Association of life satisfaction with disability-free survival: role of chronic diseases and healthy lifestyle
Discussionhigh life satisfaction is independently associated with longer disability-free survival. This association is partially mediated by a lower burden of chronic diseases and is reinforced by healthy lifestyle. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimisation prior to elective arterial vascular surgery: a health economic analysis
Conclusionthis study demonstrates a likely health economic benefit in addition to the previously described clinical benefit of employing CGA methodology in the preoperative setting in older patients undergoing arterial surgery. Further evaluation should examine whether CGA-based perioperative services can be effectively implemented and achieve the same clinical and health economic outcomes at scale. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Talking to multi-morbid patients about critical illness: an evolving conversation
This article discusses the concept of response shift and the implication for trade-offs between number/length of invasi ve treatments and change in physical function or death. Conversations need to delineate how health outcomes (e.g. tracheostomy, muscle wasting, etc.) may affect individual outcomes most relevant to the patient and hence impact overall QoL.The research strategy taken to explore decision-making for cr itically ill patients might benefit from gathering qualitative data, as a complement to quantitative data. Patients, families and doctors are motivated by far wider considerations, and a consultation process s...
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Efficacy of exercise-based interventions in preventing falls among community-dwelling older persons with cognitive impairment: is there enough evidence? An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
ConclusionsThe positive statistical findings on reducing fall rate in this meta-analysis were driven by a few studies. Therefore, current evidence is insufficient to inform evidence-based recommendations or treatment decisions for clinical practice.PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42020202094. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

How do people living with dementia perceive eating and drinking difficulties? A qualitative study
ConclusionFor people with mild dementia, eating and drinking problems may seem unrelated to them and so get left undiscussed. Negative connotations regarding eating and drinking problems may hinder the discussion. The optimal time to discuss possible future problems with eating and drinking with people with mild dementia may need an individual approach. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Safety of oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in a nonagenarian population
ConclusionsOGD appears safe in nonagenarians. Pathological findings and endoscopic interventions are more common. Decisions regarding OGD should not be based on age alone. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Changes in social, psychological and physical well-being in the last 5  years of life of older people with cancer: a longitudinal study
Conclusionscare towards the end of life for older people with cancer needs to put their social and psychological well-being at the centre, alongside physical needs. Future research should focus on understanding inter-individual variation in trajectories. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 11, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Developing and evaluating a frailty index for older South Africans —findings from the HAALSI study
Conclusionfrailty measured by cumulative deficits is common and predicts mortality in a rural population of older South Africans. The number of measures needed may limit utility in resource-poor settings. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability in Swedish 85-year-olds born three decades apart —findings from the H70 study
ConclusionLater born cohorts of 85-year-olds face less ADL/IADL disability compared to earlier born cohorts. As disability poses a significant financial burden on healthcare services, our findings might contribute to a more positive view on global ageing and the demographic challenges ahead. However, it might also be that in later born cohorts, ADL/IADL disability affects people at later ages, but due to increased longevity, the total number of years in late-life with a functional disability will remain the same. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Is Pathfinder a safe alternative to the emergency department for older patients? An observational analysis
Conclusionthe Pathfinder service is a safe alternative to ED conveyance for older people following an EMS call. It is the first model of this kind to be evaluated in Ireland. The overwhelmingly positive feedback confirms that older people want this service. This model could expand, with local adaptation, nationally and internationally. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

HEARTS, minds and souls —it is time for geriatricians to bring more to continence management
AbstractUrinary incontinence (UI), the involuntary loss of urine, is a common health condition that may decrease the quality of life and which increases in incidence and prevalence with age. Recent epidemiologic data suggest an overall prevalence of 38% in women older than 60  years, increasing to 77% in older women living in nursing homes. Despite this high prevalence, incontinence remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in this age group. In a representative population of 7,000 participants drawn from the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 750 had UI of whom 285 (38% ) had not sought the help of a health care professio...
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Measuring the impact of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Community Respiratory Programme on emergency admissions to hospital: a controlled interrupted time series analysis
ConclusionsThe community respiratory service was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of COPD EAs among older people and no change in COPD5 EAs. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

New horizons in understanding the experience of Chinese people living with dementia: a positive psychology approach
AbstractAs the global average age increases, the incidence of dementia is also rising. Given improvements in diagnosis and life expectancies, people now live longer with dementia. Thus, the wellbeing and quality of life among people living with dementia are increasingly important areas for research.Research with Western populations has recently begun to apply positive psychology concepts to understand wellbeing in people with dementia. Positive psychology focuses on positive emotions and traits that allow individuals to flourish and thrive —it highlights the possibility of positive subjective experiences in the face of l...
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Enrolment of older adults with cancer in early phase clinical trials —an observational study on the experience in the north west of England
Discussionolder age did not affect the enrolment into EPCTs. However, the selected minority referred for EPCTs suggests a pre-selection upstream by primary oncologists. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 9, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research

Frailty —a risk factor of global and domain-specific cognitive decline among a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adult U.S. Medicare beneficiaries
Conclusionfrailty is associated with lower levels and steeper declines in cognitive function, with strongest associations for executive function. These findings suggest that aetiologies are multifactorial, though primarily vascular related; further research into its association with dementia sub-types and related pathologies is critical. (Source: Age and Ageing)
Source: Age and Ageing - June 7, 2021 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research