Síndromes geriátricos en recursos de atención intermedia: cribado, prevalencia y mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico / Geriatric syndromes in intermediate care resources: Screening, prevalence and inpatient mortality. Multicenter prospective study

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de síndromes geriátricos (SG) en población geriátrica de los distintos recursos de atención intermedia, así como su relación con la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional prospectivo, realizado en recursos de atención intermedia de la zona de Vic (Barcelona) entre julio del 2018 y septiembre del 2019. Se incluyó de forma consecutiva a todas las personas de ≥ 65 años o criterios de paciente crónico complejo o enfermedad crónica avanzada, a los que se valoró la presencia de SG mediante las preguntas trigger del Índice Frágil-VIG (IF-VIG), administrado en situación basal, al ingreso, al alta y a los 30 días del alta. Resultados: Se incluyó a 442 participantes, de los que el 55,4% eran mujeres, con una edad media de 83,48 años. Existen diferencias significativas (p <0,05) entre fragilidad, edad y número de SG con relación al recurso de atención intermedia en el momento del ingreso. Hubo diferencias significativas en la prevalencia de los SG entre el grupo de pacientes que fallecieron durante el ingreso (24,7% de la muestra) con relación a los supervivientes: tanto en situación basal (malnutrición, disfagia, delirium, pérdida de autonomía, úlceras por presión e insomnio), como en la valoración al ingreso (caídas, malnutrición, disfagia, deterioro cognitivo, delirium, pérdida de autonomía e insomnio). Conclusiones: Existe una estrecha relación entre prevalencia de SG y mortalidad intrahospitalaria en los recursos de atención intermedia. A falta de más estudios, la utilización del IF-VIG como check-list de cribado de SG podría ser útil para su detección. (AU)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of geriatric syndromes (GS) in the geriatric population of the different intermediate care resources, as well as its relationship with intrahospital mortality. Material and methods: A prospective observational descriptive study, carried out in intermediate care resources in the Vic area (Barcelona) between July 2018 and September 2019. All people aged ≥65 years and/or criteria of complex chronic patient and/or advanced chronic disease, who were assessed for the presence of GS using the trigger questions of the Frail VIG-Index (IF-VIG), administered at baseline, on admission, on discharge and 30 days after discharge. Results: Four hundred and forty-two participants were included, of which 55.4% were women, with a mean age of 83.48 years. There are significant differences (P<.05) between frailty, age and number of GS in relation to the intermediate care resource at the time of admission. There were significant differences in the prevalence of GS between the group of patients who died during the hospitalization (24.7% of the sample) in relation to the survivors: both in a situation baseline (malnutrition, dysphagia, delirium, loss of autonomy, pressure ulcers, and insomnia), as well as in the admission assessment (falls, malnutrition, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, delirium, loss of autonomy, and insomnia). Conclusions: There is a close relationship between the prevalence of GS and in-hospital mortality in intermediate care resources. In the absence of more studies, the use of the IF-VIG as a screening checklist for GS could be useful for its detection. (AU)

A Comprehensive Assessment of Informal Caregivers of Patients in a Primary Healthcare Home-Care Program.

Studies of the characteristics of informal caregivers and associated factors have focused on care-receiver disease or caregiver social and psychological traits; however, an integral description may provide better understanding of informal caregivers' problems. A multicenter cross-sectional study in primary healthcare centers was performed in Barcelona (Spain). Participants were a random sample of informal caregivers of patients in a home-care program. Primary outcomes were health-related quality of life and caregiver burden, and related factors were sociodemographic data, clinical and risk factors, social support and social characteristics, use of healthcare services, and care receivers' status. In total, 104 informal caregivers were included (mean age 68.25 years); 81.73% were female, 54.81% were retired, 58.65% had high comorbidity, and 48.08% of care receivers had severe dependence. Adjusted multivariate regression models showed health-related quality of life and the caregivers' burden were affected by comorbidity, age, time of care, and dependency of care receiver, while social support and depression also showed relative importance. Aging, chronic diseases, and comorbidity should be included when explaining informal caregivers' health status and wellbeing. The effectiveness of interventions to support informal caregivers should comprehensively evaluate caregivers when designing programs, centering interventions on informal caregivers and not care receivers' conditions.