Campaign, counseling and compliance with influenza vaccine among older persons

OBJECTIVES: Population aging raises concerns regarding the increases in the rates of morbidity and mortality that result from influenza and its complications. Although vaccination is the most important tool for preventing influenza, vaccination program among high-risk groups has not reached its predetermined aims in several settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of clinical and demographic factors on vaccine compliance among the elderly in a setting that includes a well-established annual national influenza vaccination campaign. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 134 elderly patients who were regularly followed in an academic medical institution and who were evaluated for their influenza vaccination uptake within the last five years; in addition, the demographic and clinical characteristics and the reasons for compliance or noncompliance with the vaccination program were investigated. RESULTS: In total, 67.1% of the participants received the seasonal influenza vaccine in 2009. Within this vaccinationcompliant group, the most common reason for vaccine uptake was the annual nationwide campaign (52.2%; 95% CI: 41.4-62.9%); compared to the noncompliant group, a higher percentage of compliant patients had been advised by their physician to take the vaccine (58.9% vs. 34.1%; p,0.01). CONCLUSION: The education of patients and health care professionals along with the implementation of immunization campaigns should be evaluated and considered by health authorities as essential for increasing the success rate of influenza vaccination compliance among the elderly

Transforming the invisible into the visible: disparities in the access to health in LGBT+ older people

Objectives: To compare variables of access to healthcare between the LGBT+ population aged 50 and over and those non-LGBT+. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Brazil through a confidential online questionnaire. The use of the health system was characterized by the number of preventive tests performed and measured by the PCATool-Brasil scale (a 10-point scale in which higher scores were associated with better assistance in healthcare). The association between being LGBT+ and access to health was analyzed in Poisson regression models. Results: 6693 participants (1332 LGBT+ and 5361 non-LGBT+) with a median age of 60 years were included. In the univariate analysis, it was observed not only lower scores on the PCATool scale (5.13 against 5.82, p < 0.001), but a greater proportion of individuals among those classified with the worst quintile of access to healthcare (< 4 points), 31% against 18% (p < 0.001). Being LGBT+ was an independent factor associated with worse access to health (PR = 2.5, 95% CI 2.04‒3.06). The rate of screening cancer, for breast, colon, and cervical cancer was also found to be lower in the LGBT+ population. Conclusion: Healthcare access and health service experiences were worse in the LGBT+ group than in their non-LGBT peers. Inclusive and effective healthcare public policies are essential to promote healthy aging for all

Muscle strength and muscle mass as predictors of hospital length of stay in patients with moderate to severe COVID‐19: a prospective observational study.

Background: Strength and muscle mass are predictors of relevant clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, but in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, it remains to be determined. In this prospective observational study, we investigated whether muscle strength or muscle mass are predictive of hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. Methods: We evaluated prospectively 196 patients at hospital admission for muscle mass and strength. Ten patients did not test positive for SARS-CoV-2 during hospitalization and were excluded from the analyses. Results: The sample comprised patients of both sexes (50% male) with a mean age (SD) of 59 (±15) years, body mass index of 29.5 (±6.9) kg/m2. The prevalence of current smoking patients was 24.7%, and more prevalent coexisting conditions were hypertension (67.7%), obesity (40.9%), and type 2 diabetes (36.0%). Mean (SD) LOS was 8.6 days (7.7); 17.0% of the patients required intensive care; 3.8% used invasive mechanical ventilation; and 6.6% died during the hospitalization period. The crude hazard ratio (HR) for LOS was greatest for handgrip strength comparing the strongest versus other patients (1.47 [95% CI: 1.07–2.03; P = 0.019]). Evidence of an association between increased handgrip strength and shorter hospital stay was also identified when handgrip strength was standardized according to the sex-specific mean and standard deviation (1.23 [95% CI: 1.06–1.43; P = 0.007]). Mean LOS was shorter for the strongest patients (7.5 ± 6.1 days) versus others (9.2 ± 8.4 days). Evidence of associations were also present for vastus lateralis cross-sectional area. The crude HR identified shorter hospital stay for patients with greater sex-specific standardized values (1.20 [95% CI: 1.03–1.39; P = 0.016]). Evidence was also obtained associating longer hospital stays for patients with the lowest values for vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (0.63 [95% CI: 0.46–0.88; P = 0.006). Mean LOS for the patients with the lowest muscle cross-sectional area was longer (10.8 ± 8.8 days) versus others (7.7 ± 7.2 days). The magnitude of associations for handgrip strength and vastus lateralis cross-sectional area remained consistent and statistically significant after adjusting for other covariates. Conclusions: Muscle strength and mass assessed upon hospital admission are predictors of LOS in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, which stresses the value of muscle health in prognosis of this disease

Efficacy, Immunogenicity and Safety of an Investigational Subunit Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Adults Aged 60 Years and Older: Results From the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 Efficacy Studies

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COVID-19 outcomes in people living with HIV: Peering through the waves

Objective: To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients infected with HIV, and to compare with a paired sample without HIV infection. Methods: This is a substudy of a Brazilian multicentric cohort that comprised two periods (2020 and 2021). Data was obtained through the retrospective review of medical records. Primary outcomes were admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death. Patients with HIV and controls were matched for age, sex, number of comorbidities, and hospital of origin using the technique of propensity score matching (up to 4:1). They were compared using the Chi-Square or Fisher's Exact tests for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon for numerical variables. Results: Throughout the study, 17,101 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, and 130 (0.76%) of those were infected with HIV. The median age was 54 (IQR: 43.0;64.0) years in 2020 and 53 (IQR: 46.0;63.5) years in 2021, with a predominance of females in both periods. People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their controls showed similar prevalence for admission to the ICU and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement in the two periods, with no significant differences. In 2020, in-hospital mortality was higher in the PLHIV compared to the controls (27.9% vs. 17.7%; p = 0.049), but there was no difference in mortality between groups in 2021 (25.0% vs. 25.1%; p > 0.999). Conclusions: Our results reiterate that PLHIV were at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality in the early stages of the pandemic, however, this finding did not sustain in 2021, when the mortality rate is similar to the control group

Delirium in hospitalized older adults: analysis of clinical characteristics and prognosis

INTRODUÇÃO: Delirium é um problema médico frequente em idosos e está potencialmente associado a desfechos desfavoráveis, como prolongamento da hospitalização, declínio funcional e cognitivo, e maior mortalidade. Contudo, considerando que, geralmente, ocorre em situações de grande complexidade clínica, o efeito ajustado de delirium e seus subtipos motores sobre o prognóstico de pacientes acometidos ainda não foi suficientemente explorado. OBJETIVOS: Investigar em idosos agudamente enfermos hospitalizados: (1) a associação independente entre ocorrência de delirium e tempo para óbito intra-hospitalar, e em 12 meses de seguimento; (2) a associação independente entre subtipos motores de delirium e tempo para óbito intra-hospitalar, e em 12 meses de seguimento. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo realizado em uma enfermaria de geriatria de um hospital universitário terciário, em São Paulo, Brasil. Foram incluídas internações de pacientes agudamente enfermos, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, hospitalizados entre junho de 2009 e maio de 2014. Delirium foi detectado pelo Confusion Assessment Method e classificado de acordo com o subtipo motor em hipoativo, hiperativo, ou misto. Os desfechos primários foram tempo para óbito intra-hospitalar, e tempo para óbito em 12 meses (para a amostra que recebeu alta). Os pacientes foram avaliados na admissão seguindo modelo de avaliação geriátrica ampla que incluiu variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas, funcionais, cognitivas, e laboratoriais. Informações adicionais sobre a hospitalização foram registradas na alta ou no óbito. As análises multivariadas foram realizadas por meio de modelos de riscos proporcionais de Cox. Foi examinada a presença de modificação do efeito de delirium sobre os desfechos por análises de interação com outros fatores clínicos. RESULTADOS: Incluímos 1.034 hospitalizações, com uma média de idade de 80 anos. Na amostra geral, 61% eram mulheres, e 35% tinham demência. A mortalidade intra-hospitalar foi de 22%, com uma mortalidade cumulativa de 44% em 12 meses. Delirium ocorreu em 52% das internações, e o subtipo motor predominante foi o hipoativo (53%). Nas hospitalizações com delirium, 32% dos idosos faleceram no hospital, com uma taxa de óbitos cumulativa de 59% em 12 meses. Verificamos que delirium teve associação independente com tempo até óbito intra-hospitalar (HR=1,63 IC95%=1,11-2,40), porém não encontramos associação estatisticamente significante com sobrevida em 12 meses após ajuste para as covariáveis selecionadas. Constatamos, ainda, que os subtipos hipoativo e misto se associaram independentemente com o desfecho intra-hospitalar (HR=1,87 IC95%=1,24-2,83; HR=1,65 IC95%=1,022,67), mas não houve associação estatisticamente significante com o desfecho em 12 meses. O efeito de delirium sobre o tempo até óbito intrahospitalar não foi modificado de modo significativo por sua interação com idade, câncer, desnutrição, ou valores de albumina sérica. CONCLUSÕES: Um terço dos idosos agudamente enfermos internados que tiveram delirium faleceu ainda no hospital. Delirium se associou a menor tempo de sobrevida intra-hospitalar, mesmo após ajuste para características clínicas coexistentes. Além disso, profissionais da saúde devem ter especial atenção com os subtipos hipoativo e misto de delirium, que também se associaram independentemente com maior mortalidade intra-hospitalar em idososBACKGROUND: Delirium in older adults is common and potentially associated with unfavorable outcomes, such as longer hospital stay, functional and cognitive decline, and higher mortality. However, given that it usually occurs in a context of great clinical complexity, the adjusted effect of delirium and its motor subtypes on the prognosis of affected patients has not been sufficiently explored. OBJECTIVES: To investigate in acutely ill hospitalized older adults: (1) the independent association between delirium and time to death in the hospital, and in a 12-month follow-up; (2) the independent association between delirium motor subtype and time to death in the hospital, and in a 12-month follow-up. METHODS: Prospective cohort study completed in a geriatric ward of a tertiary university hospital, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We included admissions of acutely ill patients aged 60 years and over, who were hospitalized from June 2009 to May 2014. Delirium was detected using the Confusion Assessment Method and classified according to its motor subtype in hypoactive, hyperactive, or mixed. Primary outcomes were time to death in the hospital, and time to death in 12 months (for the discharged sample). Patients were evaluated at admission according to a comprehensive geriatric assessment model that included socio-demographic, clinical, functional, cognitive, and laboratory variables. Further clinical data were documented upon death or discharge. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards models. We investigated the potential modification of the effect of delirium on outcomes including an interaction term between delirium and other clinical variables. RESULTS: We included 1,034 hospitalizations, with a mean age of 80 years. Overall, 61% were women, and 35% had dementia. The proportion of in-hospital deaths was of 22%, with a cumulative mortality of 44% in 12 months. Delirium ensued in 52% of the admissions, and the predominant motor subtype was hypoactive (53%). In-hospital death occurred in 32% of the cases with delirium, while cumulative 12-month mortality reached 59% in this group. We verified that delirium was independently associated with time to in-hospital death (HR=1.63 95%CI=1.11-2.40), but did not find statistically significant association with 12month survival after adjusting for selected covariates. We additionally found that hypoactive and mixed motor subtypes were independently associated with in-hospital death (HR=1.87 95%CI=1.24-2.83; HR=1.65 95%CI=1.02-2.67), but there were no significant associations with 12-month mortality. The effect of delirium on time to in-hospital death was not significantly modified by its interaction with age, cancer, malnutrition, or serum albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS: One third of acutely ill hospitalized older adults who suffered delirium died in the hospital. Delirium was associated with decreased survival in the hospital, even after adjusting for coexistent clinical characteristics. In addition, health care providers should be attentive for the hypoactive and mixed subtypes of delirium, as they were also independently associated with poorer in-hospital outcomes in older adult

Diagnostic discrepancies between emergency department admissions and hospital discharges among older adults: secondary analysis on a population-based survey

BackgroundOlder adults frequently experience nonspecific clinical features. However, there is limited evidence on how often admission diagnoses for hospitalized older patients are incorrect, potentially leading to treatment delays.ObjectivesTo determine the consistency between hospital admission and discharge diagnoses, and identify factors associated with diagnostic discrepancies in older adults.Design and settingPopulation-based cohort study in the United States. We included adults aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted from emergency departments (EDs) to hospitals, identified using the 2005-2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Survey, a nationally representative survey.MethodsThree admission diagnoses and the principal discharge diagnosis were captured and classified as discrepant if they involved considerably different conditions within the same organ system, or different organ systems altogether.ResultsEach year, 12 million adults were hospitalized following ED visits in the United States; 45% were aged ≥ 65 years. These patients' mean age was 79 years and 58% were women. Diagnostic discrepancies between admission and discharge were more common among adults ≥ 65 years (12.5 versus 8.3%; P < 0.001). Certain admission diagnoses had particularly high rates of diagnostic discrepancies: 26-27% of patients presenting with mental disorders or with endocrine and metabolic diseases had substantial diagnostic discrepancies between admission and discharge. Substantial diagnostic discrepancy was independently associated with longer hospitalization and higher in-hospital mortality.ConclusionOne out of eight older adults hospitalized from EDs was discharged with a principal diagnosis differing considerably from the admission diagnosis. Given that missed or delayed diagnoses are a critical safety problem, clinicians should be vigilant and frequently cogitate alternative diagnostic possibilities

Delirium in older adults

INTRODUTION: This narrative review provides a broad examination of the most current concepts on the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of delirium, an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by fluctuating changes in cognition and consciousness. With the interaction of underlying vulnerability and severity of acute insults, delirium can occur at any age but is particularly frequent in hospitalized older adults. Delirium is also associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including functional impairment, cognitive decline, increased healthcare costs, and death. Its diagnosis is based on clinical and cognitive assessments, preferably following systematized detection instruments, such as the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Delirium and its consequences are most effectively fought using multicomponent preventive interventions, like those proposed by the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). When prevention fails, delirium management is primarily based on the identification and reversal of precipitating factors and the non-pharmacological control of delirium symptoms. Pharmacological interventions in delirium should be restricted to cases of dangerous agitation or severe psychotic symptoms.</p

Palliative care over the rainbow: perspectives of middle-age and older LGBT+ adults regarding their end-of-life

OBJECTIVE: Reports show that LGBT+ people may face several struggles during their end-of-life (EOF) preparations, reporting higher rates, for example, of harassment and fear of feeling pain during these moments. We thus aimed to investigate variables related to EOF preparations among LGBT+ people and compare them with heterosexual cisgender individuals. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in which Brazilians aged 50 or older were invited to answer an anonymous online survey between August 2019 and January 2020. The survey was widely distributed in neighbourhood associations, nongovernmental organizations, and social media. Those who identified as homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, non-heterosexual, transgender, travesti, or non-binary were grouped as LGBT+; cisgender and heterosexual participants were grouped as non-LGBT+. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 6693 participants with a median age of 60 years. Out of all respondents, 1332 were LGBT+ (19.90%) and 5361 were non-LGBT+ (80.10%). Compared to their non-LGBT+ peers, LGBT+ people reported higher rates of loneliness (25.30% vs 16.32%, p &lt; 0.001), fear of dying alone (15.69% vs 9.79%, p &lt; 0.001) or in pain (35.21% vs 25.74%, p &lt; 0.001), and less social support (19.44% vs 13.48%, p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Being LGBT+ was associated with challenges and inequalities regarding EOF preparations and discussions. Sexuality and diversity should be addressed in palliative training programs to address the needs of the LGBT+ population and to provide them with a dignified death.</p