Improved Balance and Gait Ability and Basic Activities of Daily Living after Comprehensive Geriatric Care in Frail Older Patients with Fractures

(1) Purpose: Comprehensive geriatric care (CGC) is a multidisciplinary treatment approach for elderly patients. We aimed to investigate outcomes in fracture patients who had been treated using this approach in a large geriatric unit. (2) Methods: This observational cohort study assessed the gait function (using the Tinetti Balance and Gait Test (TBGT)) and basic activities of daily living (ADL) (using the Barthel index (BI)) before and after CGC and compared the results. Baseline data, walking ability assessments (Timed Up and Go, TUG), and cognitive status (mini mental status examination, MMSE) were also analyzed in the subgroup of patients with versus without fractures. (3) Results: Out of 1263 hospitalized patients, 1099 received CGC (median age: 83.1 years (IQR: 79.0–87.8 years); 64.1% were female). TBGT improvement was observed in 90.7% and BI increased in 82.7% of fracture patients. A TBGT improvement of >5 was noted in 47.3% and was associated with female sex, a lower BI at admission (median: 40 versus 45; p = 0.010), and poorer mobility on admission (TUG: median 5 versus 4; p = 0.001). An improvement in BI of ≥15 was observed in 63.0% of the cases, and was associated with a better cognitive status (MMSE: median 25 versus 18; p = 0.001) and inversely associated with diabetes mellitus and a previous stroke. (4) Conclusion: CGC in specialized geriatric units improves the balance and gait and the basic ADL in geriatric patients. After fracture, female patients are more likely to experience improvements in gait and balance, while patients with better cognitive condition are more likely to experience improvements in ADL.

Effects of comprehensive geriatric care models on postoperative outcomes in geriatric surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The elderly population is highly susceptible to develop post-operative complications after major surgeries. It is not clear whether the comprehensive geriatric care models are effective in reducing adverse events. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine whether the comprehensive geriatric care models improved clinical outcomes, particularly in decreasing the prevalence of delirium and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly surgical patients. Method We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Emcare Nursing, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials. Gov, and ICTRP between 2009 to January 23, 2020. We included studies on geriatric care models in elderly patients (≥60 years) undergoing elective, non-cardiac high-risk surgery. The outcomes were the prevalence of delirium, LOS, rates of 30-days readmission, and 30-days mortality. We used the Cochrane Review Manager Version 5.3. to estimate the pooled Odds Ratio (OR) and Mean Difference (MD) using random effect model analysis. Results Eleven studies were included with 2672 patients [Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): 4; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials (Non-RCTs): 7]. Data pooled from six studies showed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of delirium between the intervention and control groups: 13.8% vs 15.9% (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.30–1.96; p = 0.57). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the LOS (MD: -0.55; 95% CI: − 2.28, 1.18; p = 0.53), 30-day readmission (12.1% vs. 14.3%; OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.67–1.77; p = 0.73), and 30-day mortality (3.2% vs. 2.1%; OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.66–2.69; p = 0.42). The quality of evidence was very low. Conclusions The geriatric care models involved pre-operative comprehensive geriatric assessment, and intervention tools to address cognition, frailty, and functional status. In non-cardiac high-risk surgeries, these care models did not show any significant difference in the prevalence of delirium, LOS, 30-days readmission rates, and 30-day mortality in geriatric patients. Further RCTs are warranted to evaluate these models on the postoperative outcomes. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number - CRD42020181779.

Geriatric social security and welfare services in Gwalior, India: a cross sectional study of awareness, utilization, concerns and solutions

Background: Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%. In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low and middle income countries. All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift.Methods: The present Study was a cross-sectional study done for 1 year in 2016 in which 600 households were selected by simple random sampling in Gwalior city in which the knowledge and awareness of various Government health scheme and policies and their day to day utilization in their life were assessed. A predesigned and pretested interview based structured questionnaire was used for data collection. They were analysed and interpreted by appropriate software and various statistical tests were applied.Results: The maximum no. of participants 112 (54.9%) knew about railways/road transport/air travel concessions provided to Senior citizens, 23.04% knew about telephone and postal services, 13.24% were aware of tax exemptions while 9.8% knew about banking and insurance schemes regarding elderly. Males were generally more aware than females. The maximum utilization (59.82%) was found in railways/road transport/air travel concessions while minimum utilization (25.00%) was in Indira Gandhi National old age pension scheme.Conclusions: The system for comprehensive geriatric care to the community was well in place with regular development and growth but there is dearth of awareness and utilization of these services.

Comprehensive Geriatric Care to Improve Mobility after Hip Fracture: An RCT

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Comprehensive geriatric care (CGC) for older adults during hospitalization for hip fracture can improve mobility, but it is unclear whether CGC delivered after a return to community living improves mobility compared with usual post-discharge care. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To determine if an outpatient clinic-based CGC regime in the first year after hip fracture improved mobility performance at 12 months. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A two-arm, 1:1 parallel group, pragmatic, single-blind, single-center, randomized controlled trial at 3 hospitals in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Participants were community-dwelling adults, aged ≥65 years, with a hip fracture in the previous 3–12 months, who had no dementia and walked ≥10 m before the fracture occurred. Target enrollment was 130 participants. Clinic-based CGC was delivered by a geriatrician, physiotherapist, and occupational therapist. Primary outcome was the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; 0–12) at 12 months. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We randomized 53/313 eligible participants with a mean (SD) age of 79.7 (7.9) years to intervention (<i>n</i> = 26) and usual care (UC, <i>n</i> = 27), and 49/53 (92%) completed the study. Mean 12-month (SD) SPPB scores in the intervention and UC groups were 9.08 (3.03) and 8.24 (2.44). The between-group difference was 0.9 (95% CI –0.3 to 2.0, <i>p</i> = 0.13). Adverse events were similar in the 2 groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The small sample size of less than half our recruitment target precludes definitive conclusions about the effect of our intervention. However, our results are consistent with similar studies on this population and intervention.

Meta-analysis: Effectiveness of Comprehensive Geriatric Care for Elderly Following Hip Fracture Surgery

Hip fractures may increase mortality and decrease mobility in elderly patients. Effectiveness of comprehensive geriatric care (CGC) has not been verified. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted by searching full-text databases (1988–2018) of Cochrane Library, Clinical Key, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ProQuest for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CGC following hip fractures. Outcome measures were mortality, activities of daily living, hospital stay, and discharge to institutional setting. Cochrane RoB 2.0, Jadad Quality Score, and Group Reading Assessment were used for analysis. Of the 11 studies included, 8 examined mortality (effect size Z = 2.51, p = 0.01), 5 examined daily activities (effect size Z = 3.31, p = 0.0009), 7 examined length of hospital stay (effect size Z = 0.18, p = 0.85), and 5 examined discharged to an institutional setting (effect size Z = 0.81, p = 0.42). Results showed that CGC decreased mortality and improved daily living activities.

Integrating geriatrics principles into primary care

Care of older people living in the community relies on primary care physicians. When the accumulation of ageing, chronic conditions, or acute problems has an impact on physical or mental function, comprehensive geriatric care has to be incorporated in usual primary care to understand, coordinate, manage, and prevent diseases and disabilities. Primary care physicians play key roles in the care of older subjects, including prevention and screening for diseases and geriatric problems, management of chronic disease and multimorbidity, detection and management of frailty and early disability, home, end-of-life and nursing home care, and continuity and customization of care. Incorporation of geriatric principles may improve performance and outcomes in each of these tasks. In addition, using some elements of comprehensive geriatric assessment in primary care management of older patients may help to improve outcomes.