Prevalence, characteristics and treatment of chronic pain in elderly patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a frequent characteristic of elderly people and represents an actual and still poorly debated topic. OBJECTIVE: We investigated pain prevalence and intensity, and its pharmacological therapy in elderly patients hospitalized in 101 internal medicine wards. METHODS: Taking advantage of the "REgistro POliterapie Società Italiana Medicina Interna" (REPOSI), we collected 2535 patients of whom almost a quarter was older than 85 years old. Among them, 582 patients were affected by pain (either chronic or acute) and 296 were diagnosed with chronic pain. RESULTS: Patients with pain showed worse cognitive status, higher depression and comorbidities, and a longer duration of hospital stay compared to those without pain (all p < .0366). Patients with chronic pain revealed lower level of independency in their daily life, worse cognitive status and higher level of depression compared to acute pain patients (all p < .0156). Moreover, most of them were not treated for pain at admission (73.4%) and half of them was not treated with any analgesic drug at discharge (50.5%). This difference affected also the reported levels of pain intensity. Patients who received analgesics at both admission and discharge remained stable (p = .172). Conversely, those not treated at admission who received an analgesic treatment during the hospital stay decreased their perceived pain (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the need to focus more attention on the pharmacological treatment of chronic pain, especially in hospitalized elderly patients, in order to support them and facilitate their daily life after hospital discharge

Antibiotic use and associated factors in a large sample of hospitalised older people

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess (i) the prevalence of antibiotic use, (ii) factors associated with their use and (iii) the association with in-hospital mortality in a large sample of hospitalised older people in Italy. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2010\u20132017 REPOSI register held in more than 100 internal medicine and geriatric wards in Italy. Patients aged 6565 years with at least one antibiotic prescription during their hospitalisation were selected. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with antibiotic use. Results: A total of 5442 older patients were included in the analysis, of whom 2786 (51.2%) were prescribed antibiotics during their hospitalisation. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic class was \u3b2- lactams, accounting for 50% of the total prescriptions. Poor physical independence, corticosteroid use and being hospitalised in Northern Italy were factors associated with a higher likelihood of being prescribed antibiotics. Antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval 1.82\u20133.48) also when accounting for factors associated with their use. Conclusion: Hospitalised older people are often prescribed antibiotics. Factors related to poor physical independence and corticosteroid use are associated with increased antibiotic use. Being prescribed antibiotics is also associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death. These results demand the implementation of specific stewardship programmes to improve the correct use of antibiotics in hospital settings and to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance

Therapeutic Duplicates in a Cohort of Hospitalized Elderly Patients: Results from the REPOSI Study

Background: Explicit criteria for potentially inappropriate prescriptions in the elderly are recommended to avoid prescriptions of duplicate drug classes and to optimize monotherapy within a single drug class before a new agent is considered. Duplicate drug class prescription (or therapeutic duplicates) puts the patient at increased risk of adverse drug reactions with no additional therapeutic benefits. To our knowledge, the prevalence of elderly inpatients receiving therapeutic duplicates has never been studied. Objectives: Our objective was to assess the prevalence of therapeutic duplicates at admission, discharge, and 3-month follow-up of hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in 97 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Therapeutic duplicates were defined as at least two drugs of the same therapeutic class prescribed simultaneously to a patient. A patient\u2019s drug therapy at admission relates to prescriptions from general practitioners, whereas prescriptions at discharge are those from hospital internists or geriatricians. Results: The study sample comprised 5821 admitted and 4983 discharged patients. In all, 143 therapeutic duplicates were found at admission and 170 at discharge. The prevalence of patients exposed to at least one therapeutic duplicate rose significantly from hospital admission (2.5 %) to discharge (3.4 %; p = 0.0032). Psychotropic drugs and drugs for peptic ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease were the most frequently involved. A total of 86.8 % of patients discharged with at least one therapeutic duplicate were still receiving them at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Hospitalization and drugs prescribed by internists and geriatricians are both factors associated with a small but definite increase in overall therapeutic duplicates in elderly patients admitted to internal medicine and geriatric wards. More attention should be paid to the indications for each drug prescribed, because therapeutic duplicates are not supported by evidence and increase both the risk of adverse drug reactions and costs. Identification of unnecessary therapeutic duplicates is essential for the optimization of polypharmacy

Disability, and not diabetes, is a strong predictor of mortality in oldest old patients hospitalized with pneumonia

Background: Pneumonia causes more deaths than any other infectious disease, especially in older patients with multiple chronic diseases. Recent studies identified a low functional status as prognostic factor for mortality in elderly patients with pneumonia while contrasting data are available about the role of diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-hospital, 3-month and 1-year mortality in elderly subjects affected by pneumonia enrolled in the RePoSi register.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data collected on hospitalized elderly patients in the frame of the REPOSI project. We analyzed the socio-demographic, laboratory and clinical characteristics of subjects with pneumonia. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to explore the relationship between variables and mortality.Results: Among 4714 patients 284 had pneumonia. 52.8% were males and the mean age was 80 years old. 19.8% of these patients had a Barthel Index &lt;= 40 (p &lt; 0.0001), as well as 43.2% had a short blessed test &gt;= 10 (p &lt; 0.0117). In these subjects a significant CIRS for the evaluation of severity and comorbidity indexes (p &lt; 0.0001) were present. Although a higher fasting glucose level was identified in people with pneumonia, in the multivariate logistic analysis diabetes was not independently associated with in-hospital, 3-month and 1-year mortality, whereas patients with lower Barthel Index had a higher mortality risk (odds ratio being 9.45, 6.84, 19.55 in hospital, at 3 and 12 months).Conclusion: Elderly hospitalized patients affected by pneumonia with a clinically significant disability had a higher mortality risk while diabetes does not represent an important determinant of short and long-term outcome

Mortality rate and risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients

Background: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is burdened by high mortality rate that increases with aging. Elderly patients may be exposed to multiple risk factors for GIB. We aimed at defining the impact of GIB in elderly patients.Methods: Since 2008, samples of elderly patients (age &gt;= 65 years) with multimorbidity admitted to 101 internal medicine wards across Italy have been prospectively enrolled and followed-up (REPOSI registry). Diagnoses of GIB, length of stay (LOS), mortality rate, and possible risk factors, including drugs, index of comorbidity (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale [CIRS]), polypharmacy, and chronic diseases were assessed. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were computed.Results: 3872 patients were included (mean age 79 +/- 7.5 years, F:M ratio 1.1:1). GIB was reported in 120 patients (mean age 79.6 +/- 7.3 years, F:M 0.9:1), with a crude prevalence of 3.1%. Upper GIB occurred in 72 patients (mean age 79.3 +/- 7.6 years, F:M 0.8:1), lower GIB in 51 patients (mean age 79.4 +/- 7.1 years, F:M 0.9:1), and both upper/lower GIB in 3 patients. Hemorrhagic gastritis/duodenitis and colonic diverticular disease were the most common causes. The LOS of patients with GIB was 11.7 +/- 8.1 days, with a 3.3% in-hospital and a 9.4% 3-month mortality rates. Liver cirrhosis (OR 5.64; CI 2.51-12.65), non-ASA antiplatelet agents (OR 2.70; CI 1.23-5.90), and CIRS index of comorbidity &gt; 3 (OR 2.41; CI 1.16-4.98) were associated with GIB (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: A high index of comorbidity is associated with high odds of GIB in elderly patients. The use of non-ASA antiplatelet agents should be discussed in patients with multimorbidity

Hospital Care of Older Patients With COPD: Adherence to International Guidelines for Use of Inhaled Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Objectives: We aimed to analyze the prevalence and impact of COPD in older patients hospitalized in internal medicine or geriatric wards, and to investigate adherence to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, associated clinical factors, and outcomes.Design: Data were obtained from REgistro POliterapie SIMI (REPOSI), a prospective multicenter observational registry that enrolls inpatients aged &gt;= 65 years.Setting and Participants: Older hospitalized patients enrolled from 2008 to 2016 with a diagnosis of COPD.Measures: We evaluated adherence to the 2018 GOLD guidelines at admission and discharge, by examining the prescription of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids in COPD patients. We also evaluated the occurrence of outcomes and its association with COPD and guideline adherence.Results: At hospital admission, COPD was diagnosed in 1302 (21.5%) of 6046 registered patients. COPD patients were older, with more impaired clinical and functional status and multiple comorbidities. Overall, 34.3% of COPD patients at admission and 35.6% at discharge were adherent to the GOLD guidelines. Polypharmacy (&gt;= 5 drugs) at admission [odds ratio (OR): 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.24-4.81], a history of acute COPD exacerbation (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.44-4.88) at admission, smoking habit (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.94), and polypharmacy at discharge (OR: 6.76, 95% CI: 4.15-11.0) were associated with adherence to guidelines. COPD was independently associated with the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory death and rehospitalization occurrence compared to patients without COPD during follow-up. Adherence to guidelines was inversely associated with the occurrence of death from all causes (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.90).Conclusions/Implications: COPD was common in older patients acutely hospitalized, showing an impaired functional and clinical status. Prescriptions for older COPD patients were often not adherent to GOLD guidelines. Poor adherence to guidelines was associated with a worse clinical status. There is a need to improve adherence to guidelines in treating COPD patients, with the ultimate goal of reducing clinical events. (C) 2019 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

Prevalence, characteristics and treatment of chronic pain in elderly patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards

Background: Chronic pain is a frequent characteristic of elderly people and represents an actual and still poorly debated topic. Objective: We investigated pain prevalence and intensity, and its pharmacological therapy in elderly patients hospitalized in 101 internal medicine wards. Methods: Taking advantage of the “REgistro POliterapie Società Italiana Medicina Interna” (REPOSI), we collected 2535 patients of whom almost a quarter was older than 85 years old. Among them, 582 patients were affected by pain (either chronic or acute) and 296 were diagnosed with chronic pain. Results: Patients with pain showed worse cognitive status, higher depression and comorbidities, and a longer duration of hospital stay compared to those without pain (all p <.0366). Patients with chronic pain revealed lower level of independency in their daily life, worse cognitive status and higher level of depression compared to acute pain patients (all p <.0156). Moreover, most of them were not treated for pain at admission (73.4%) and half of them was not treated with any analgesic drug at discharge (50.5%). This difference affected also the reported levels of pain intensity. Patients who received analgesics at both admission and discharge remained stable (p =.172). Conversely, those not treated at admission who received an analgesic treatment during the hospital stay decreased their perceived pain (p <.0001). Conclusions: Our results show the need to focus more attention on the pharmacological treatment of chronic pain, especially in hospitalized elderly patients, in order to support them and facilitate their daily life after hospital discharge

Patterns of infections in older patients acutely admitted to medical wards: data from the REPOSI register

359noreservedmixedRossio R.; Ardoino I.; Franchi C.; Nobili A.; Mannuccio Mannucci P.; Peyvandi F.; Prisco D.; Silvestri E.; Emmi G.; Bettiol A.; Caterina C.; Biolo G.; Zanetti M.; Guadagni M.; Zaccari M.; Chiuch M.; Vanoli M.; Grignani G.; Pulixi E.A.; Bernardi M.; Bassi S.L.; Santi L.; Zaccherini G.; Lupattelli G.; Mannarino E.; Bianconi V.; Paciullo F.; Alcidi R.; Nuti R.; Valenti R.; Ruvio M.; Cappelli S.; Palazzuoli A.; Girelli D.; Busti F.; Marchi G.; Barbagallo M.; Dominguez L.; Cocita F.; Beneduce V.; Plances L.; Corrao S.; Natoli G.; Mularo S.; Raspanti M.; Cavallaro F.; Zoli M.; Lazzari I.; Brunori M.; Fabbri E.; Magalotti D.; Arno R.; Pasini F.L.; Capecchi P.L.; Palasciano G.; Modeo M.E.; Di Gennaro C.; Cappellini M.D.; Maira D.; Di Stefano V.; Fabio G.; Seghezzi S.; Mancarella M.; De Amicis M.M.; De Luca G.; Scaramellini N.; Cesari M.; Rossi P.D.; Damanti S.; Clerici M.; Conti F.; Bonini G.; Ottolini B.B.; Di Sabatino A.; Miceli E.; Lenti M.V.; Pisati M.; Dominioni C.C.; Murialdo G.; Marra A.; Cattaneo F.; Pontremoli R.; Beccati V.; Nobili G.; Secchi M.B.; Ghelfi D.; Anastasio L.; Sofia L.; Carbone M.; Cipollone F.; Guagnano M.T.; Valeriani E.; Rossi I.; Mancuso G.; Calipari D.; Bartone M.; Delitala G.; Berria M.; Pes C.; Delitala A.; Muscaritoli M.; Molfino A.; Petrillo E.; Zuccala G.; D'Aurizio G.; Romanelli G.; Marengoni A.; Zucchelli A.; Manzoni F.; Volpini A.; Picardi A.; Gentilucci U.V.; Gallo P.; Dell'Unto C.; Annoni G.; Corsi M.; Bellelli G.; Zazzetta S.; Mazzola P.; Szabo H.; Bonfanti A.; Arturi F.; Succurro E.; Rubino M.; Tassone B.; Sesti G.; Serra M.G.; Bleve M.A.; Gasbarrone L.; Sajeva M.R.; Brucato A.; Ghidoni S.; Fabris F.; Bertozzi I.; Bogoni G.; Rabuini M.V.; Cosi E.; Scarinzi P.; Amabile A.; Omenetto E.; Prandini T.; Manfredini R.; Fabbian F.; Boari B.; De Giorgi A.; Tiseo R.; De Giorgio R.; Paolisso G.; Rizzo M.R.; Borghi C.; Strocchi E.; Ianniello E.; Soldati M.; Sabba C.; Vella F.S.; Suppressa P.; Agosti P.; Schilardi A.; Loparco F.; De Vincenzo G.M.; Comitangelo A.; Amoruso E.; Fenoglio L.; Falcetta A.; Bracco C.; Fracanzani Silvia Fargion A.L.; Tiraboschi S.; Cespiati A.; Oberti G.; Sigon G.; Ferrari B.; Colombo G.; Monzani V.; Savojardo V.; Folli C.; Ceriani G.; Salerno F.; Pallini G.; Dallegri F.; Ottonello L.; Liberale L.; Caserza L.; Salam K.; Liberato N.L.; Tognin T.; Bianchi G.B.; Giaquinto S.; Purrello F.; Di Pino A.; Piro S.; Rozzini R.; Falanga L.; Spazzini E.; Ferrandina C.; Montrucchio G.; Petitti P.; Peasso P.; Favale E.; Poletto C.; Salmi R.; Gaudenzi P.; Violi F.; Perri L.; Landolfi R.; Montalto M.; Mirijello A.; Guasti L.; Castiglioni L.; Maresca A.; Squizzato A.; Campiotti L.; Grossi A.; Bertolotti M.; Mussi C.; Lancellotti G.; Libbra M.V.; Dondi G.; Pellegrini E.; Carulli L.; Galassi M.; Grassi Y.; Perticone F.; Perticone M.; Battaglia R.; FIlice M.; Maio R.; Stanghellini V.; Ruggeri E.; del Vecchio S.; Salvi A.; Leonardi R.; Damiani G.; Capeci W.; Gabrielli A.; Mattioli M.; Martino G.P.; Biondi L.; Pettinari P.; Ghio R.; Col A.D.; Minisola S.; Colangelo L.; Cilli M.; Labbadia G.; Afeltra A.; Marigliano B.; Pipita M.E.; Castellino P.; Zanoli L.; Pignataro S.; Gennaro A.; Blanco J.; Saracco V.; Fogliati M.; Bussolino C.; Mete F.; Gino M.; Cittadini A.; Vigorito C.; Arcopinto M.; Salzano A.; Bobbio E.; Marra A.M.; Sirico D.; Moreo G.; Gasparini F.; Prolo S.; Pina G.; Ballestrero A.; Ferrando F.; Berra S.; Dassi S.; Nava M.C.; Graziella B.; Baldassarre S.; Fragapani S.; Gruden G.; Galanti G.; Mascherini G.; Petri C.; Stefani L.; Girino M.; Piccinelli V.; Nasso F.; Gioffre V.; Pasquale M.; Scattolin G.; Martinelli S.; Turrin M.; Sechi L.; Catena C.; Colussi G.; Passariello N.; Rinaldi L.; Berti F.; Famularo G.; Tarsitani P.; Castello R.; Pasino M.; Ceda G.P.; Maggio M.G.; Morganti S.; Artoni A.; Del Giacco S.; Firinu D.; Losa F.; Paoletti G.; Costanzo G.; Montalto G.; Licata A.; Malerba V.; Montalto F.A.; Lasco A.; Basile G.; Catalano A.; Malatino L.; Stancanelli B.; Terranova V.; Di Marca S.; Di Quattro R.; La Malfa L.; Caruso R.; Mecocci P.; Ruggiero C.; Boccardi V.; Meschi T.; Lauretani F.; Ticinesi A.; Nouvenne A.; Minuz P.; Fondrieschi L.; Pirisi M.; Fra G.P.; Sola D.; Porta M.; Riva P.; Quadri R.; Larovere E.; Novelli M.; Scanzi G.; Mengoli C.; Provini S.; Ricevuti L.; Simeone E.; Scurti R.; Tolloso F.; Tarquini R.; Valoriani A.; Dolenti S.; Vannini G.; Tedeschi A.; Trotta L.; Volpi R.; Bocchi P.; Vignali A.; Harari S.; Lonati C.; Cattaneo M.; Napoli F.Rossio, R.; Ardoino, I.; Franchi, C.; Nobili, A.; Mannuccio Mannucci, P.; Peyvandi, F.; Prisco, D.; Silvestri, E.; Emmi, G.; Bettiol, A.; Caterina, C.; Biolo, G.; Zanetti, M.; Guadagni, M.; Zaccari, M.; Chiuch, M.; Vanoli, M.; Grignani, G.; Pulixi, E. A.; Bernardi, M.; Bassi, S. L.; Santi, L.; Zaccherini, G.; Lupattelli, G.; Mannarino, E.; Bianconi, V.; Paciullo, F.; Alcidi, R.; Nuti, R.; Valenti, R.; Ruvio, M.; Cappelli, S.; Palazzuoli, A.; Girelli, D.; Busti, F.; Marchi, G.; Barbagallo, M.; Dominguez, L.; Cocita, F.; Beneduce, V.; Plances, L.; Corrao, S.; Natoli, G.; Mularo, S.; Raspanti, M.; Cavallaro, F.; Zoli, M.; Lazzari, I.; Brunori, M.; Fabbri, E.; Magalotti, D.; Arno, R.; Pasini, F. L.; Capecchi, P. L.; Palasciano, G.; Modeo, M. E.; Di Gennaro, C.; Cappellini, M. D.; Maira, D.; Di Stefano, V.; Fabio, G.; Seghezzi, S.; Mancarella, M.; De Amicis, M. M.; De Luca, G.; Scaramellini, N.; Cesari, M.; Rossi, P. D.; Damanti, S.; Clerici, M.; Conti, F.; Bonini, G.; Ottolini, B. B.; Di Sabatino, A.; Miceli, E.; Lenti, M. V.; Pisati, M.; Dominioni, C. C.; Murialdo, G.; Marra, A.; Cattaneo, F.; Pontremoli, R.; Beccati, V.; Nobili, G.; Secchi, M. B.; Ghelfi, D.; Anastasio, L.; Sofia, L.; Carbone, M.; Cipollone, F.; Guagnano, M. T.; Valeriani, E.; Rossi, I.; Mancuso, G.; Calipari, D.; Bartone, M.; Delitala, G.; Berria, M.; Pes, C.; Delitala, A.; Muscaritoli, M.; Molfino, A.; Petrillo, E.; Zuccala, G.; D'Aurizio, G.; Romanelli, G.; Marengoni, A.; Zucchelli, A.; Manzoni, F.; Volpini, A.; Picardi, A.; Gentilucci, U. V.; Gallo, P.; Dell'Unto, C.; Annoni, G.; Corsi, M.; Bellelli, G.; Zazzetta, S.; Mazzola, P.; Szabo, H.; Bonfanti, A.; Arturi, F.; Succurro, E.; Rubino, M.; Tassone, B.; Sesti, G.; Serra, M. G.; Bleve, M. A.; Gasbarrone, L.; Sajeva, M. R.; Brucato, A.; Ghidoni, S.; Fabris, F.; Bertozzi, I.; Bogoni, G.; Rabuini, M. V.; Cosi, E.; Scarinzi, P.; Amabile, A.; Omenetto, E.; Prandini, T.; Manfredini, R.; Fabbian, F.; Boari, B.; De Giorgi, A.; Tiseo, R.; De Giorgio, R.; Paolisso, G.; Rizzo, M. R.; Borghi, C.; Strocchi, E.; Ianniello, E.; Soldati, M.; Sabba, C.; Vella, F. S.; Suppressa, P.; Agosti, P.; Schilardi, A.; Loparco, F.; De Vincenzo, G. M.; Comitangelo, A.; Amoruso, E.; Fenoglio, L.; Falcetta, A.; Bracco, C.; Fracanzani Silvia Fargion, A. L.; Tiraboschi, S.; Cespiati, A.; Oberti, G.; Sigon, G.; Ferrari, B.; Colombo, G.; Monzani, V.; Savojardo, V.; Folli, C.; Ceriani, G.; Salerno, F.; Pallini, G.; Dallegri, F.; Ottonello, L.; Liberale, L.; Caserza, L.; Salam, K.; Liberato, N. L.; Tognin, T.; Bianchi, G. B.; Giaquinto, S.; Purrello, F.; Di Pino, A.; Piro, S.; Rozzini, R.; Falanga, L.; Spazzini, E.; Ferrandina, C.; Montrucchio, G.; Petitti, P.; Peasso, P.; Favale, E.; Poletto, C.; Salmi, R.; Gaudenzi, P.; Violi, F.; Perri, L.; Landolfi, R.; Montalto, M.; Mirijello, A.; Guasti, L.; Castiglioni, L.; Maresca, A.; Squizzato, A.; Campiotti, L.; Grossi, A.; Bertolotti, M.; Mussi, C.; Lancellotti, G.; Libbra, M. V.; Dondi, G.; Pellegrini, E.; Carulli, L.; Galassi, M.; Grassi, Y.; Perticone, F.; Perticone, M.; Battaglia, R.; Filice, M.; Maio, R.; Stanghellini, V.; Ruggeri, E.; del Vecchio, S.; Salvi, A.; Leonardi, R.; Damiani, G.; Capeci, W.; Gabrielli, A.; Mattioli, M.; Martino, G. P.; Biondi, L.; Pettinari, P.; Ghio, R.; Col, A. D.; Minisola, S.; Colangelo, L.; Cilli, M.; Labbadia, G.; Afeltra, A.; Marigliano, B.; Pipita, M. E.; Castellino, P.; Zanoli, L.; Pignataro, S.; Gennaro, A.; Blanco, J.; Saracco, V.; Fogliati, M.; Bussolino, C.; Mete, F.; Gino, M.; Cittadini, A.; Vigorito, C.; Arcopinto, M.; Salzano, A.; Bobbio, E.; Marra, A. M.; Sirico, D.; Moreo, G.; Gasparini, F.; Prolo, S.; Pina, G.; Ballestrero, A.; Ferrando, F.; Berra, S.; Dassi, S.; Nava, M. C.; Graziella, B.; Baldassarre, S.; Fragapani, S.; Gruden, G.; Galanti, G.; Mascherini, G.; Petri, C.; Stefani, L.; Girino, M.; Piccinelli, V.; Nasso, F.; Gioffre, V.; Pasquale, M.; Scattolin, G.; Martinelli, S.; Turrin, M.; Sechi, L.; Catena, C.; Colussi, G.; Passariello, N.; Rinaldi, L.; Berti, F.; Famularo, G.; Tarsitani, P.; Castello, R.; Pasino, M.; Ceda, G. P.; Maggio, M. G.; Morganti, S.; Artoni, A.; Del Giacco, S.; Firinu, D.; Losa, F.; Paoletti, G.; Costanzo, G.; Montalto, G.; Licata, A.; Malerba, V.; Montalto, F. A.; Lasco, A.; Basile, G.; Catalano, A.; Malatino, L.; Stancanelli, B.; Terranova, V.; Di Marca, S.; Di Quattro, R.; La Malfa, L.; Caruso, R.; Mecocci, P.; Ruggiero, C.; Boccardi, V.; Meschi, T.; Lauretani, F.; Ticinesi, A.; Nouvenne, A.; Minuz, P.; Fondrieschi, L.; Pirisi, M.; Fra, G. P.; Sola, D.; Porta, M.; Riva, P.; Quadri, R.; Larovere, E.; Novelli, M.; Scanzi, G.; Mengoli, C.; Provini, S.; Ricevuti, L.; Simeone, E.; Scurti, R.; Tolloso, F.; Tarquini, R.; Valoriani, A.; Dolenti, S.; Vannini, G.; Tedeschi, A.; Trotta, L.; Volpi, R.; Bocchi, P.; Vignali, A.; Harari, S.; Lonati, C.; Cattaneo, M.; Napoli, F

Polypharmacy in older people: lessons from 10 years of experience with the REPOSI register.

As a consequence of population aging, we have witnessed in internal medicine hospital wards a progressive shift from a population of in-patients relatively young and mainly affected by a single ailment to one of ever older and more and more complex patients with multiple chronic diseases, followed as out-patients by many different specialists with poor integration and inevitably treated with multiple medications. Polypharmacy (defined as the chronic intake of five or more drugs) is associated with increased risks of drug-drug interactions and related adverse effects, prescription and intake errors, poor compliance, re-hospitalization and mortality. With this background, the Italian Society of Internal Medicine chose to start in 2008 a prospective register called REPOSI (REgistro POliterapie SIMI, Società Italiana di Medicina Interna) in internal medicine and geriatric hospital wards. The country wide register is an ongoing observatory on multimorbidity and polypharmacy in the oldest old, with the goal to improve prescription appropriateness and, thus to avoid potentially inappropriate medications. The main findings of the register, that has accrued so far, 7005 older patients throughout a 10 year period, are summarized herewith, with special emphasis on the main patterns of poor prescription appropriateness and related risks of adverse events

Hospital Care of Older Patients With COPD: Adherence to International Guidelines for Use of Inhaled Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the prevalence and impact of COPD in older patients hospitalized in internal medicine or geriatric wards, and to investigate adherence to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, associated clinical factors, and outcomes. DESIGN: Data were obtained from REgistro POliterapie SIMI (REPOSI), a prospective multicenter observational registry that enrolls inpatients aged ≥65 years. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older hospitalized patients enrolled from 2008 to 2016 with a diagnosis of COPD. MEASURES: We evaluated adherence to the 2018 GOLD guidelines at admission and discharge, by examining the prescription of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids in COPD patients. We also evaluated the occurrence of outcomes and its association with COPD and guideline adherence. RESULTS: At hospital admission, COPD was diagnosed in 1302 (21.5%) of 6046 registered patients. COPD patients were older, with more impaired clinical and functional status and multiple comorbidities. Overall, 34.3% of COPD patients at admission and 35.6% at discharge were adherent to the GOLD guidelines. Polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) at admission [odds ratio (OR): 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.24-4.81], a history of acute COPD exacerbation (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.44-4.88) at admission, smoking habit (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.94), and polypharmacy at discharge (OR: 6.76, 95% CI: 4.15-11.0) were associated with adherence to guidelines. COPD was independently associated with the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory death and rehospitalization occurrence compared to patients without COPD during follow-up. Adherence to guidelines was inversely associated with the occurrence of death from all causes (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.90). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: COPD was common in older patients acutely hospitalized, showing an impaired functional and clinical status. Prescriptions for older COPD patients were often not adherent to GOLD guidelines. Poor adherence to guidelines was associated with a worse clinical status. There is a need to improve adherence to guidelines in treating COPD patients, with the ultimate goal of reducing clinical events