Search results for "Geriatric"

Changes in Postural Balance in Frail Elderly Women during a 4-Week Visual Feedback Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2002

<i>Background:</i> Balance training programs have not shown consistent results among older adults, and it remains unclear how different training methods can be adapted to frail elderly people. <i>Objective: </i>The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week visual feedback-based balance training on the postural control of frail elderly women living in residential care homes. <i>Methods:</i> Elderly women of two residential care facilities were randomized to an exercise group (EG, n = 20) and to a control group (CG, n = 7). The EG participated in training sessions three times/week for 4 weeks. The exercises were carried out with a com…

Chronic gout in the elderly

2013

Gout is the most common cause of inflammatory arthritis in men over 40 years old; it is a debilitating disease and, if untreated, can result in a chronic progressive disease, including tophaceous gout. In the elderly it represents a special issue, with notable clinical and therapeutic differences from the classical form with a systemic involvement. The burden of the disease increases particularly in the very old people, in whom arthritis, impaired gait and eyesight problems may enhance the related disability. Chronic gout moreover could aggravate heart and kidney disease and increase overall mortality and organ-related damage. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important goals fo…

Electrocardiographic and other clinical correlates of walking ability in older women

2009

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine how resting electrocardiographic (ECG) and other clinical variables, which can be included in a routine clinical examination, predict walking ability in older women. Three hundred and twenty women (63–75 years) without overt cardiac diseases and apparent mobility limitations were studied. Measurements performed were clinical examination (standard 12-lead resting ECG, assessment of physical activity level, presence of chronic diseases, use of beta-blockers, body mass index (BMI), ability to squat, resting blood pressure) and six-minute walking test. Participants walked 533 ± 75 m in the six-minute walking test. The best electrocardiographic p…

Changes in Treatment of Very Elderly Patients Six Weeks after Discharge from Geriatrics Department

2020

We assessed the prescriptions of patients hospitalized in a geriatric unit and subsequently discharged. This prospective and observational study was conducted over a two-month period in the geriatrics department (acute and rehabilitation units) of a university hospital. Patients discharged from this department were included over a two-month period. Prescriptions were analyzed at admission and discharge from the geriatrics department (DGD), and six weeks after DGD. We included 209 patients, 63% female, aged 86.8 years. The mean number of medications prescribed was significantly higher at DGD than at admission (7.8 vs. 7.1, p = 0.003). During hospitalization, 1217 prescriptions were changed (…

Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre study of idebenone in patients suffering from multi-infarct dementia

1992

Abstract In this randomized double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre study on 108 elderly patients with mild to moderate mental deterioration of vascular origin, idebenone — a benzoquinone derivative with a hydroxyalkyl side chain — proved to be therapeutically effective in the treatment of multi-infarct dementia. The oral administration of idebenone 45 mg/day b.i.d. for 120 days significantly improved the scores of the following test in comparison with placebo: Mini Mental State, Randt Memory Test, Gottfries Rating Scale, Token Test, Toulouse Pieron Test, indicating improvements in memory attention and cognitivity. The drug was well tolerated and effective in patients with multi-infar…

Idebenone in senile dementia of Alzheimer type: A multicentre study

1992

Idebenone is a new cerebro-active drug, effective in dementia disorders, particularly indicated in primary degenerative dementias, i.e. Alzheimer's disease. This new molecule acts as an electron trapper and a free radical scavenger protecting mitochondrial membranes from lipid peroxidation. A multicentric, double-blind trial of idebenone (45 mg twice daily orally) vs. placebo was carried out on 102 elderly patients affected by Alzheimer-type dementia of mild or moderate severity. Idebenone was administered for 4 consecutive months, 45 mg twice daily. Clinical evaluations were performed at the time of enrollment (t0) and monthly thereafter (t30, t60, t90 and t120) and at follow-up (t150 ). T…

Hearing as a Predictor of Falls and Postural Balance in Older Female Twins

2009

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to examine, first, whether hearing acuity predicts falls and whether the potential association is explained by postural balance and, second, to examine whether shared genetic or environmental effects underlie these associations. METHODS: Hearing was measured using a clinical audiometer as a part of the Finnish Twin Study on Aging in 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63-76 years. Postural balance was indicated as a center of pressure (COP) movement in semitandem stance, and participants filled in a fall-calendar daily for an average of 345 days after the baseline. RESULTS: Mean hearing acuity (better ear hearing threshol…

Erratum to: The burden of previuos fractures in hip fracture patients. The Break Study

2011

Postural balance and health-related factors in middle-aged and older women with injurious falls and non-fallers.

2004

Background and aims: Older jailers aged over 70 years have shown impaired balance abilities, but it is unclear if impairment in balance control can be detected among jallers who are in their 50’s and 60’s. The aim oj this study was to analyze possible differences in balance control and other health-related factors between female fallers and nonfallers aged 50–68 years. Methods: Women 50–68 years of age (N=40) who had fallen outside and needed medical attention were recruited through a larger fall accident study. Non-fallers (N=97) were women representing the same age group who had not fallen during the preceding 12 months. A battery of standing force platform balance tests were administered…

Association between the multidimensional prognostic index and mortality during 15 Years of Follow-up in the InCHIANTI Study

2020

Abstract Background Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) is recognized as a prognostic tool in hospitalized patients, but data on the value of MPI in community-dwelling older persons are limited. Using data from a representative cohort of community-dwelling persons, we tested the hypothesis that MPI explains mortality during 15 years of follow-up. Methods A standardized comprehensive geriatric assessment was used to calculate the MPI and to categorize participants in low-, moderate-, and high-risk classes. The results were reported as hazard ratios (HRs) and the accuracy was evaluated with the area under the curve (AUC), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the C-index. We also report…