 years in the African American health project.

Objective: To examine factors associated with change in grip strength.

Method: Grip strength was measured at baseline and 3 years later. Change was divided into "decreased >/=5 kg," "increased >/=5 kg," and "no change" and analyzed using multinomial multivariable logistic regression.

Acceptance of dementia screening in continuous care retirement communities: a mailed survey.

Background: In a recent systematic review of the evidence for dementia screening to support recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, we found no evidence regarding the interest or willingness of older adults to be screened, and insufficient evidence to provide an estimate of the potential harms of dementia screening.

Objective: In an attempt to address the acceptability of dementia screening, we asked older adults living in two Continuous Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) if they would agree to routine screening for memory problems.

Design: Cross-sectional study using self-administered mailed survey questionnaires.

Body-mass index and 4-year change in health-related quality of life.

Objective: To determine the effect of body-mass index (BMI) categories (a proxy for adiposity) on 4-year changes in health-related quality of life (HRQL) independent of baseline disease severity.

Design: Secondary analyses of a prospective, longitudinal study.

Participants: Data on 7,895 adults ages 51 to 61 years who responded to the Health and Retirement Surveys in 1992, 1994, and 1996 were included.

Physical activity and its correlates among urban primary care patients aged 55 years or older.

Objectives: Physical inactivity is a leading cause of death and disability, but very little is known about physical activity and its determinants among socially disadvantaged and medically vulnerable adults. The purpose of this study was to assess physical activity and its correlates, including measures of physical activity knowledge, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy, among socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults.

Methods: A stratified random sample of 1,088 patients aged 55 years or older was selected from an urban primary care center serving a predominantly low-income population.