ABSTRACT Objective To analyze, from the pharmacotherapy perspective, the factors associated to visits of older adults to the emergency department within 30 days after discharge. Methods A cross-sectional study carried out in a general public hospital with older adults. Emergency department visit was defined as the stay of the older adult in this service for up to 24 hours. The complexity of drug therapy was determined using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index. Potentially inappropriate drugs for use in older adults […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the potential value of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity as prognostic predictors in hospitalized elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on data collected from elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction, admitted to a public hospital located in the Northeastern region of Brazil, from April to July 2015. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance measurements. Cardiovascular risk and prognostic markers, such as troponin and creatine […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence of drug interactions and associated factors among older adults followed up in a Comprehensive Medication Management Service at Primary Care. Methods: Firstly, the Beers criteria 2015 was used to define drug interactions; later, drug interactions proposed by Dumbreck for patients with diabetes, depression, and heart failure were evaluated. The associated factors were assessed by univariate (Pearson’s χ2) and multivariate analyses (logistic regression). The significance level of 5% was set for all analyses. Results: The […]

ABSTRACT The Brazilian Nutritional Consensus in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Elderly was elaborated by nutritionists, nutrologists and hematologists physicians from 15 Brazilians reference centers in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in order to emphasize the importancy of nutritional status and the body composition during the treatment, as well as the main characteristics related to patient’s nutritional assessment. Establishing the consensus, we intended to improve and standardize the nutritional therapy during the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The Consensus was approved by the […]

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate associations between respiratory capacity, quality of life and cognitive function in elderly individuals. Methods The sample included 386 elderly individuals (232 women). Respiratory capacity assessment was based on maximal expiratory pressure measured at peak expiratory flow. Subjects were classified according to peak expiratory flow values adjusted for sex, age and height of individuals with normal (peak expiratory flow curve 60%) or reduced (peak expiratory flow curve < 60%) respiratory capacity. The World Health Organization Quality of [...]

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the profile of medications used for self-medication by the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study based on interviews with elderly seen at a reference center for Elderly Health of a teaching hospital, from July 2014 to July 2015. Clinical, demographic and pharmacotherapeutic data were collected. Results A total of 170 elderly were interviewed, 85.9% female, and the median age was 76 years. The frequency of self-medication was 80.5%. The most used medications for self-medication were central acting […]

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze recent demographic and medical billing trends in treatment of femoral neck fracture of American elderly patients. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was analyzed from 2006 to 2015, for patients aged 65 years and older, using the Current Procedural Terminology codes 27130, 27125, 27235, and 27236. Patient demographics, postoperative complications, and frequency of codes were compared and analyzed over time. Our sample had 17,122 elderly patients, in that, 70% were […]

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the ten-year risk of hip and osteoporotic fracture in home care patients using the FRAX® tool. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study including patients aged ≥ 40 and ≤ 90 years and receiving home care from a private provider. The risk of fracture was calculated using an online calculator. High risk was defined as risk of hip fracture greater than 3% or risk of osteoporotic fracture greater than 20%. Data were expressed as absolute number (n), […]

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the perception of elderly population about cancer, correlating it with the clinical variables sex, age and past history of cancer. Methods The sample was composed of 300 individuals, 174 (58%) women. A questionnaire containing ten questions and based on the Health Information National Trends Survey was used. For statistical analysis, a p value

ABSTRACT Objetive To identify the functional status in self-care performance of elderly inpatients, through subjective and objective evaluations. Methods Fifty-five pairs of elderly and their respective caregivers of both sexes were submitted to subjective (self-rating and rating by caregivers) and objective assessment. The Performance Test of Activities of Daily Living and items in the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale were used. Functional status was rated 1 (unable to perform task), 2 (able to perform task with assistance) or 3 […]