scholarly journals Accidental Choking Among Hospitalized Patients in Pennsylvania: A 15-Year Retrospective Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kukielka
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Tooth Loss ◽  
Foreign Bodies ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Safety Reporting

Choking occurs when a foreign body becomes lodged in the airway and obstructs respiration. In the United States, over 5,000 deaths were attributed to choking in 2015. Among older adults, food is the most common cause of choking, and the death rate for choking events involving food is seven times higher among older adults than young children. We queried the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) and identified 545 events related to accidental choking on food, beverages, medications, or other foreign bodies reported from 2004 to 2019. Patients who experienced a choking event were more often female (56%; 306 of 545), and they ranged in age from 6 months to 102 years, with a median patient age of 70 years (interquartile range = 54 to 83 years). Among choking events that specified the substance involved, food was the most common (80%; 424 of 528 events). The most common foods that patients choked on were meat or fish (n=77), sandwiches (n=38), and breads or cakes (n=31). Abdominal thrusts were the most common immediate response described in event reports, attempted in more than half of events (56%; 306 of 545). Prevention of accidental choking may involve timely assessment of risk factors that predispose a patient to choking, including age older than 60 years, tooth loss and presence of dentures, and underlying psychiatric or neurologic illness.

scholarly journals The Status of Chemotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Insights for the Advanced Practitioner

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirollos Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP ◽  
Kelley Mayden, MSN, FNP, AOCNP
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
United States ◽  
Metastatic Breast Cancer ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Society ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Advanced Practitioner ◽  
The Status

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States and ranks second as the most common cause of cancer-related death among women (Siegel et al., 2020). According to American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates, approximately 276,480 new cases of breast cancer would have been diagnosed in 2020, and greater than 42,000 deaths would be attributed to breast cancer (ACS, 2020). Although only 7% of all cancer-related deaths are from breast cancer every year, it is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 40 and 49 years (Siegel et al., 2020). The death rate associated with breast cancer, however, has decreased by 1.3% annually from 2013 to 2017.

scholarly journals Social Isolation and Hospitalization Risk Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 95-95
Author(s):  
J Mary Louise Pomeroy ◽  
Gilbert Gimm
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Psychosocial Risk ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract PURPOSE: This study examines psychosocial risk factors associated with hospitalization among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. METHODS: Using two waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study from 2011 and 2015, we conducted descriptive and multivariate analyses of individual-level data from a nationally representative sample of 8,003 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older. Associations between hospitalization and risk factors including social isolation, depression, and anxiety were assessed. Covariates included gender, race/ethnicity, age, region, insurance type, falls, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Overall, about 20.9% of older adults reported a hospitalization within the past year and 22.2% were socially isolated. The odds of hospitalization were higher for socially isolated adults (OR 1.17; p = .02), for depressed adults (OR 1.25; p = .01), and for individuals with anxiety (OR 1.25; p = .02). Individuals living in the Western region had lower odds of hospitalization (OR 0.71; p = .001), whereas men (OR 1.13; p = .03), those requiring assistance with activities of daily living (OR 1.48; p < .001), and those having one (OR 1.41; p = .03) or more (OR 3.05; p < .001) chronic health conditions had higher odds of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Social isolation, depression, and anxiety represent significant psychosocial risk factors for hospitalization among community-dwelling older adults in the United States. Efforts to reduce health care costs and improve health outcomes for older adults should explore ways to strengthen social integration and improve mental health.

scholarly journals How Safety Is Compromised When Hospital Equipment Is a Poor Fit for Patients Who Are Obese

2020 ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Eliabeth Kukielka
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Safety Reporting ◽  
Imaging Department ◽  
Skin Tears ◽  
Hospital Equipment ◽  
Surgical Unit

Obesity is common, serious, and costly, and according to recent data, its prevalence is on the rise in the United States. Event reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) indicate that some healthcare facilities do not have the necessary equipment to monitor and care for some individuals in this patient population, leading to embarrassment for patients, delays in care, and injuries to patients. An analysis of 107 events related to monitoring and patient care for patients who are obese submitted to PA-PSRS from 2009 through 2018 showed that imaging equipment, especially MRI and CT scanners, was most often implicated in event reports (49.5%; 53 events); other equipment included stretchers (24.3%; 26 events) and wheelchairs (11.2%; 12 events). Events most often occurred in an imaging department (30.8%; 33 events) or a medical/surgical unit (21.5%; 23 events). Analysts determined that 80 events (74.8%) resulted in a delay in care and that 44 events (41.1%) resulted in temporary harm to the patient, including skin tears and abrasions. Healthcare providers may not be able to prevent delays in care resulting from the unavailability of adequate equipment for patients who are obese, but they may be able to prevent harm and embarrassment for patients through proactive assessment.

scholarly journals Urban-Rural Differences in Sarcopenia Prevalence and Nutritional Risk Factors: The NHANES (2001–2002 and 2011–2014)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 272-272
Author(s):  
Jason Aziz ◽  
Kieran Reid ◽  
John Batsis ◽  
Roger Fielding
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rural Residency ◽  
Urban Rural

Abstract Background: Older adults living in rural areas experience health inequities compared to their urban counterparts. These include comorbidities, poor diet and physical inactivity; known risk factors for sarcopenia. No studies examining urban-rural differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed among older adults in the United States exist. Objective: To compare the prevalence of sarcopenia and slow gait speed between urban and rural older adults living in the United States. As a secondary aim, we examined relationships between rural residency, total energy and total protein on gait speed and grip strength. Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis of two cohorts in the continuous NHANES (2001-2002 and 2011-2014), using gait speed or grip strength data, along with urban-rural status, dietary, examination, questionnaire and demographic data in older (≥ 60 yrs.) adults. Results: The prevalence of GripBMI weakness was higher in urban vs. rural participants (27.4% vs. 19.2%), whereas their absolute grip strength was lower (31.75(±0.45) vs. 33.73(±0.48)). Total energy, total protein and relative protein intakes were similar between urban and rural participants. Total energy intake was associated with gait speed and grip strength. Conclusions: Older adults living in urban areas of the United States, were weaker compared to their rural counterparts. Rural residency was not associated with gait speed or grip strength. Total energy intake was associated with slower gait speed but higher grip strength. This report is the first to examine urban-rural differences in sarcopenia and slow gait speed in older adults living in the United States.

scholarly journals Comparing Estimates of Fall-Related Mortality Incidence Among Older Adults in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1468-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C Lohman ◽  
Amanda J Sonnega ◽  
Emily J Nicklett ◽  
Lillian Estenson ◽  
Amanda N Leggett
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Mortality Incidence ◽  
Representative Cohort ◽  
Related Mortality

AbstractBackgroundFalls are the leading cause of injury-related mortality among older adults in the United States, but incidence and risk factors for fall-related mortality remain poorly understood. This study compared fall-related mortality incidence rate estimates from a nationally representative cohort with those from a national vital record database and identified correlates of fall-related mortality.MethodsCause-of-death data from the National Death Index (NDI; 1999–2011) were linked with eight waves from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative cohort of U.S. older adults (N = 20,639). Weighted fall-related mortality incidence rates were calculated and compared with estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vital record data. Fall-related deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases (Version 10) codes. Person-time at risk was calculated from HRS entry until death or censoring. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify individual-level factors associated with fall-related deaths.ResultsThe overall incidence rate of fall-related mortality was greater in HRS–NDI data (51.6 deaths per 100,000; 95% confidence interval: 42.04, 63.37) compared with CDC data (42.00 deaths per 100,000; 95% confidence interval: 41.80, 42.19). Estimated differences between the two data sources were greater for men and adults aged 85 years and older. Greater age, male gender, and self-reported fall history were identified as independent risk factors for fall-related mortality.ConclusionIncidence rates based on aggregate vital records may substantially underestimate the occurrence of and risk for fall-related mortality differentially in men, minorities, and relatively younger adults. Cohort-based estimates of individual fall-related mortality risk are important supplements to vital record estimates.

scholarly journals Hearing Loss Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Older Adults in the United States

2011 ◽  
Vol 66A (5) ◽  
pp. 582-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Lin ◽  
R. Thorpe ◽  
S. Gordon-Salant ◽  
L. Ferrucci
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
The United States
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document