María José Robles

Prevención y tratamiento del delírium en ancianos con fractura de cadera

The fracture of the proximal femur or hip fracture in the elderly usually happens after a fall and carries a high morbidity and mortality. One of the most common complications during hospitalization for hip fracture is the onset of delirium or acute confusional state that in elderly patients has a negative impact on the hospital stay, and prognosis, worsening functional ability, cognitive status and mortality. Also the development of delirium during hospitalization increases health care costs. Strategies to prevent and treat delirium during hospitalization for hip fracture have been less studied. In this context, this paper aims to conduct a review of the literature on strategies that exist in the prevention and treatment of delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Tratamiento farmacológico de la demencia, cuándo. cómo y hasta cuándo. Recomendaciones del Grupo de Trabajo de Demencias de la Sociedad Catalana de Geriatría y Gerontología

Dementia in general--and Alzheimers disease (AD) in particular--are bound to loom large among the most acute healthcare, social, and public health problems of the 21st century. AD shows a degenerative progression that can be slowed down--yet not halted--by todays most widely accepted specific treatments (those based on cholinesterase inhibitors as well as those using memantine). There is enough evidence to consider these treatments advisable for the mild, moderate and severe phases of the illness. However, in the final stage of the disease, a decision has to be made on whether to withdraw such treatment or not. In this paper, the Working Group on Dementia for the Catalan Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology reviews the use of these specific pharmacological treatments for AD, and, drawing on the scientific evidence thus gathered, makes a series of recommendations on when, how, and for how long, the currently existing specific pharmacological treatments should be used.

La información del diagnóstico en la demencia

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive deterioration of cognitive functions, accompanied by psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances that produce a progressive and irreversible disability. The way it should communicate the diagnosis of dementia is a key discussion point on which there is no unanimous agreement so far. The communicating of the diagnosis of dementia is a complex issue that affects not only, the patient but also to caregivers and health professionals who care and must conform to the ethical principles governing medical practice (autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice). Therefore, from the Dementia Working Group of the Catalan Geriatric Society (Grupo de Trabajo de Demencia de la Sociedad Catalana de Geriatría) arises the need to review the issue and propose a course of action for the disclosure of diagnosis.

Valor pronóstico de los instrumentos de evaluación de enfermedad avanzada y de final de vida en ancianos ingresados en un centro sociosanitario

OBJECTIVE To apply 3advanced chronic disease evaluation tools in elderly patients admitted to an intermediate and long-term care centre, and evaluate its relationship with mortality. METHODS The NECPAL tool, PROFUND prognostic index, and Charlson comorbidity index were applied to 87 patients. RESULTS The NECPAL tool identified 31 patients (35.6%) in need of palliative care, and according to the PROFUND index, 45 (54.7%) had high/very high risk of mortality (≥7 points), and according to Charlson index, 31 (35.6%) had high comorbidity (≥4 points). Of the NECPAL positive patients, 80.5% had a PROFUND index score ≥7, and 48.3% a Charlson index ≥ 4. These percentages were 34.4% and 28.5% in negative NECPAL patients (P<.001 and P≤.06, respectively). Correlations between the 3tools: quantitative (Spearman) number of responses in NECPAL with PROFUND (r=.57; P<.001); with Charlson (r=.214; P<.047) and between PROFUND and Charlson (r=.157; P=.148). Qualitative (kappa) NECPAL (positive/negative) with PROFUND (cut-off 6/7) (0.40; P<.001), and Charlson (cut-off 3/4) (0.19; P=.080) and between PROFUND and Charlson (0.08; P=.399). Mortality prediction (area under the curve): NECPAL 3 months 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62-1.00); 6 months 0.71 (95% CI: 0.53-0.89) and 12 months 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52-0.82). PROFUND 3 months 0.71 (95% CI: 0.50-0.91); 6 months 0.73 (95% CI: 0.58-0.87), and 12 months 0.69 (95% CI: 0.57-0.81). Charlson 3 months 0.72 (95% CI: 0.52-0.91); 6 months 0.62 (95% CI: 0.45-0.80), and 12 months 0.64 (95% CI: 0.50-0.78). CONCLUSIONS The 3tools were significantly associated with high mortality. A low concordance was found between the results of the different tools.