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Objective:To construct a multidisciplinary continuing management model for hospitalized elderly patients with multimorbidity and to assess the effectiveness of this model, thus providing insights and suggestions for the management of elderly patients with co-morbidity.Methods:This was a prospective randomized controlled study.Patients with comorbidity admitted to the geriatric ward of our hospital from November 2015 to July 2017 were selected and received comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA). Patients were randomly divided into the intervention group receiving continuous multidisciplinary medical treatment and the control group receiving conventional medical treatment.The work flow and characteristics of the intervention group were examined, and the effectiveness of the two models(including cost of hospitalization, duration, patient satisfaction, patient functional status, adverse events, and changes in healthy behavior awareness after 6 months of follow-up)were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 440 patients with comorbidity were included in the study, with an average age of(76.0±8.1)years, including 226 in the intervention group and 214 in the control group.After multidisciplinary continuing medical intervention, patients in the intervention group were associated with a significantly higher level of satisfaction on physician availability(86.3% vs.74.8%, χ2=9.354, P=0.002), medical care(99.6%vs.86.7%, χ2=4.926, P=0.026)and nursing quality(93.4%vs.86.4%, χ2=5.829, P=0.016), compared with the control group.After 6 months of follow-up, the probability of adverse events in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group(61.1%vs.73.5%, χ2=7.436, P=0.006), and drug-related adverse reactions/events in the intervention group(9.0%vs.22.1%, χ2=13.858, P<0.000)were significantly lower than those in the control group.Furthermore, the proportion of patients with improved healthy behavior awareness was markedly higher in the intervention group than that in the control group(30.3%vs.5.4%, χ2=43.979, P<0.001). Conclusions:The multidisciplinary hospital-community continuity management model with CGA at the core can reduce the occurrence of adverse events, improve patient satisfaction and healthy behavior awareness, and is a worthy exploration of a new medical model for elderly comorbid patients.
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Objective To explore the predictive value of pre-operative comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA),especially regarding frailty,on the outcomes of fast-track surgery and the risk of post-operative complications after elective laparoscopic surgery in geriatric patients. Methods This prospective study included 75 patients aged 70 years and above undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery from June 2015 to October 2015.CGA was conducted with length of postoperative hospitalization,all-cause mortality and postoperative complications as the endpoints. Results The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 9.7 day(9.7 ± 7.3)and was correlated with frailty scores(P=0.015)and comorbidities(P= 0.004).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that frailty(OR=5.26,95% CI:1.22-22.55,P=0.025)and comorbidity(OR=5.12,95% CI:1.63-15.99,P=0.005)were predictors of prolonged hospitalization after surgery.Seventeen of 75 patients (22.7%)experienced at least one adverse postoperative outcome,and bivariate analysis showed that adverse events were correlated with poor nutrition(P= 0.012),high frailty scores(P=0.007),and multiple comorbidities(P= 0.005).Furthermore,multiple regression analysis identified malnutrition (OR= 4.30,95% CI:1.03-17.86,P= 0.045),comorbidity(OR= 5.41,95% CI:1.47-19.83,P=0.011)and frailty(OR=6.03,95% CI:1.39-26.10,P=0.016)as predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes. Conclusions Frailty is a risk factor for elderly patients undergone fast-track laparoscopic surgery,and preoperative CGA scores may be used to identify high-risk patients for adverse surgical outcomes and prolonged hospital stay.
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Objective To improve the quality of the management of the elderly patients with cancer in Sichuan province,and to understand the attitudes and perspectives of elderly surgeons and oncologists for the management and treatment of elderly patients with cancer.Methods A face-toface questionnaire interview was conducted with oncologists (n 64) and geriatricians (n =64).128 physicians were involved in this study.Results The cancer management and therapeutics were deemed appropriate at present by 9.38％ (6/64)of the geriatricians and 25.00％ (16/64)of the oncologists.The 39.06％ (25/64) of geriatricians used to notice geriatric syndromes,while 81.25％ (52/64)of oncologists never concerned about the geriatric syndrome(P=0.011).As for the causes of the therapy-associated toxicity,oncologist versus geriatrician payed an attention to malnutrition (100.00％ vs.100.00％ in both groups),to mobility disorders(65.63％ vs.65.63％,84/128 in both groups),to cognitive impairment/mood disorder (89.06％ in geriatrician group vs.75.00％ in oncologist group,P=0.038).For the factors affecting treatment decisions,a physical ability attention (oncologists vs geriatricians:70.31％ vs.92.19％;P =0.002),and comorbidity (oncologists vs geriatricians:62.50％ vs.79.69％,P =0.032) had statistically significant difference.In addition,lack of geriatrics knowledge was also reported by more oncologists.However,one hundred percent of participants wanted very much to cooperate with each other in their clinical work.When responding to the clinical scenario,the 10.94％ (7/64)of geriatricians and 32.81％ (21/64)of oncologists chose modified treatment for 65-74 years old patient with cancer(P =0.003).When the age of the patients was 75-84 years old,only 12.50 ％ (8/64) of geriatricians prefer end-of-life care,while 31.25 ％ (20/64) of oncologists chose it (P =0.010).Conclusions Selection of treatment decisions in the elderly patients with cancer affect by ageing.Both oncologists and geriatricians are concerned with the elderly patients with cancer,ageing syndrome,total sickness and functional status.And these doctors support an establishment of a multi disciplinary team cooperation for the elderly patients with cancer.Therefore,the establishment of mutual cooperation between the two professionals is necessary and feasible.
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Objective To observe the changes of carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT) and vascular endothelia function in patients with geriatric carotid plaque before and after intensive lipid lowering was performed.Methods 102 patients diagnosed with carotid plaque were ramdomly divided into common group (atorvastatin 10 mg/d,n=48) and intensive lipid lowering group (atorvastatin 20 mg/d,n=54).After one year of treatment,the fasting venous blood total cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),high density lipeprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were assayed,and the thickest and thinnest CIMT and brachial arterial.endothelium dependent diastolic function (FMD) and carotid artery plaque index(PI) were measured by ultrasound.Results Two groups in the thickest CIMT and PI had no significant difference before and after treatment (P＞0.05).The levels of FMD,TC,LDL-C,TG and the thinnest CIMT had significant difference before and after therapy [common group:GIMT(0.85±0.20)mm,(0.83±0.22) mm,FMD(3.85±1.41)%,(7.91±1.05)%,TC(6.46±1.05) mmol/L,(4.82±1.26) mmol/L,LDL-C (4.71±1.00) mmol/L,(3.16±1.00) mmol/L,TG (1.55±0.45) mmol/L,(1.49±0.44) mmol/L;intensive lipid lowering group:CIMT(0.84±0.20) mm,(0.63±0.17) mm,FMD (3.74±1.38) %,(0.25±1.58)%,TC (6.36±1.06) mmol/L,(4.10±1.00) mmol/L,LDL-C (4.73±1.01) mmol/L、(2.28±1.26) mmol/L,TG (1.56±0.53) mmol/L,(1.50±0.49) mmol/L,P＜0.05].After one year's therapy,the difference in intensive lipid lowering group was more obvious than in common group (P＜0.05).Conclusions Intensive lipid lowering therapy is more effective to decrease TC,LDL-C and CIMT and to improve the vascular endothelia function.Atorvastatin is effective to stabilize the plaque and to retard the atheroscleresis development.
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Objective To observe the curative effect of telmisartan on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) after the recovery of sinus rhythm with amiodarone. Methods Seventy-six patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who visited our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: control group (amiodarone, n=36) and treatment group (telmisartan plus amiodarone, n=40). The maintenance of sinus rhythm and the change of left atrial diameter between the two groups at 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy were observed. Results The left atrial diameter and the maintenance rate of sinus rhythm between the two groups at 3 and 6 months after therapy had no statistically significant difference (t=0.04, 0.51, 0.03, 1.12, all P>0.05). After 1-year treatment, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm were 48.4% and 73.5% in treatment group and control group ,respectively (t=4.33,P<0.05), and the left atrial diameter was significantly shorter in treatment group than in control group [(34.38±3.85) mm vs. (37.26±4.85)mm ,t=2.66, P<0.05]. Conclusions The combination of telmisartan and amiodarone is more effective than amiodarone alone on maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with nonvalvular paroxysmal AF after the recovery of AF. The curative effect may be due to telmisartan effects on inhibiting the activation of renin-angiotensin system, decreaseing the cardiac burden and delaying the cardiac remodeling.