Network analysis of frailty indicators in hospitalized elderly patients: unveiling the role of depression and hemoglobin as core factors.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a significant concern among hospitalized older adults, influenced by multiple factors. Understanding the complex interactions between these variables can be facilitated through a network perspective. AIM: This study aimed to identify the core factor and physiological indicator of frailty in hospitalized elderly patients and visualize their interactions within the network structure. METHODS: Frailty was assessed using the Tilburg Frailty Indicators, with a score of 5 or higher indicating frailty. Additional variables related to sociodemographic, physical and clinical, psychological and cognitive aspects, as well as physiological indicators, were extracted from electronic health records. A partial correlation network analysis was conducted using an adaptive LASSO algorithm, based on univariate correlation and logistic regression, to examine the network structure and identify influential nodes. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 70.74 ± 7.52 years, with 24.27% classified as frail. Frailty was associated with 38 of 145 initially included variables (P < 0.05). The network analysis revealed depression as the most central node, followed by drugs used, sleep disorders, loneliness, masticatory obstacles, drinking, and number of teeth missing. Hemoglobin emerged as the most central biochemical indicator in the network, based on network center index analysis (Strength = 4.858, Betweenness = 223, Closeness = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty in hospitalized older adults is influenced by various social, physical, and psychological factors, with depression as the core factor of utmost importance. Changes in hemoglobin levels could serve as an essential indicator. This innovative network approach provides insights into the multidimensional structure and relationships in real-world settings.

Nutritional indicators' performance in malnutrition diagnosis of hospitalized elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Several nutritional diagnosis methods and their relationship with clinical outcomes have been described. This study investigated malnutrition in hospitalized elderly patients (HEP) using different nutritional indicators and determined criteria to identify malnutrition and explore the variables that discriminate the risk of malnutrition. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 500 HEP; different methods of nutritional diagnosis, their relationship with clinical outcomes and criteria for defining malnutrition were investigated. The GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition was applied in this study. In the statistical analysis, the Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, univariate and multiple logistic regression and the ROC curve were used. RESULTS: Patients aged 65-79 years, at nutritional risk or with malnutrition, had longer hospital stays (p = 0.0099; OR = 1.047; 95% CI = 1.011; 1.084) and lower body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.0001; OR = 0.867 (1153)); 95% CI = 0.813; 0.924 (1085; 1225). Patients aged ≥80 years had a lower BMI (p = 0.0053; OR = 0.779 (1284); 95% CI = 0.653; 0.928 (1078; 1531)). Accuracy was significant in both age groups for BMI (p < 0.0001; 65-79 years and p = 0.001; ≥80 years); for the lymphocyte count (p = 0.0167; 65-79 years and p = 0.0028; ≥80 years), and for the calf circumference (CC) (p < 0.0001; 65-79 years and p = 0.001; ≥80 years). Using the GLIM criteria, 27.78% of patients were considered malnourished. CC showed good accuracy, good specificity, but low sensitivity while BMI was more accurate to detect malnutrition in both age groups. CONCLUSION: CC showed good accuracy, good specificity, but low sensitivity to detect malnutrition. BMI was more accurate in both age groups to detect malnutrition.

Influencing factors and intervention of activity limitation and disability in hospitalized older adults / 中华老年医学杂志

Hospitalization is associated with disability.The physical activity of the elderly during hospitalization is significantly lower than that during non-hospitalization.Low-level physical activity not only affects the rehabilitation of the disease during hospitalization, forming hospital-related disability, but also increases the readmission rate and long-term care needs, seriously affecting older adults' quality of life.This article reviews the influencing factors and intervention measures of physical activity in hospitalized elderly patients, aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice.

Validation of Screening Tools for Predicting the Risk of Functional Decline in Hospitalized Elderly Patients.

BACKGROUND: Functional decline and increased dependence on others are common health issues among hospitalized elderly patients. However, a well-validated screening tool for predicting functional decline in elderly patients is still lacking. The current study therefore aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Identification of Seniors at Risk-Hospitalized Patients (ISAR-HP), Variable Indicative of Placement Risk (VIP), and Score Hospitalier d' Evaluation du Risque de Perte d'Autonomie (SHERPA) in predicting functional decline 30 days after discharge in older patients admitted to an acute hospital ward. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted in 197 elderly inpatients at the internal medicine ward of a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Data were collected twice, first within 48 h after hospitalization and second via a telephone interview 30 days after hospital discharge. Variables included demographic data, Barthel Index of activities of daily living (ADL), and screening instruments. The Barthel Index was used to measure functional disability. Functional decline was defined as a decline of at least five points on the Barthel Index 30 days after discharge compared to that at pre-admission. RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 77.7 years, with 55.7% being female. Functional decline was observed in 39.1% of all patients. The best cutoff point, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 2.5, 96.1%, 52.5%, and 0.751 for ISAR-HP; 1.5, 83.1%, 62.5%, and 0.761 for VIP; and 4.75, 89.6%, 54.2%, and 0.758 for SHERPA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: All three instruments showed moderate diagnostic accuracy as indicated by their best cutoff points. Therefore, the results presented herein can guide health care professionals in selecting the appropriate assessment tool for predicting functional decline among hospitalized elderly patients in a clinical setting.

Health care associated Clostridioides difficile infection and colonization in patients admitted at tertiary care hospital Pakistan.

Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiology of clostridioides difficile infections and colonisation in a tertiary-care setting. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from June 1, 2017, to October 31, 2019, and comprised adult patients admitted in high-risk units of the hospital for any disease experiencing watery stools after 48 hours of hospital admission and passing more than 3 stools per day with no other recognised aetiology. Stool samples of the participants, diagnosed with antibiotic associated diarrhoea, were submitted for glutamate dehydrogenase antigen assay and clostridioides toxin A/B assay detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and clostridioides difficile toxin gene detection by polymerase chain reaction. Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea was diagnosed by a positive toxin assay or polymerase chain reaction. Data was analysed using SPSS25. RESULTS: Of the 715 subjects, 322(45%) were males and 393(55%) were females. The overall mean age was 56.64±8.57 years, and 488(68.3%) were aged <60 years, while 227(31.7%) were aged >60 years. The incidence of clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea was found in 10(1.4%) patients and was highest in oncology unit 3(4.3%). No positive case was detected from the high dependency unit and the surgical ward. All the10(1.4%) positive cases were on >2 antibiotics with a combination of oral vancomycin and intravenous metronidazole. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the positive cases compared to those with clostridioides difficile colonisation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea was found to be low.

Concordância entre instrumentos de triagem nutricional em idosos hospitalizados / Agreement between nutritional screening instruments in hospitalized older patients

ABSTRACT Background The prevalence of hospitalized elderly patients has grown substantially and has impacted the hospital health services. Thus, it is believed that an investigation of the nutritional status associated with different clinical situations in elderly patients could contribute to multidisciplinary hospital intervention and nutritional care actions suitable for this population. Objective To investigate the relationship between two nutritional screening instruments in hospitalized older patients and to compare clinical variables between these two instruments. Methods Retrospective study with hospitalized older patients (n=277), investigating the agreement between two nutritional screening instruments. The data were analyzed using the McNemar, chi-square, Fisher, Mann-Whitney tests and the kappa coefficient for the agreement assessment. Results There was a significant difference (P=0.0002) between the nutritional risk classifications of the two nutritional screening instruments and moderate agreement (k=0.5430) between them. The association between nutritional risk screening and age (P=0.0255), length of hospital stay (P<0.0001), gender (P=0.0365) and illness (P=0.0001) were assessed. There was an association between Mini Nutritional Assessment and length of stay (P<0.0001), illness (P=0.0001) and body weight evolution (P=0.0479). Conclusion The nutritional risk screening and Mini Nutritional Assessment showed moderate agreement in the assessment of elderly patients.

RESUMO Contexto A prevalência de pacientes idosos hospitalizados tem crescido substancialmente e impactado os serviços de saúde hospitalar. Desta forma, acredita-se que uma investigação do estado nutricional, associado a situações clínicas variadas em pacientes idosos, poderia contribuir para ações de intervenção hospitalar multidisciplinares e de cuidado nutricional adequadas para esta população. Objetivo Investigar a relação entre dois instrumentos de triagem nutricional em pacientes idosos hospitalizados e comparar variáveis clínicas entre estes dois instrumentos. Métodos Estudo retrospectivo com pacientes idosos hospitalizados (n=277), sendo investigado a concordância entre dois instrumentos de triagem nutricional. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes McNemar, qui-quadrado, Fisher, Mann-Whitney e o coeficiente kappa para a avaliação de concordância. Resultados Houve diferença significativa (P=0,0002) entre as classificações de risco nutricional pelos dois instrumentos de triagem nutricional e concordância moderada (k=0,5430) entre eles. Verificou-se associação entre triagem de risco nutricional e idade (P=0,0255), tempo de internação (P<,0001), sexo (P=0,0365) e doenças (P=0,0001). Houve associação entre a Mini Avaliação Nutricional e tempo de internação (P<0,0001), doenças (P=0,0001) e evolução do peso corporal (P=0,0479). Conclusão Triagem de risco nutricional e a Mini Avaliação Nutricional apresentam concordância moderada para a avaliação de pacientes idosos.

Can the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002) predict unfavorable clinical outcome in hospitalized elderly patients?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized elderly patients (HEP) is high. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the behavior of several nutritional indicators and predictors of unfavorable clinical outcome. METHODS: Retrospective study with hospitalized elderly patients (N = 322). Nutritional instruments, indicators and outcome were investigated. Chi-square, Fisher and Mann-Whitney tests and univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were used. RESULTS: The variables that, jointly, were associated with hospital stay longer than 7 days, include: the presence of complications (p = 0.0328; OR 1.946; IC95% 1.056; 3.585) and nutritional risk according to the NRS-2002 (p = 0.0016; OR 2.080; IC95% 1.322; 3.275). The variable that remained associated with complications in the multiple model was the nutritional risk according to the NRS-2002 (p = 0.0018; OR 2.587; IC95% 1.423; 4.703). CONCLUSION: Nutritional risk using the NRS-2002 is a predictor of clinical outcome in hospitalized elderly patients.

Prospective, multi-centric benchmark study assessing delirium: prevalence, incidence and its correlates in hospitalized elderly Lebanese patients.

BACKGROUND: With the increase in the proportion of elderly Lebanese patients, little is known about delirium's prevalence, incidence and correlated factors. AIMS: To identify the prevalence, incidence and factors associated with overall and incident delirium in hospitalized elderly Lebanese patients. METHODS: A convenient sample was recruited from three university hospitals affiliated to the Lebanese university faculty of medical sciences. We included patients aged more than 65 years. Baseline factors were examined upon presentation and the confusion assessment method (CAM) was used to detect prevalent delirium upon admission or within the first 48 h. Enrolled patients were then assessed every other day to detect incident delirium cases. RESULTS: Among the 230 patients included, delirium prevalence was 17% and incidence 8.7%. We found that a history of falls (odds ratio (OR) = 5.12; p = 0.001), immobilization (OR = 7.33; p = 0.035), polypharmacy (OR = 5.07; p = 0.026) along with tachycardia (OR = 6.94; p = 0.03) and severe anemia (OR = 12.5; p = 0.005) upon admission were significant factors associated with overall delirium (incident and prevalent delirium cases). Whereas, living alone was significantly associated with lower odds for overall delirium (OR = 0.03; p = 0.02). Moreover, current smoking (OR = 14; p = 0.02), low oxygen saturation (OR = 9.6; p = 0.008) and severe anemia (OR = 8.4; p = 0.013) upon admission remained significantly associated with higher odds for incident delirium along with urine catheter placement (OR = 7.8; p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Secondary to the burden of delirium and its impact on mortality among elderly population, trying to understand and adjust modifiable factors would promote more appropriate prevention strategies.

A prevalence study of potentially inappropriate medications use in hospitalized Pakistani elderly.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients is a widespread health problem. It is associated with increased drug-related problems and health expenditure. AIMS: To determine the prevalence and types of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) prescribed to elderly patients with polypharmacy and the factors associated with their use in these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted among 228 elderly hospitalized patients with polypharmacy. Elderly patients were defined as patients ≥65 years of age, and polypharmacy was defined as taking ≥5 drugs. Based on previously published criteria (Beers and STOPP), a list of 32 PIM was developed using a Delphi technique, which was used as a tool to detect the prevalence of PIM. Age, gender, comorbidity, patients' functional status, and complete medication history were recorded to evaluate as variables related to PIM. The association between PIM used and independent variables was also assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of PIM used among the hospitalized elderly patients was 64%. PIM use according to STOPP criteria was identified in 44% of patients, whereas Beers-listed PIM were identified in 50% of patients. The most frequently observed PIM were the combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with antihypertensives and long-term NSAIDs, which account for more than 90 and 75% of the total observed PIM, respectively. Patients with age ≥85 years were more likely to be prescribed PIM. High comorbidity was found to be an independent predictor of PIM use. Polypharmacy with ≥10 drugs prescribed to patients predicted the presence of PIM. DISCUSSION: The study showed a high prevalence of PIM use among hospitalized elderly patients. The consensus-validated list of PIM was a useful tool for screening inappropriate prescribing in this particular patient population. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the need for measures to improve the quality of drug treatment in the elderly Pakistani population, especially among dependent patients with polypharmacy.

Nurses' Pain Management for Hospitalized Elderly Patients With Postoperative Pain.

Using the theory of planned behavior, the study aim was to determine the relationships among nurses' beliefs, attitudes, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and behavior regarding pain management for hospitalized elderly patients with postoperative pain. A cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 140 nurses working in adult surgical units at three hospitals. Based on path analyses, nurses' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, respectively, had direct effects on their attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding pain management. Nurses' attitudes and perceived norms had direct effects on their pain management intentions. However, nurses' intentions had no direct effect on their behavior (measured by responses to questions about case study vignettes). This study highlights the need for education that enhances nurses' perceptions of pain management benefits, the influence of normative referents, and their ability to assess pain and administer pro re nata (PRN) opioid analgesics.

Nursing and discussion of the common problem about oral medication in hospitalized elderly patient / 中国现代医生

Objective To explore the common problems and nursing effect of oral medication in hospitalized elderly patient. Methods One hundred and twenty elderly patients, who were hospitalized in our department from 2013 March to October, were investigated by the questionnaires for the common problems of oral drugs and nurses working and oral drug types. Nursing was implemented to solve the above problem. The drug using situations were compared before and after nursing intervention. Results In common problems on older patient oral medication, self medication incidence was highest, for 64.17%, secondly, the leakage medication incidence was 59.17%. Nursing work was not in place phe-nomenon on oral medication in elderly patients during the medication, and the drug leakage service station was 25.83%and 24.17%respectively. The oral medication orders of 120 elderly patients were 1217. The top three of the medication were cardiovascular drugs, respiratory system drugs and drugs for digestive system, whose constituent ratio were 19.80%, 17.83%, 17.33%, respectively. For patients with nursing intervention, the indexes were significantly higher than those before intervention, for example the compliance, medication, medication time, knowledge of medication, the understanding of taking the medication errors and irregular harm, and the understanding of adverse reactions and other indexes, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Nursing intervention in elderly patients with oral medication can strengthen oral medication safety management consciousness, so as to ensure the safety of medica-tion in elderly patients.

The Importance-Satisfaction Study of Hospital Foodservice Encounters at the Elderly Health-Care Facilities

Institutional care is often necessary for the health and well-being of the elderly. Good quality foodservice provided at long-term care facilities not only includes patients satisfaction but also cares for good health, contributing to the stability of foodservice management. The purpose of this study was to assess the importance and satisfaction attributes of foodservice management by hospitalized elderly patients. The data were collected via questionnaire by a one-to-one interview with 194 hospitalized elderly patients in six different hospitals. According to the results of dependent t-tests, overall mean scores for the importance attributes (3.96) and satisfactory attributes (3.83) were significantly different (p<0.001). As indicated by the patients, the recognized importance attributes were the kindness of foodservice personnel (4.19), kind smiles by foodservice personnel (4.16), and kind speaking by foodservice personnel (4.12). The most recognized satisfaction attributes were kindness of foodservice personnel (4.36), bedside meal service by foodservice personnel (4.25), kind speaking by foodservice personnel (4.24), kind smiles by foodservice personnel (4.24), and sanitary uniforms worn by foodservice personnel (4.21). These results suggest that the above encounter attributes (importance-satisfaction) would be useful tools for hospital foodservices to adopt, in order to control foodservice quality and satisfy the nutritional needs of elderly patients.