ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship of 24-hour ambulatory pulse pressure (24hPP) with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in elderly essential hypertension patients. MethodsThe data of 110 elderly patients with essential hypertension from January to December 2012 were collected in the study. All patients received 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echoeardiographic examination 24hPP and LVMI were calculated according to the results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiographic measurements. The patients were divided into group A [24hPP<60 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), n=70] and group B (24hPP≥60 mm Hg, n=40). ResultsThe 24-hour systolic blood pressure and 24hPP for patients in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.001). Compared with group A patients, the interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index were significantly higher in group B (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that 24hPP had a positive correlation with LVMI in the elderly essential hypertension patients (r=0.33, P<0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that 24hPP was the main factor for the increase of LVMI in elderly essential hypertension patients (β=0.90, P<0.001). ConclusionThe 24hPP is positively correlated with LVMI in elderly essential hypertension patients. The 24hPP is an important risk factor for left ventricular structural damage in elderly essential hypertensive patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation by posterolateral and posteromedial approaches for treating posterior Pilon fractures in elderly patients. MethodsBetween August 2009 and August 2014, 20 elderly patients with posterior Pilon fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation by posterolateral and posteromedial approaches. There were 14 males and 6 females, aged from 66 to 83 years (mean, 72.7 years). The causes were falling injury in 11 cases and traffic accident injury in 9 cases. All the patients had lateral malleolus and medial malleolus fractures. The time from injury to operation was 7-14 days (mean, 8.6 days). The posterolateral incision was made to expose the posterolateral bone fragments of posterior malleolus and lateral malleolus fracture, and the posteromedial incision was made to expose the posteromedial fracture fragments of posterior malleolus and medial malleolus fracture. After reduction, fracture was fixed with locking plate or cannulated screw. All the patients began to functional exercise at 1 day after operation. ResultsThe operation time was 60-110 minutes (mean, 92 minutes). The incisions healed primarily in all patients. There were no complications of incision dehiscence, infection, implant exposure, and nerve damage. No irritation sign of tendon was observed. All 20 cases were followed up for 12-18 months (mean, 13 months). The X-ray films showed that fracture healed at 3-9 months, with an average of 5.2 months. During follow-up period, no loosening or breakage of the implant was observed. The other patients could walk normally except 2 patients (over 80 years old) who could walk with crutch. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 4 cases; the excellent and good rate was 80%. ConclusionA combination of posterolateral approach and posteromedial approach for open reduction and fixation of posterior Pilon fractures can achieve satisfactory effect in elderly patients. It has the advantages of protecting ankle blood supply and avoiding the soft tissue necrosis and implants exposure.
Objective To construct the expert consensus on comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly in the hospital and community. MethodsMedline, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP databases were searched for geriatric rehabilitation assessment materials from June 2016 to June 2021. The primary items were summarized through literature review and research group discussion, and then Delphi method was used among 20 experts in geriatric rehabilitation medicine to develop consensus-based core items for the elderly comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system. Results A total of 158 references were included. Through integration, sorting and screening, the research team initially formulated 41 items and four major sections including cardiopulmonary exercise, sensory perception, cognition and psychology (speech contained), and swallowing, urination and defecation. The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of experts consultation were both 100%, the mean expert authority coefficient was 0.92±0.05, the variation coefficients were 0.174±0.043 and 0.172±0.063, respectively; the Kendall coefficients of concordance were 0.587 and 0.601, with P values<0.05 for both, respectively. Finally, The comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly including 16 items would be formed. Conclusion The expert consensus on comprehensive rehabilitation assessment system for the elderly constructed by Delphi method includes motor, sensory perception, cognition, swallowing, speech, cardiopulmonary, defecation, mental and psychological elements, which are identified with high recognition and consistency from experts.
Objective To study the clinical efficacy of topiramate combined with carbamazepine combined with phenytoin in elderly seizures. Methods A total of 105 elderly patients with epilepsy were enrolled in this study from August 2014 to July 2016 in Fuzhou Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital. The patients were aged 61 to 80 years. There were 42 males and 63 females with epilepsy. The course were 1 to 5 years; 55 cases were partial onset, 50 cases were systemic attack. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into A, B, C three groups, each group were 35 patients. Group A was daily treated with 4 to 8 mg/kg topiramate; Group B was treated with 0.3 g carbamazepine combined with 250 to 300 mg phenytoin per day. Group C was daily treated with 4 to 8 mg/kg topiramate and 0.3 g carbamazepine combined with 250 to 300 mg phenytoin. The total effective rate, the incidence of adverse reactions, the number of seizures before and after treatment were compared among the three groups. Results The total effective rate of group C was higher than that of group A and B, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the number of epileptic seizures between the three groups before treatment (P>0.05). The number of seizures in group C was significantly lower than that in group A and B (P<0.05). Conclusions The treatment of topical epilepsy patients with topiramate and carbamazepine combined with phenytoin can significantly improve the total effective rate of treatment, protect the safety of medication, reduce the number of patients with epilepsy, so that patients can quickly return to normal life. It would be worthy for clinical promotion and use.
Objective?To identify an evidence-based treatment for an elderly patient with intertrochanteric fractures. Methods?Clinical problems were presented on the basis of the patient’s conditions, and evidence was collected from the NGC (2000 to 2009), The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2009), TRIP Database, PubMed (1966 to 2009) and CBM (1978 to 2009). Treating strategies were formulated in terms of the three-combination principle (best evidence, the doctor’s professional knowledge and the patient’s desire). Results?Three guidelines and sixteen studies were included. The current evidence indicated that surgery was the preferred solution to intertrochanteric fractures of the elderly patient. The sliding hip screw (SHS) appeared superior to others. There was insufficient evidence to support the routine use of closed suction drainage in orthopedic surgeries. Early surgery was associated with shorter hospital stay and improved mortality. Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced infections. In order to lower the risk of venous thromboembolism, pharmacological prophylaxis should be carried out when the patient was admitted to hospital and be assisted with mechanical prophylaxis after surgery. Nutritional supplementation was conducive to the recovery of the patient. Rehabilitation ought to be performed as soon as possible. Considering the patient’s condition, the treatment option was established according to the available evidence and guidelines. Short-term follow-up showed a good outcome. Conclusion?Through the evidence-based method, an individual treatment plan could obviously improve the treatment effect and prognosis.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the associations of cognitive frailty with mortality and hospitalization in the elderly. MethodsThe VIP, PubMed, CNKI, WanFang Data, CBM, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were electronically searched to collect cohort studies on the association of cognitive frailty with mortality or hospitalization in the elderly from inception to May, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed by R 4.2.2 software. ResultsA total of 19 cohort studies involving 63 624 elderly were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with healthy elder, the elder with cognitive frailty had a higher mortality (OR=2.75, 95%CI 2.10 to 3.59, P<0.01) and hospitalization (OR=1.67, 95%CI 1.40 to 2.00, P<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that cognitive frailty was related to the risk of death in different status of frailty and cognitive function, different assessment tools, different countries of development, different follow-up time and research sites. At the same time, different status of frailty and cognitive function and different levels of development of countries were related to the risk of hospitalization. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that cognitive frailty can increase the risk of hospitalization and mortality in the elderly. It is suggested that early screening and intervention of cognitive frailty should be carried out to effectively reduce the risk of adverse consequences, so as to achieve healthy aging.
Objective Evidence-based medicine was used to make an individualized treatment plan for newly diagnosed prostatic hyperplasia in an elderly patient. Methods After clinical problems were discovered, evidence was collected from CBM, CNKI, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Springer, and ProQuest databases according to our predefined search strategy. The search was done through 2008. The internal and external validity of the evidence was assessed. The evidence, combined with the patient value, was applied to the patient. Results A total of 39 systematic reviews involving 137 randomized controlled trials were identified. A rational treatment plan was made upon a critical evaluation of the data. After one year follow-up, the treatment protocol was proven correct. Conclusion The treatment efficacy in newly diagnosed prostatic hyperplasia in the elderly has been improved by determining an individualized treatment protocol according to evidence-based methods.
ObjectiveTo explore the quality of life (QOL) of rural cognitive function impaired elderly in Guangyuan city and analysis the influencing factors, in order to provide evidence for improving the QOL of rural cognitive function impaired elderly. MethodsBy stratified cluster sampling method, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was adopted in the cognitive function impaired screening in Guangyuan rural area of Sichuan province in 2012, then we used SF-12 questionnaire to evaluate the QOL of those rural elderly (more than 60 years old) whose cognitive function was impaired. ResultsA total of 270 rural cognitive function impaired elderly were selected from 735 old people. The results of QOL assessment showed that:the mean of physical component summary (PCS) was 37.93±11.55, and the mean of mental component summary (MCS) was 44.07±13.14. Gender, age, education levels, economic situation of the selfassessment, chronic disease, being engaging in physical labour and daily life care were correlated with the score of QOL. ConclusionIn order to improve their QOL, we should help the elderly with cognitive function impaired and focus on prevention and individual treatment; their special difficulties should be fully considered when making the policy of health care and social security.
ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical characteristics of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients (elderly group) with liver cirrhosis aged ≥60 treated between January 1998 and December 2010. Then, we compared these cases with another 72 liver cirrhosis patients (non-elderly group) aged<60. ResultsThe incidence of jaundice, ascites and albumin deficiency in the elderly patients was significantly higher than that in the non-elderly patients (P<0.05). Complications in the elderly group were relatively more, including electrolyte imbalance, infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver cancer, liver and kidney syndrome and liver and lung syndrome, and the incidence of these complications was all significantly higher than the non-elderly group (P<0.05) except the liver and kidney syndrome (P>0.05). The causes of liver cirrhosis in both groups were similar. The most common cause was hepatitis B virus infection, followed by chronic alcoholism, but in the elderly group, chronic alcoholism, cholestasis, poisoning from medicines and poisons and liver blood circulation disorders were more common than the non-elderly group (P<0.05); hepatitis B and non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis were more common in the non-elderly group than in the elderly group (P<0.05). The elderly group had more Child-Pugh class C cases (P<0.05), while there were more class A cases in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). Twenty-six patients died in the elderly group with a mortality rate of 38.8%; while only 13 died in the non-elderly group with a mortality rate of 18.1%. The difference of mortality rate was significant between the two groups (P<0.05). Common causes of death in the elderly group were infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and electrolyte disorders and gastrointestinal bleeding, while the common causes of death in the non-elderly group were gastrointestinal bleeding and electrolyte disorders. ConclusionThe etiology, clinical manifestations and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients. We must pay more attention on treating complications of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients.
Objective To explore whether hospitalized elderly patients with severe communityacquired pneumonia ( SCAP) have better outcomes if they are treated with dual-therapy consisting of a β-lactam/macrolide or fluoroquinolone.Methods A prospective study was conducted in patients with SCAP aged 65 years or older between January 2007 and January 2012. These patients were assigned to a combination therapy group or a β-lactam monotherapy group by the attending physicians. Time to clinical stability( TCS) and total mortality were calculated. Prognostic factors for death were analyzed. Results Among the 232 patients, 153 patients were given β-lactam/macrolide or β-lactam/ fluoroquinolone ( macrolide in 67 patients and fluoroquinolone in 86) , while 79 were treated with β-lactam monotherapy. Compared with the monotherapy group, the combination therapy group was associated with significant decreased TCS ( median TCS, 10 days vs. 13 days) , and lower overall in-hospital mortality( 24.2% vs. 43.0%, P lt;0. 01) . Compared with fluoroquinolone, macrolide use was associated with lower ICU mortality ( 14.9% vs. 31.4% , P lt;0. 01) . Simplified acute physiology score Ⅱ, pneumonia severity index, mutilobar infiltration, and β-lactam monotherapy were confirmed as independent predictors of death. Conclusion β-lactam/macrolide or β-lactam/ fluoroquinolone combination therapy, especially with macrolide, has superiority over β-lactam monotherapy in elderly patients with SCAP, and should be recommended.