[Decisional algorithm to prescribe vitamin K antagonist in geriatric patients with atrial fibrillation]. / Algorithme décisionnel pour la prescription d'antivitamine K dans la fibrillation atriale du patient gériatrique.

Preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) complications relies mainly on anticoagulant therapy. Still it is difficult to prescribe vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in geriatric patients with AF. In order to improve anticoagulation decision in this disease, we set up an algorithm. Charts of all patients with AF hospitalized between February and May 2012 were reviewed. Patients treated with anticoagulation for another indication (venous thromboembolism disease, prosthetic valve) were excluded. Algorithm was built-up with 6 criteria (past bleeding with VKA, autonomy (GIR score), MMSE score, risk of falls, co-morbidities index). Each criterion had a score (0, 0.5, 1 point) according to an intensity scale (light, moderate, high). The final algorithm composite score led to the prescription or not of VKA. Patients were followed-up during 6 months after discharge. One hundred and fifty-three patients were included, mean age 86.1 ± 5.6 years; 67.3% had a GIR score ≤3, 70.6% MMSE score < 23, and 83.7% a moderate risk of falls. According to the algorithm, 92 patients (60.1%) had a VKA prescription. Prescription was significantly less prescribed in the oldest old (p=0.02). Follow-up showed 4 bleeding events without any link with VKA prescription. Thirty-four patients died (22.2%), among 24 (34.4%) who did not have VKA (p=0.005). The algorithm improves VKA prescription according to an objective evaluation and probably prevents the prescription in the patients with the worse short term prognosis.

Usefulness of the short IQCODE for predicting postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients is >30%. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the usefulness of the short form of the Informant Questionnaire on COgnitive Decline in the Elderly (short IQCODE) to predict the occurrence of postoperative delirium after elective hip and knee arthroplasty in the elderly. METHODS: Consecutive patients, 60 years and older, who were admitted for elective hip or knee arthroplasty were included. The preoperative cognitive status was determined using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the short IQCODE. Postoperative delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method. Logistic regression was used to analyze the links between the preoperative test scores and the outcome of postoperative delirium. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients completed the study (mean age 73.6 +/- 6.6 years). The mean +/- SD MMSE score was 26 +/- 3, and the mean short IQCODE score was 50.7 +/- 6.2. Postoperative delirium developed in 15 patients (14.8%). A short IQCODE score >50 was significantly associated with postoperative delirium (OR 12.7, 95% CI 1.4-115.5; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The short IQCODE appears to be a useful tool to predict the risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing elective surgery. Detecting this complication could be of great interest to improve the postoperative survey of elderly patients.