Aline Corvol

Ethical issues in the introduction of case management for elderly people

As case management is under development in France for elderly people, this study sets out to identify and analyse key situations responsible for ethical dilemmas for French case managers. We based our study on the analyses of individual interviews made with case managers and focus-group discussions, bringing together all case managers working in local organisations running for at least a year. We identified three situations giving rise to ethical dilemmas: in the order of importance, the refusals of care, the practicalities of collecting and sharing personal data and the allocation of resources. These three situations can lead to conflict between the principle of beneficence and those of respect for autonomy, non-maleficence and justice. We describe here how French case managers practically deal with these situations.

Clinical usefulness in geriatric patients of combining CHADS2 and HEMORR2HAGES scores to guide antithrombotic prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation.

Background and aims: Two scores exist to assess the benefits and risks of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: CHADS2 [for Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age over 75, Diabetes mellitus; and 2 points for a history of Stroke] and HEMORR2HAGES [for Hepatic or renal failure, Ethanol abuse, Malignancy, Older (age over 75), Reduced platelet count or function, 2 points for Rebleeding risk Hypertension (uncontrolled), Anemia, Genetic factors, Excessive fall risk (including neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders) and history of Stroke]. The potential value of using both scores routinely was studied in order to guide the choice of antithrombotic therapy for geriatric patients. Methods: Retrospective calculation of CHADS2 and HEMORR2HAGES scores and discharge treatment were collected for all patients with atrial fibrillation during a six-month period. All files were analysed when there were differences between therapeutic choices and the results of analysis of combining the two scores. Results: 83 patients were identified. Their mean age was 89.2±4.9 years and 30% of them were on oral anticoagulants on discharge. Usual prescription habits of oral anticoagulants correlated strongly with each of the scores and with the difference between the two scores. The clinical usefulness of using the two scores seemed poor since they indicated that two-thirds of the patients had a similar risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic events. Conclusions: Based on this preliminary study, the CHADS2 and HEMORR2HAGES scores are associated with the prescription of oral anticoagulants, but their routine use may not significantly change the choice of antithrombotic therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Consequences of clinical case management for caregivers: a systematic review

Informal caregivers are deeply involved in the case management process. However, little is known about the consequences of such programs for informal caregivers. This systematic literature review, reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses statement, addressed the consequences of clinical case management programs, whether positive or negative, for caregivers of frail older persons or persons with dementia.