In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years... more In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years, life expectancy at the age of 80 has increased by an extraordinary 61% and 55%, respectively, due to more effective therapies and lower mortality of many diseases. Yet, chronic diseases are nowadays more important, and often coexist as comorbidity or multimorbidity, depending on whether an index condition has been considered. These conditions increase the risk of death and reduce functional autonomy in the elderly and, therefore, should be carefully considered within comprehensive geriatric assessment. In particular, functional assessment has a crucial role in identifying older persons with disabilities in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, as well as frail elderly subjects. Frailty results from the progressive inefficiency of homeostatic mechanisms as manifested by reduced physical performance. Acute and chronic diseases may contribute to frailty by reducing functional reserves, thus unmasking previously latent functional deficits. Consequently, the care of the elderly, who is often affected by multimorbidity, disability, and frailty, cannot be confined solely to the evaluation and treatment of single organ diseases, but should follow a global approach.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Background This study analyzes the effect of frailty and Post-Operative Delirium (POD) on the fun... more Background This study analyzes the effect of frailty and Post-Operative Delirium (POD) on the functional status at hospital discharge and at 4-month follow-up in patients with hip fracture (HF). Methods Multicenter prospective observational study of older patients with HF admitted to 12 Italian Orthogeriatric centers (July 2019-August 2022). POD was assessed using the 4AT. A 26-item Frailty Index (FI) was created using data collected on admission. The outcome measures were Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS) ≤ 2 at discharge and a telephone-administered CAS ≤ 2 after 4 months. Poisson regression models were used to assess the effect of frailty and POD on outcomes. Results 984 patients (median age 84 years, IQR = 79–89) were recruited: 480 (48.7%) were frail at admission, 311 (31.6%) developed POD, and 158 (15.6%) had both frailty and POD. In a robust Poisson regression, frailty alone (Relative Risk, RR = 1.56, 95% Confidence Intervals, CI 1.19–2.04, p = 0.001) and its combination with ...
Background: In elderly patients with hip fracture, the prevalence of severe aortic stenosis (valv... more Background: In elderly patients with hip fracture, the prevalence of severe aortic stenosis (valve area <1 cm 2) is close to 5%. Few studies have evaluated the prognostic role of aortic stenosis in hip fracture surgery and none has considered the effects of the postoperative setting (intensive care unit vs general ward) on clinical outcome. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors affecting mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing surgery for hip fracture. We also evaluated whether postoperative monitoring in the intensive care unit may affect the prognosis in comparison to return to the general ward after surgery. Patients and Methods: All 2274 patients referred for hip fracture to our tertiary teaching hospital between January 1 2015 and December 31 2019 were screened for the presence of severe aortic stenosis, defined by an aortic valve area <1.0 cm 2. Results: The study included 66 patients (27 males, 39 females) with a mean±SD age of 85±7 years. The average time between trauma and surgery was 2.6±3 days. The mean aortic valve area was 0.74±0.15 cm 2. Seven patients died during hospitalization (10.4%). Diabetes, having two or more comorbidities, a low degree of autonomy, heart failure, history of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, postoperative delirium and pulmonary hypertension were associated with poorer outcome. In logistic multivariate analysis, the number of diseases and values of pulmonary artery pressure were the only independent factors related to mortality. In hospital mortality (12 and 9%, respectively) and complication rates were not statistically different between patients referred to the intensive care unit for postoperative monitoring and patients returned to the general ward after surgery. Conclusion: In patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, severe aortic stenosis is associated with high hospital mortality, and two or more comorbidities and pulmonary hypertension are associated with a worse prognosis. The postoperative setting (intensive care unit or general ward) does not affect outcome.
Background The prevalence of Takotsubo syndrome in hip fracture is not known. Methods Hip fractur... more Background The prevalence of Takotsubo syndrome in hip fracture is not known. Methods Hip fracture patients were evaluated in a multidisciplinary unit. Patients with ECG abnormalities and increased troponin I values at the time of hospital admission were included in the study Follow-up was clinical at 30 days and by telephonic interview at one year. Results Between October 1st 2011 to September 30th 2016, 51 of 1506 patients had preoperative evidence of myocardial damage. Eight, all females, fulfilled the Mayo criteria for Takotsubo syndrome, six had no coronary lesions. Hip surgery was uneventful, and all eight were alive at thirty days, and seven of these were still alive after one year. Forty-three patients had myocardial infarction: mortality at thirty days and one year were 11% and 44% (p<0.0001, Student’s t-test; log-rank test). Conclusion At least 15% of patients with hip fracture and preoperative myocardial damage had Takotsubo syndrome. They were all elderly females. Con...
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021
OBJECTIVES To assess the independent effect of delirium on mortality and disability after 1 year ... more OBJECTIVES To assess the independent effect of delirium on mortality and disability after 1 year of follow-up, in consecutive older patients with hip fracture hospitalized for surgical repair. DESIGN This is a prospective observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Patients aged older than 65 years consecutively admitted for hip fracture to the Trauma and Orthopedics Centre of a third-level hospital, between March and October 2014. METHODS Patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on admission. Delirium was assessed before and after surgical repair according to the Confusion Assessment Method. Mortality and disability status were collected at 3 months and 1 year after hospital discharge. RESULTS Of 411 patients with hip fracture, 387 (mean age 82 years, female 72%) were enrolled. Delirium was assessed in 50% of the enrolled population. Patients with delirium were older, frequently affected by dementia, severe prefracture disability, history of falls, and polypharmacy. One-year mortality was 19% in all populations, and higher in patients with delirium, although delirium did not show an independent association with mortality, in multivariable analysis. Conversely, delirium was identified as an independent prognostic factor of long-term disability (B-1.606, ES 0.211, P < .001). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS This study identifies delirium as an independent long-term disability generator, regardless of associated clinical conditions and premorbid cognitive and functional status. This emphasises the importance of delirium prevention through a multidisciplinary approach and the potential role of systematic treatment of risk factors in reducing functional decline, even in subjects with preexistent disability and dementia. Moreover, these data call for research on rehabilitation interventions specifically targeted to these complex patients, with the aim of identifying approaches effective in reducing long-term disability. Conversely, a high level of clinical alertness is required in patients with delirium, as an appropriate treatment of acute diseases should reduce their high mortality risk.
Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time f... more Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time from trauma to surgery and on in-hospital clinical outcomes (blood losses, need for transfusion, mortality) in patients with hip fracture. Moreover we evaluated the adherence to current guidelines regarding the time from last drug intake and surgery. In this observational retrospective study clinical records of patients admitted for hip fracture from January 2016 to January 2019 were reviewed. 74 patients were in treatment with DOACs at hospital admission. Demographic data, comorbidities and functional status before trauma were retrieved. As control group we evaluated 206 patients not on anticoagulants matched for age, gender, type of fracture and ASA score. Time to surgery was significantly longer in patients treated with DOACs (3.6 + 2.7 vs. 2.15 ± 1.07 days, p < 0.0001) and treatment within 48 h was 47% vs. 80% in control group (p < 0.0001). The adherence to guidelines’ suggested...
In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years... more In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years, life expectancy at the age of 80 has increased by an extraordinary 61% and 55%, respectively, due to more effective therapies and lower mortality of many diseases. Yet, chronic diseases are nowadays more important, and often coexist as comorbidity or multimorbidity, depending on whether an index condition has been considered. These conditions increase the risk of death and reduce functional autonomy in the elderly and, therefore, should be carefully considered within comprehensive geriatric assessment. In particular, functional assessment has a crucial role in identifying older persons with disabilities in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, as well as frail elderly subjects. Frailty results from the progressive inefficiency of homeostatic mechanisms as manifested by reduced physical performance. Acute and chronic diseases may contribute to frailty by reducing functional reserves, thus unmasking previously latent functional deficits. Consequently, the care of the elderly, who is often affected by multimorbidity, disability, and frailty, cannot be confined solely to the evaluation and treatment of single organ diseases, but should follow a global approach.
In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years... more In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years, life expectancy at the age of 80 has increased by an extraordinary 61% and 55%, respectively, due to more effective therapies and lower mortality of many diseases. Yet, chronic diseases are nowadays more important, and often coexist as comorbidity or multimorbidity, depending on whether an index condition has been considered. These conditions increase the risk of death and reduce functional autonomy in the elderly and, therefore, should be carefully considered within comprehensive geriatric assessment. In particular, functional assessment has a crucial role in identifying older persons with disabilities in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, as well as frail elderly subjects. Frailty results from the progressive inefficiency of homeostatic mechanisms as manifested by reduced physical performance. Acute and chronic diseases may contribute to frailty by reducing functional reserves, thus unmasking previously latent functional deficits. Consequently, the care of the elderly, who is often affected by multimorbidity, disability, and frailty, cannot be confined solely to the evaluation and treatment of single organ diseases, but should follow a global approach.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Background This study analyzes the effect of frailty and Post-Operative Delirium (POD) on the fun... more Background This study analyzes the effect of frailty and Post-Operative Delirium (POD) on the functional status at hospital discharge and at 4-month follow-up in patients with hip fracture (HF). Methods Multicenter prospective observational study of older patients with HF admitted to 12 Italian Orthogeriatric centers (July 2019-August 2022). POD was assessed using the 4AT. A 26-item Frailty Index (FI) was created using data collected on admission. The outcome measures were Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS) ≤ 2 at discharge and a telephone-administered CAS ≤ 2 after 4 months. Poisson regression models were used to assess the effect of frailty and POD on outcomes. Results 984 patients (median age 84 years, IQR = 79–89) were recruited: 480 (48.7%) were frail at admission, 311 (31.6%) developed POD, and 158 (15.6%) had both frailty and POD. In a robust Poisson regression, frailty alone (Relative Risk, RR = 1.56, 95% Confidence Intervals, CI 1.19–2.04, p = 0.001) and its combination with ...
Background: In elderly patients with hip fracture, the prevalence of severe aortic stenosis (valv... more Background: In elderly patients with hip fracture, the prevalence of severe aortic stenosis (valve area <1 cm 2) is close to 5%. Few studies have evaluated the prognostic role of aortic stenosis in hip fracture surgery and none has considered the effects of the postoperative setting (intensive care unit vs general ward) on clinical outcome. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors affecting mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing surgery for hip fracture. We also evaluated whether postoperative monitoring in the intensive care unit may affect the prognosis in comparison to return to the general ward after surgery. Patients and Methods: All 2274 patients referred for hip fracture to our tertiary teaching hospital between January 1 2015 and December 31 2019 were screened for the presence of severe aortic stenosis, defined by an aortic valve area <1.0 cm 2. Results: The study included 66 patients (27 males, 39 females) with a mean±SD age of 85±7 years. The average time between trauma and surgery was 2.6±3 days. The mean aortic valve area was 0.74±0.15 cm 2. Seven patients died during hospitalization (10.4%). Diabetes, having two or more comorbidities, a low degree of autonomy, heart failure, history of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, postoperative delirium and pulmonary hypertension were associated with poorer outcome. In logistic multivariate analysis, the number of diseases and values of pulmonary artery pressure were the only independent factors related to mortality. In hospital mortality (12 and 9%, respectively) and complication rates were not statistically different between patients referred to the intensive care unit for postoperative monitoring and patients returned to the general ward after surgery. Conclusion: In patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, severe aortic stenosis is associated with high hospital mortality, and two or more comorbidities and pulmonary hypertension are associated with a worse prognosis. The postoperative setting (intensive care unit or general ward) does not affect outcome.
Background The prevalence of Takotsubo syndrome in hip fracture is not known. Methods Hip fractur... more Background The prevalence of Takotsubo syndrome in hip fracture is not known. Methods Hip fracture patients were evaluated in a multidisciplinary unit. Patients with ECG abnormalities and increased troponin I values at the time of hospital admission were included in the study Follow-up was clinical at 30 days and by telephonic interview at one year. Results Between October 1st 2011 to September 30th 2016, 51 of 1506 patients had preoperative evidence of myocardial damage. Eight, all females, fulfilled the Mayo criteria for Takotsubo syndrome, six had no coronary lesions. Hip surgery was uneventful, and all eight were alive at thirty days, and seven of these were still alive after one year. Forty-three patients had myocardial infarction: mortality at thirty days and one year were 11% and 44% (p<0.0001, Student’s t-test; log-rank test). Conclusion At least 15% of patients with hip fracture and preoperative myocardial damage had Takotsubo syndrome. They were all elderly females. Con...
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021
OBJECTIVES To assess the independent effect of delirium on mortality and disability after 1 year ... more OBJECTIVES To assess the independent effect of delirium on mortality and disability after 1 year of follow-up, in consecutive older patients with hip fracture hospitalized for surgical repair. DESIGN This is a prospective observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Patients aged older than 65 years consecutively admitted for hip fracture to the Trauma and Orthopedics Centre of a third-level hospital, between March and October 2014. METHODS Patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on admission. Delirium was assessed before and after surgical repair according to the Confusion Assessment Method. Mortality and disability status were collected at 3 months and 1 year after hospital discharge. RESULTS Of 411 patients with hip fracture, 387 (mean age 82 years, female 72%) were enrolled. Delirium was assessed in 50% of the enrolled population. Patients with delirium were older, frequently affected by dementia, severe prefracture disability, history of falls, and polypharmacy. One-year mortality was 19% in all populations, and higher in patients with delirium, although delirium did not show an independent association with mortality, in multivariable analysis. Conversely, delirium was identified as an independent prognostic factor of long-term disability (B-1.606, ES 0.211, P < .001). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS This study identifies delirium as an independent long-term disability generator, regardless of associated clinical conditions and premorbid cognitive and functional status. This emphasises the importance of delirium prevention through a multidisciplinary approach and the potential role of systematic treatment of risk factors in reducing functional decline, even in subjects with preexistent disability and dementia. Moreover, these data call for research on rehabilitation interventions specifically targeted to these complex patients, with the aim of identifying approaches effective in reducing long-term disability. Conversely, a high level of clinical alertness is required in patients with delirium, as an appropriate treatment of acute diseases should reduce their high mortality risk.
Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time f... more Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time from trauma to surgery and on in-hospital clinical outcomes (blood losses, need for transfusion, mortality) in patients with hip fracture. Moreover we evaluated the adherence to current guidelines regarding the time from last drug intake and surgery. In this observational retrospective study clinical records of patients admitted for hip fracture from January 2016 to January 2019 were reviewed. 74 patients were in treatment with DOACs at hospital admission. Demographic data, comorbidities and functional status before trauma were retrieved. As control group we evaluated 206 patients not on anticoagulants matched for age, gender, type of fracture and ASA score. Time to surgery was significantly longer in patients treated with DOACs (3.6 + 2.7 vs. 2.15 ± 1.07 days, p < 0.0001) and treatment within 48 h was 47% vs. 80% in control group (p < 0.0001). The adherence to guidelines’ suggested...
In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years... more In Italy, life expectancy at birth has reached 80 years in men and 85 in women; in about 50 years, life expectancy at the age of 80 has increased by an extraordinary 61% and 55%, respectively, due to more effective therapies and lower mortality of many diseases. Yet, chronic diseases are nowadays more important, and often coexist as comorbidity or multimorbidity, depending on whether an index condition has been considered. These conditions increase the risk of death and reduce functional autonomy in the elderly and, therefore, should be carefully considered within comprehensive geriatric assessment. In particular, functional assessment has a crucial role in identifying older persons with disabilities in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, as well as frail elderly subjects. Frailty results from the progressive inefficiency of homeostatic mechanisms as manifested by reduced physical performance. Acute and chronic diseases may contribute to frailty by reducing functional reserves, thus unmasking previously latent functional deficits. Consequently, the care of the elderly, who is often affected by multimorbidity, disability, and frailty, cannot be confined solely to the evaluation and treatment of single organ diseases, but should follow a global approach.
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