[Outpatient care for the old and very old]. / Ambulante Versorgung älterer und hochaltriger Patienten.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient treatment of elderly patients is the responsibility of the family doctor. In addition to general practitioner care, there are some regionally different models that are currently not established and evaluated in Germany. The investigation presented here aims to contribute to the profiling of outpatient geriatric care in the future. METHOD: A full survey on the attitude and acceptance of general practitioners towards outpatient geriatrics and a geriatric focus practice was carried out. At the same time, referral and advisory events were systematically recorded and compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A geriatric focus practice can complement primary care. It is well accepted by many family doctors if there is a transparent exchange, pilot function and basic family doctor activities remain with the family doctor and he is relieved of the burden on complex patients.

Transferability and Sustainability of Motor-Cognitive Dual-Task Training in Patients with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Specific dual-task (DT) training is effective to improve DT performance in trained tasks in patients with dementia (PwD). However, it remains an open research question whether successfully trained DTs show a transfer effect to untrained DT performances. OBJECTIVE: To examine transfer effects and the sustainability of a specific DT training in PwD. METHODS: One hundred and five patients with mild-to-moderate dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination: 21.9 ± 2.8 points) participated in a 10-week randomized, controlled trial. The intervention group (IG) underwent a specific DT training ("walking and counting"). The control group (CG) performed unspecific low-intensity exercise. DT performance was measured under three conditions: (1) "walking and counting" (trained); (2) "walking and verbal fluency" (semi-trained), and (3) "strength and verbal fluency" (untrained). Outcomes evaluated at baseline, after training, and 3 months after the intervention period included absolute values for the motor and cognitive performance under DT conditions, and relative DT costs (DTCs) in motor, cognitive and combined motor-cognitive performance. RESULTS: The IG significantly improved DT performances in the trained condition for absolute motor and cognitive performance and for motor, cognitive, and combined motor-cognitive DTCs compared to the CG (p ≤ 0.001-0.047; ηp2 = 0.044-0.249). Significant transfer effects were found in the semi-trained condition for absolute motor and partly cognitive performance, and for motor but not for cognitive DTCs, and only partly for combined DTCs (p ≤ 0.001-0.041; ηp2 = 0.049-0.150). No significant transfer effects were found in the untrained condition. Three months after training cessation, DT performance in the trained condition was still elevated for most of the outcomes (p ≤ 0.001-0.038; ηp2 = 0.058-0.187). Training gains in the DT performance in the semi-trained condition were, however, not sustained, and no significant group differences were found in the DT performance in the untrained condition after the follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that specific DT training is effective in improving specifically trained DT performances in PwD and demonstrated sustainability of training-induced effects for at least 3 months. Effects were partially transferable to semi-trained DTs but not to untrained DTs. With increasing distance between trained and untrained DTs, transferability of training effects decreased.

People with Dementia Can Learn Compensatory Movement Maneuvers for the Sit-to-Stand Task: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: A complex motor skill highly relevant to mobility in everyday life (e.g., sit-to-stand [STS] transfer) has not yet been addressed in studies on motor learning in people with dementia (PwD). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a dementia-specific motor learning exercise program enables PwD to learn compensatory STS maneuvers commonly taught in geriatric rehabilitation therapy to enhance patients' STS ability. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with mild-to-moderate dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination: 21.9±2.9 points) participated in a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 10-week intervention and 3-month follow-up period. The intervention group (IG, n = 51) underwent a motor learning exercise program on compensatory STS maneuvers specifically designed for PwD. The control group (CG, n = 46) performed a low-intensity motor placebo activity. Primary outcomes were scores of the Assessment of Compensatory Sit-to-stand Maneuvers in People with Dementia (ACSID), which covers the number of recalled and initiated, and of effectively performed compensatory STS maneuvers. Secondary outcomes included temporal and kinematic STS characteristics measured by a body-fixed motion sensor (BFS, DynaPort® Hybrid). RESULTS: The IG significantly improved in all ACSID scores compared to the CG (p < 0.001). Secondary analysis confirmed learning effects for all BFS-based outcomes (p < 0.001-0.006). Learning gains were sustained during follow-up for most outcomes. CONCLUSION: People with mild-to-moderate dementia can learn and retain compensatory STS maneuvers in response to a dementia-specific motor learning exercise program. This is the first study that demonstrated preserved motor learning abilities in PwD by using a motor skill highly relevant to everyday life.

Falls and Physical Activity in Persons With Mild to Moderate Dementia Participating in an Intensive Motor Training: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is beneficial in people with dementia. As physical activity increases risk exposure for falls, safety concerns arise. Prior exercise trials in people with dementia have not measured physical activity. Falls in relation to exposure time rather than person-years as outcome measure has been promoted but not investigated in people with dementia. METHODS: Patients with mild to moderate dementia (n=110) were randomized to an intensive, progressive strength and functional training intervention or to a low-intensity group training for 12 weeks each. Physical activity was measured with a standardized questionnaire. Falls were documented prospectively by calendars for 12 months. RESULTS: During the intervention, physical activity was significantly higher in the intervention group (P<0.001) without an increased fall rate (intervention group vs. CONTROL GROUP: 2.89 vs. 1.94; incidence rate ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-3.36; P=0.333). In the subgroup of multiple fallers, the number of falls per 1000 hours of activity was significantly lower in the intervention group (8.85 vs. 18.67; P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Increased physical activity during exercise intervention was safe in people with mild to moderate dementia. Fall rate adjusted for physical activity is a useful and sensitive outcome measure in addition to fall rate per person-years.

AIDE-Acute Illness and Depression in Elderly Patients. Cognitive Behavioral Group Psychotherapy in Geriatric Patients With Comorbid Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Comorbid depression is highly prevalent in geriatric patients and associated with functional loss, frequent hospital re-admissions, and a higher mortality rate. Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) has shown to be effective in older depressive patients living in the community. To date, CBT has not been applied to older patients with acute physical illness and comorbid depression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of CBT in depressed geriatric patients, hospitalized for acute somatic illness. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with waiting list control group. SETTING: Postdischarge intervention in a geriatric day clinic; follow-up evaluations at the patients' homes. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 155 randomized patients, hospitalized for acute somatic illness, aged 82 ± 6 years and suffering from depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores >7]. Exclusion criteria were dementia, delirium, and terminal state of medical illness. INTERVENTION: Fifteen, weekly group sessions based on a CBT manual. Commencement of psychotherapy immediately after discharge in the intervention group and a 4-month waiting list interval with usual care in the control group. MEASUREMENTS: HADS depression total score after 4 months. Secondary endpoints were functional, cognitive, psychosocial and physical status, resource utilization, caregiver burden, and amount of contact with physician. RESULTS: The intervention group improved significantly in depression scores (HADS baseline 18.8; after 4 months 11.4), whereas the control group deteriorated (HADS baseline 18.1; after 4 months 21.6). Significant improvement in the intervention group, but not in the control group, was observed for most secondary outcome parameters such as the Barthel and Karnofsky indexes. Intervention effects were less pronounced in patients with cognitive impairment or acute fractures. CONCLUSIONS: CBT is feasible and highly effective in geriatric patients. The benefits extend beyond effective recovery and include improvement in physical and functional parameters. Early diagnosis, good access to psychotherapy, and early intervention could improve care for depressive older patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.germanctr.de German Trial Register DRKS 00004728.

The Association of Hyponatremia, Risk of Confusional State, and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia and delirium are frequent problems in older hospitalized patients. Although confusional states are considered to be a possible complication of hyponatremia, there has been no systematic study to date of the precise prevalence of delirium among patients with hyponatremia and its effect on long-term outcomes. METHODS: In a 13-month period in 2009/2010, all patients with a serum sodium level less than or equal to 130 mmol/L (the hyponatremia group) in a cohort of hospitalized older patients were studied and compared to a normonatremic control group of patients who were matched for age, sex, and diagnosis group. The prevalence of delirium was determined by two-stage examination. Inhospital mortality, mortality six months after initial examination, and functional status were prospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 179 patients were identified whose serum sodium level was less than or equal to 130 mmol/L (7.9% of all treated patients), of whom 141 were included in the hyponatremia group. The mean age of the participants was 83 (range, 63-102), and 84% were women. Patients with hyponatremia suffered more often from delirium (22.7% versus 8.5%; p = 0.002) and had a higher inhospital mortality (10.6% versus 2.1%; p = 0.005). The mortality six months after initial examination was 31.9% versus 22.7% (p = 0.080). 59.7% of patients in the hyponatremia group and 49% in the control group (p = 0.146) needed a higher level of chronic care after discharge than they had needed before the hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia in hospitalized older patients is associated with a higher likelihood of delirium and an elevated in-hospital mortality.

Living with and dying from advanced heart failure: understanding the needs of older patients at the end of life.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a life-limiting illness and patients with advanced heart failure often suffer from severe physical and psychosocial symptoms. Particularly in older patients, HF often occurs in conjunction with other chronic diseases, resulting in complex co-morbidity. This study aims to understand how old and very old patients with advanced HF perceive their disease and to identify their medical, psychosocial and information needs, focusing on the last phase of life. METHODS: Qualitative longitudinal interview study with old and very old patients (≥70 years) with severe HF (NYHA III-IV). Interviews were conducted at three-month intervals over a period of up to 18 months and were analysed using qualitative methods in relation to Grounded Theory. RESULTS: A total of 95 qualitative interviews with 25 patients were conducted and analysed. The following key categories were developed: (1a) dealing with advanced heart failure and ageing, (1b) dealing with end of life; (2a) perceptions regarding care, and (2b) interpersonal relations. Overall, our data show that older patients do not experience HF as a life-limiting disease. Functional restrictions and changed conditions leading to problems in daily life activities were often their prime concerns. The needs and priorities of older HF patients vary depending on their disease status and individual preferences. Pain resulting in reduced quality of life is an example of a major symptom requiring treatment. Many older HF patients lack sufficient knowledge about their condition and its prognosis, particularly concerning emergency situations and end of life issues, and many expressed a wish for open discussions. From the patients' perspective, there is a need for improvement in interaction with health care professionals, and limits in treatment and medical care are not openly discussed. CONCLUSION: Old and very old patients with advanced HF often do not acknowledge the seriousness and severity of the disease. Their communication with physicians predominantly focuses on curative treatment. Therefore, aspects such as self-management of the disease, dealing with emergency situations and end-of-life issues should be addressed more prominently. An advanced care planning (ACP) programme for heart disease in older people could be an option to improve patient-centred care.

Swallowing Tablets and Capsules Increases the Risk of Penetration and Aspiration in Patients with Stroke-Induced Dysphagia.

We evaluated the prevalence of difficulties swallowing solid dosage forms in patients with stroke-induced dysphagia and whether swallowing tablets/capsules increases their risk of penetration and aspiration. Concurrently, we explored whether routinely performed assessment tests help identify patients at risk. Using video endoscopy, we evaluated how 52 patients swallowed four different placebos (round, oval, and oblong tablets and a capsule) with texture-modified water (TMW, pudding consistency) and milk and rated their swallowing performance according to the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS). Additionally, Daniels Test, Bogenhausener Dysphagiescore, Scandinavian Stroke Scale, Barthel Index, and Tinetti's Mobility Test were conducted. A substantial proportion of the patients experienced severe difficulties swallowing solid oral dosage forms (TMW: 40.4 %, milk: 43.5 %). Compared to the administration of TMW/milk alone, the placebos increased the PAS values in the majority of the patients (TMW: median PAS from 1.5 to 2.0; milk: median PAS from 1.5 to 2.5, each p value <0.0001) and residue values were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Whereas video-endoscopic examination reliably identified patients with difficulties swallowing medication, neither patients' self-evaluation nor one of the routinely performed bedside tests did. Therefore, before video-endoscopic evaluation, many drugs were modified unnecessarily and 20.8 % of these were crushed inadequately, although switching to another dosage form or drug would have been possible. Hence, safety and effectiveness of swallowing tablets and capsules should be evaluated routinely in video-endoscopic examinations, tablets/capsules should rather be provided with TMW than with milk, and the appropriateness of "non per os except medication" orders for dysphagic stroke patients should be questioned.

Psychological insulin resistance in geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which geriatric patients with diabetes mellitus experience psychological insulin resistance (PIR). METHODS: A total of 67 unselected geriatric patients with diabetes (mean age 82.8±6.7 years, diabetes duration 12.2 [0.04-47.2] years, 70.1% female) were recruited in a geriatric care center of a university hospital. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was performed including WHO-5, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Barthel-Index. We assessed PIR using the Barriers of Insulin Treatment Questionnaire (BIT) and the Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale in a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Insulin-naïve patients (INP) showed higher PIR scores than patients already on insulin therapy (BIT-sum score: 4.3±1.4 vs. 3.2±1.0; p<0.001). INP reported in the BIT increased fear of injection and self-testing (2.4±2.4 vs. 1.3±0.8; p=0.016), expect disadvantages from insulin treatment (2.7±1.6 vs. 1.9±1.4; p=0.04), and fear of stigmatization by insulin injection (5.2±2.3 vs. 3.6±2.6; p=0.008). Fear of hypoglycemia, however, did not differ significantly (6.3±2.8 vs. 5.1±3.1; p=0.11). Depression was not shown to be a barrier to insulin therapy. CONCLUSION: INP with diabetes have a significantly more negative attitude toward insulin therapy in comparison to patients already on insulin. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Systematic assessment of barriers of insulin therapy, individualized diabetes treatment plans and information of patients may help to overcome such negative attitudes, leading to quicker initiation of therapy, improved adherence to treatment and a better quality of life.

Sustainability of motor training effects in older people with dementia.

Evidence for sustainability of motor training effects in people with dementia is lacking. To examine whether the substantial improvements in motor performance achieved through a three-month specialized, standardized motor training were sustained, the participants of the randomized controlled trial were re-evaluated nine months after training had ceased. As part of a comprehensive study, participants with confirmed mild to moderate dementia underwent a progressive resistance and functional group training specifically developed for patients with dementia (intervention, n = 40) compared to a low-intensity motor placebo activity (control, n = 51). Primary and secondary outcome measures for maximal strength and function were measured before the start of the training (T1), directly after training ceased (T2), three months after training ceased (T3) and-the focus of this paper-nine months after training ceased (T4). Even after nine months without training, the gains in functional performance were sustained with significant group differences in the primary endpoint (five-chair-rise, relative change: IG: -8.54 ± 22.57 versus CG: +10.70 ± 45.89 s, p = 0.014, effect size ηp2 = 0.067). Other functional tests, such as walking speed and POMA (Tinetti), confirmed this result in the secondary analysis. Strength, as measured by the primary endpoint 1-Repetition Maximum (1RM) was still elevated (time effect for T1 versus T4: 148.68 ± 57.86 versus 172.79 ± 68.19 kg, p < 0.001, effect size ηp2 = 0.157), but between-group differences disappeared (relative change: maximal strength, IG: 22.75 ± 40.66 versus CG: 15.60 ± 39.26, p = 0.369). The study found that intensive dementia-specific motor training sustainably improved functional performance of patients with dementia nine months after cessation of training.

Diagnosing delirium in older hospitalized adults with dementia: adapting the confusion assessment method to international classification of diseases, tenth revision, diagnostic criteria.

OBJECTIVES: To compare performance characteristics of the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) algorithm for screening and delirium diagnosis with criteria for delirium from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) in high-risk individuals. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic geriatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred two individuals aged 80 to 100 hospitalized for acute medical illness. MEASUREMENTS: Complete CAM instrument (nine items), scored using the four-item CAM diagnostic algorithm. Criterion standard classification of delirium was rated independently according to expert consensus based on DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria for delirium. RESULTS: In 79 hospitalized participants, the CAM performed well for delirium screening (delirium prevalence of 24% according to DSM-IV and 14% according to ICD-10). Of all CAM features, acute onset and fluctuating course are most important for diagnosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.92 in DSM-IV and 0.83 in ICD-10). The CAM diagnostic algorithm had a sensitivity of 0.74, a specificity of 1.0, and an AUC of 0.88 compared with the DSM-IV reference standard and a sensitivity of 0.82, a specificity of 0.91, and an AUC of 0.85 compared with the ICD-10. Compared with the ICD-10, adding psychomotor change to the CAM algorithm improved specificity to 97%, but sensitivity fell to 55% (AUC = 0.96). Applying psychomotor change sequentially only to the group that the CAM algorithm identified as having no delirium improved sensitivity to 91% with specificity of 85% (AUC = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Although the CAM diagnostic algorithm performed well against a DSM-IV reference standard, adding psychomotor change to the CAM algorithm improved specificity and diagnostic value against ICD-10 criteria overall in older adults with dementia and improved sensitivity and screening performance when applied sequentially in CAM-negative individuals.

Definitions and methods of measuring and reporting on injurious falls in randomised controlled fall prevention trials: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The standardisation of the assessment methodology and case definition represents a major precondition for the comparison of study results and the conduction of meta-analyses. International guidelines provide recommendations for the standardisation of falls methodology; however, injurious falls have not been targeted. The aim of the present article was to review systematically the range of case definitions and methods used to measure and report on injurious falls in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on fall prevention. METHODS: An electronic literature search of selected comprehensive databases was performed to identify injurious falls definitions in published trials. Inclusion criteria were: RCTs on falls prevention published in English, study population ≥ 65 years, definition of injurious falls as a study endpoint by using the terms "injuries" and "falls". RESULTS: The search yielded 2089 articles, 2048 were excluded according to defined inclusion criteria. Forty-one articles were included. The systematic analysis of the methodology applied in RCTs disclosed substantial variations in the definition and methods used to measure and document injurious falls. The limited standardisation hampered comparability of study results. Our results also highlight that studies which used a similar, standardised definition of injurious falls showed comparable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: No standard for defining, measuring, and documenting injurious falls could be identified among published RCTs. A standardised injurious falls definition enhances the comparability of study results as demonstrated by a subgroup of RCTs used a similar definition. Recommendations for standardising the methodology are given in the present review.

Physical training improves motor performance in people with dementia: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a specific, standardized training regimen can improve muscle strength and physical functioning in people with dementia. DESIGN: Double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial with 3-month intervention and 3-month follow-up period in 2006 to 2009. SETTING: Outpatient geriatric rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with confirmed mild to moderate dementia, no severe somatic or psychological disease, and ability to walk 10 m. Most participants were still living independently with or without supportive care. INTERVENTION: Supervised, progressive resistance and functional group training for 3 months specifically developed for people with dementia (intervention, n = 62) compared with a low-intensity motor placebo activity (control, n = 60). MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome measures were one-repetition maximum in a leg press device for maximal strength and duration of the five-chair-stand test for functional performance. Secondary outcome measures were assessed for a number of established parameters for maximal strength, physical function, and physical activity. RESULTS: Training significantly improved both primary outcomes (percentage change from baseline: maximal strength, intervention group (IG): +51.5 ± 41.5 kg vs control group (CG): -1.0 ± 28.9 kg, P < .001; functional performance, IG: -25.9 ± 15.1 seconds vs CG: +11.3 ± 60.4 seconds, P < .001). Secondary analysis confirmed effects for all strength and functional parameters. Training gains were partly sustained during follow-up. Low baseline performance on motor tasks but not cognitive impairment predicted positive training response. Physical activity increased significantly during the intervention (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The intensive, dementia-adjusted training was feasible and substantially improved motor performance in frail, older people with dementia and may represent a model for structured rehabilitation or outpatient training.

'Who is going to explain it to me so that I understand?' Health care needs and experiences of older patients with advanced heart failure.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death and can result in significant palliative care needs. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of older patients with advanced heart failure, and their experiences with health care delivery in Germany. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 12 patients (6 men, 6 women; age 73-94 years; heart failure in an advanced stage according to the New York Heart Association Functional Classification) recruited in two geriatric hospitals. The interviews were analyzed by a qualitative descriptive approach. The main categories derived from the patient interviews were: understanding of illness and prognosis, health care services and social life. The patients expressed the need for better information and communication regarding illness and prognosis, and the desire for more respectful treatment by health care providers. Heart failure was not recognized as a potentially life-limiting disease, and the patients had no experience with palliative care services. The study emphasizes the need for improving communication with patients with advanced heart failure. To achieve this, strengthening the palliative care approach in all relevant services that deliver care for these patients and introducing advanced care planning appear to be promising strategies.

A short easy test can detect ability for autonomous insulin injection by the elderly with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Elderly patients with diabetes often have difficulty with self-administering insulin. It was the aim of the present study to find a short, easy performance test, such as the Timed Test of Money Counting (TTMC), that identifies elderly patients with diabetes, in grade to undertake proper insulin injection autonomously and correctly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 73 insulin-dependent patients (age 77.3 ± 7.1 years, HbA1c 8.2% ± 2.0%) completed the TTMC as part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment before and 3 months after structured diabetes education. RESULTS: The TTMC showed a sensitivity of 69.2% for autonomous injection of insulin 3 months after diabetes education, if patients performed the test within a time duration of less than 46 seconds. Specificity is 70% and positive predictive value 78.7% in this case. STUDY IMPLICATION: The TTMC seems to be a suitable predictor for ability to inject insulin autonomously after receiving diabetes education. The expenditure of time is only about 5 minutes and it helps to identify patients with diabetes who are able to inject insulin themselves after diabetes education.

Feasibility and accuracy of fall reports in persons with dementia: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The feasibility, test-retest reliability, and accuracy of different fall recording methods have not been studied in older persons with dementia. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study, nested within a randomized controlled trial on motor training, in which 110 participants were monitored for falls over 12 months. Seven methods of fall recording were compared: face-to-face interviews; phone interviews: weekly for three months, monthly for 9 months, a final interview after 12 months; prospective calendar method; interviews with a proxy and the general practitioner (GP). Summing the count of falls and removing duplicate reporting of the same fall was found to provide the best approximation of the actual number of falls and was chosen as the criterion-standard. RESULTS: The combination of calendar method and phone interviews showed the highest accuracy (74% of falls, 93% of fallers). As a single measure, weekly phone calls were superior to calendars or proxy-report. Monthly phone calls recorded only half the falls that were picked up by weekly calls (p = 0.002) and were inferior to the calendars (p<0.001) and proxy-report (p = 0.015). GPs knew of only 14% of falls and 19% of fallers. In addition, 49% of subjects who documented a fall prospectively did not recall a fall after 12 months. CONCLUSION: The combination of fall calendars with regular telephone interviews can be recommended for persons with mild to moderate stage dementia. If feasible, recall periods should be as short as one week; additional information by care-givers increases accuracy of reports. Retrospective recall of falling with long recall periods is not recommended.

Rehabilitation after stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is becoming more common in Germany as the population ages. Its long-term sequelae can be alleviated by early reperfusion in stroke units and by complication management and functional restoration in early-rehabilitation and rehabilitation centers. METHODS: Selective review of the literature. RESULTS: Successful rehabilitation depends on systematic treatment by an interdisciplinary team of experienced specialists. In the area of functional restoration, there has been major progress in our understanding of the physiology of learning, relearning, training, and neuroenhancement. There have also been advances in supportive pharmacotherapy and robot technology. CONCLUSION: Well-organized acute and intermediate rehabilitation after stroke can provide patients with the best functional results attainable on the basis of our current scientific understanding. Further experimental and clinical studies will be needed to expand our knowledge and improve the efficacy of rehabilitation.

Rollator use adversely impacts on assessment of gait and mobility during geriatric rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the use of a rollator walking aid on assessment of gait and mobility. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: Geriatric patients during inpatient rehabilitation (n=109; mean age 83.1 years). METHODS: Assessment at the beginning and prior to discharge from rehabilitation using: gait-analysis (GAITRite®, speed, cadence, stride-time, stride-length, base-of-support, double-support), Performance-Oriented-Mobility-Assessment (POMA), and Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG). Differences between outcomes obtained without and with rollator use were calculated for baseline assessment and for changes over time for the total group and subgroups according to diagnosis (hip fracture vs. other). Responsiveness was calculated using standardized response means. RESULTS: Baseline performances were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher when assessed with vs. without rollator in the total group and in hip fracture (except cadence) and other (except cadence, stride-time, TUG) patients. Changes over time were significantly greater when assessed without vs. with rollator in the total group and hip fracture (except cadence, POMA) and other patients (except base-of-support, double-support). Tests without rollator showed superior responsiveness (except TUG). CONCLUSION: The use of rollator walking aids limits the detection of initial gait and mobility deficits, adversely affects the assessment of changes over time in gait and mobility performance, and reduces the responsiveness of tests. When full weight-bearing is permitted, assessment without a walking aid is recommended.

Outcome and treatment quality of transfer primary percutaneous intervention in older patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and treatment quality of transfer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in older patients with acute STEMI. In this prospective study all patients with diagnosed acute (pain-to-balloon≤12 h) STEMI transferred to our institution for primary PCI (n=400) between January 2005 and October 2007 were under investigation. Overall 125 older patients with age ≥70 years were included (mean age 77.5±4.9 years; 77 males). Pre-hospital delays were more common in older patients with longer pain-to-balloon: median (range)=85 (5-629) vs. 66 (1-688) p=0.031, and pain-to-first medical-contact-times: median: 206 (84-711) vs. 172 (45-720); p=0.001. A trend towards a higher (non-significant) rate of major 5/125 (5%) vs. 5/275 (1.8%), p=0.195 and minor 10/125 (8%) vs. 14/275 (5.1%). p=0.256 bleeding complications in older patients was evident. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in older patients compared to the younger patients group: 13/125, 10.4% vs. 8/275, 2.9%, p=0.002). Overall mortality at 30-day follow-up was 11.2% in older and 3.3% in younger patients: 14/125 vs. 9/275, p=0.002. Transfer PCI is an effective treatment strategy for older patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Overall-30-day mortality in older STEMI-patients transferred for primary PCI is comparably low.