Post-Harvest Quality Evaluation of “Soreli” Kiwifruit at Two Ripening °Brix Values from Vineyards of Different Age Under Hail Nets

The application of anti-hail nets is a practice that has been employed for a long time on different fruit and vegetable cultivations and in different fields of the world. In this work, we checked the effects of shading with white anti-hail nets on the post-harvest quality of “Soreli” kiwifruit collected at two different °Brix (7–8 and 8–9) from vineyards of two different ages (8 and 9 years) and stored at 1 °C for 90 days. It was observed that during the storage, the firmness and color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and Chroma) and the SSC content were generally higher in kiwifruit samples harvested in open field than in those under the nets. Regarding the bioactive compounds, the open field samples showed higher values in total flavonoids content during storage, and the content of carotenoids and chlorophylls in fruits grown in open fields was higher from 30–45 days up to the end of the storage. In contrast, the polyphenols and ascorbic acid values of fruits in open fields and under the nets showed a similar evolution of the values from 45 to 60 days. In general, the early and late harvest time based on the °Brix values and the different ages of the kiwifruit plants under the nets did not affect the quality parameters

Seroprevalence of major bovine-associated zoonotic infectious diseases in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Bovine-associated zoonotic infectious diseases pose a significant threat to human health in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). In all, 905 cattle and buffalo serum samples collected in northern Lao PDR in 2006 were used to determine seroprevalence of five major bovine zoonotic infectious diseases that included Taenia saginata cysticercosis, bovine tuberculosis, Q-fever, bovine brucellosis, and bovine leptospirosis. Five enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to test for the presence of antibodies to the diseases, except Taenia saginata, for which we tested for the presence of Taenia metacestode circulating antigens. The overall highest prevalence was for T. saginata (46.4%), with lower prevalence for Q-fever (4%), leptospirosis (3%), tuberculosis (1%), and brucellosis (0.2%). Although there were no significant differences in the proportion of seroprevalence between sex and age of the animals sampled, there were significant differences between the provincial distributions. Further studies are required to determine the seroprevalence of these infections in other locations in Lao PDR, as well as other animal species including humans, in order to develop effective prevention and control strategies. This is the first study to investigate the prevalence of bovine zoonotic infectious agents in the Lao PDR. Positivity was demonstrated for all diseases investigated, with the highest prevalence for T. saginata antigen and Coxiella burnetti antibodies. For T. saginata, there were significant differences in the provincial distribution. Approximately 16% seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetti was noted in Xayabuly Province; however, there are no clear reasons why this was the case, and further studies are required to determine risk factors associated with this observation

Adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines and outcomes in the hospitalized elderly with different types of pneumonia

Background: Few studies evaluated the clinical outcomes of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP) in relation to the adherence of antibiotic treatment to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in hospitalized elderly people (65 years or older). Methods: Data were obtained from REPOSI, a prospective registry held in 87 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia (ICD-9 480-487) or prescribed with an antibiotic for pneumonia as indication were selected. The empirical antibiotic regimen was defined to be adherent to guidelines if concordant with the treatment regimens recommended by IDSA/ATS for CAP, HAP, and HCAP. Outcomes were assessed by logistic regression models. Results: A diagnosis of pneumonia was made in 317 patients. Only 38.8% of them received an empirical antibiotic regimen that was adherent to guidelines. However, no significant association was found between adherence to guidelines and outcomes. Having HAP, older age, and higher CIRS severity index were the main factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines was poor, particularly for HAP and HCAP, suggesting the need for more adherence to the optimal management of antibiotics in the elderly with pneumonia

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy in the elderly: Lessons from REPOSI

The dramatic demographic changes that are occurring in the third millennium are modifying the mission of generalist professionals such as primary care physicians and internists. Multiple chronic diseases and the related prescription of multiple medications are becoming typical problems and present many challenges. Unfortunately, the available evidence regarding the efficacy of medications has been generated by clinical trials involving patients completely different from those currently admitted to internal medicine: much younger, affected by a single disease and managed in a highly controlled research environment. Because only registries can provide information on drug effectiveness in real-life conditions, REPOSI started in 2008 with the goal of acquiring data on elderly people acutely admitted to medical or geriatric hospital wards in Italy. The main goals of the registry were to evaluate drug prescription appropriateness, the relationship between multimorbidity/polypharmacy and such cogent outcomes as hospital mortality and re-hospitalization, and the identification of disease clusters that most often concomitantly occur in the elderly. The findings of 3-yearly REPOSI runs (2008, 2010, 2012) suggest the following pertinent tasks for the internist in order to optimally handle their elderly patients: the management of multiple medications, the need to become acquainted with geriatric multidimensional tools, the promotion and implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach to patient health and care and the corresponding involvement of patients and their relatives and caregivers. There is also a need for more research, tailored to the peculiar features of the multimorbid elderly patient

Gout, allopurinol intake and clinical outcomes in the hospitalized multimorbid elderly

310nononeBackground: Increased serum uric acid has been considered a cardiovascular risk factor but no study has assessed its relation with hospital mortality or length of stay. On the basis of data obtained from a prospective registry, the prevalence of gout/hyperuricemia and its association with these and other clinical parameters was evaluated in an Italian cohort of elderly patients acutely admitted to internal medicine or geriatric wards. Methods: While the prevalence of gout was calculated by counting patients with this diagnosis hyperuricemia was inferred in patients taking allopurinol at hospital admission or discharge, on the assumption that this drug was only prescribed owing to the finding of high serum levels of uric acid. A series of clinical and demographic variables were evaluated for their association with gout/hyperuricemia. Results: Of 1380 patients, 139 (10%) had a diagnosis of gout or were prescribed allopurinol. They had more co-morbidities (7.0 vs 5.6; P < 0.0001) and consumed more drugs (6.8 vs 5.0; < b 0.0001). The CIRS (co-morbidity index) was worse in these patients (OR 1.28 95% CI 1.15-1.41). Multivariable regression analysis showed that only renal and heart failures were independently associated with gout/allopurinol intake. Moreover, this combined event was associated with an increased risk of adverse events during hospitalization (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.16-2.36), but not with the risk of re-hospitalization, length of hospital stay or death. Conclusions: Gout/allopurinol intake has a high prevalence in elderly patients acutely admitted to hospital and are associated with renal and cardiovascular diseases, an increased rate of adverse events and a high degree of drug consumption. In contrast, this finding did not affect the length of hospitalization nor hospital mortality.noneFranchi, Carlotta; Salerno, Francesco; Conca, Alessio; Djade, Codjo D.; Tettamanti, Mauro; Pasina, Luca; Corrao, Salvatore; Marengoni, Alessandra; Marcucci, Maura; Mannucci, Pier Mannuccio; Nobili, Alessandro; Sparacio, Eleonora; Alborghetti, Stefania; Di Costanzo, Rosa; Prisco, Domenico; Silvestri, Elena; Cenci, Caterina; Barnini, Tommaso; Delitala, Giuseppe; Carta, Stefano; Atzori, Sebastiana; Guarnieri, Gianfranco; Zanetti, Michela; Spalluti, Annalisa; Serra, Maria Grazia; Bleve, Maria Antonietta; Vanoli, Massimo; Grignani, Giulia; Casella, Gianluca; Gasbarrone, Laura; Maniscalco, Giorgio; Gunelli, Massimo; Tirotta, Daniela; Brucato, Antonio; Ghidoni, Silvia; Di Corato, Paola; Bernardi, Mauro; Li Bassi, Silvia; Santi, Luca; Agnelli, Giancarlo; Iorio, Alfonso; Marchesini, Emanuela; Mannarino, Elmo; Lupattelli, Graziana; Rondelli, Pamela; Paciullo, Francesco; Fabris, Fabrizio; Carlon, Michela; Turatto, Francesca; Baroni, Maria Cristina; Zardo, Marianna; Manfredini, Roberto; Molino, Christian; Pala, Marco; Fabbian, Fabio; Nuti, Ranuccio; Valenti, Roberto; Ruvio, Martina; Cappelli, Silvia; Paolisso, Giuseppe; Rizzo, Maria Rosaria; Laieta, Maria Teresa; Salvatore, Teresa; Sasso, Ferdinando Carlo; Utili, Riccardo; Mangoni, Emanuele Durante; Pinto, Daniela; Olivieri, Oliviero; Stanzial, Anna Maria; Fellin, Renato; Volpato, Stefano; Fotini, Sioulis; Barbagallo, Mario; Dominguez, Ligia; Plances, Lidia; D'Angelo, Daniela; Rini, Giovanbattista; Mansueto, Pasquale; Pepe, Ilenia; Licata, Giuseppe; Calvo, Luigi; Valenti, Maria; Borghi, Claudio; Strocchi, Enrico; Rinaldi, Elisa Rebecca; Zoli, Marco; Fabbri, Elisa; Magalotti, Donatella; Auteri, Alberto; Pasqui, Anna Laura; Puccetti, Luca; Pasini, Franco Laghi; Capecchi, Pier Leopoldo; Bicchi, Maurizio; Sabbà, Carlo; Vella, Francesco Saverio; Marseglia, Alessandro; Luglio, Chiara Valentina; Palasciano, Giuseppe; Modeo, Maria Ester; Aquilino, Annamaria; Raffaele, Pallante; Pugliese, Stefania; Capobianco, Caterina; Postiglione, Alfredo; Barbella, Maria Rosaria; De Stefano, Francesco; Fenoglio, Luigi; Brignone, Chiara; Bracco, Christian; Giraudo, Alessia; Musca, Giuseppe; Cuccurullo, Olga; Cricco, Luigi; Fiorentini, Alessandra; Cappellini, Maria Domenica; Fabio, Giovanna; Seghezzi, Sonia; De Amicis, Margherita Migone; Fargion, Silvia; Bonara, Paola; Bulgheroni, Mara; Lombardi, Rosa; Magrini, Fabio; Massari, Ferdinando; Tonella, Tatiana; Peyvandi, Flora; Tedeschi, Alberto; Rossio, Raffaella; Moreo, Guido; Ferrari, Barbara; Roncari, Luisa; Monzani, Valter; Savojardo, Valeria; Folli, Christian; Magnini, Maria; Mari, Daniela; Rossi, Paolo Dionigi; Damanti, Sarah; Prolo, Silvia; Lilleri, Maria Sole; Micale, Giuliana; Podda, Mauro; Selmi, Carlo; Meda, Francesca; Accordino, Silvia; Monti, Valentina; Corazza, Gino Roberto; Miceli, Emanuela; Lenti, Marco Vincenzo; Padula, Donatella; Balduini, Carlo L.; Bertolino, Giampiera; Provini, Stella; Quaglia, Federica; Murialdo, Giovanni; Bovio, Marta; Dallegri, Franco; Ottonello, Luciano; Quercioli, Alessandra; Barreca, Alessandra; Secchi, Maria Beatrice; Ghelfi, Davide; Chin, Wu Sheng; Carassale, Laura; Caporotundo, Silvia; Anastasio, Luigi; Sofia, Lucia; Carbone, Maria; Traisci, Giancarlo; De Feudis, Lucrezia; Di Carlo, Silvia; Davì, Giovanni; Guagnano, Maria Teresa; Sestili, Simona; Bergami, Elisabetta; Rizzioli, Emanuela; Cagnoni, Carlo; Bertone, Luca; Manucra, Antonio; Buratti, Alberto; Tognin, Tiziana; Liberato, Nicola Lucio; Bernasconi, Giordano; Nardo, Barbara; Bianchi, Giovanni Battista; Benetti, Giampiero; Quagliolo, Michela; Centenaro, Giuseppe Riccardo; Purrello, Francesco; Di Pino, Antonino; Piro, Salvatore; Mancuso, Gerardo; Calipari, Daniela; Bartone, Mosè; Gullo, Francesco; Cortellaro, Michele; Magenta, Marina; Perego, Francesca; Meroni, Maria Rachele; Cicardi, Marco; Magenta, Antonio Gidaro Marina; Sacco, Andrea; Bonelli, Antonio; Dentamaro, Gaetano; Rozzini, Renzo; Falanga, Lina; Giordano, Alessandro; Perin, Paolo Cavallo; Lorenzati, Bartolomeo; Gruden, Gabriella; Bruno, Graziella; Montrucchio, Giuseppe; Greco, Elisabetta; Tizzani, Pietro; Fera, Giacomo; Di Luca, Maria Loreta; Renna, Donatella; Perciccante, Antonio; Coralli, Alessia; Tassara, Rodolfo; Melis, Deborah; Rebella, Lara; Menardo, Giorgio; Bottone, Stefania; Sferrazzo, Elsa; Ferri, Claudio; Striuli, Rinaldo; Scipioni, Rosa; Salmi, Raffaella; Gaudenzi, Piergiorgio; Gamberini, Susanna; Ricci, Franco; Morabito, Cosimo; Fava, Roberto; Semplicini, Andrea; Gottardo, Lucia; Vendemiale, Gianluigi; Serviddio, Gaetano; Forlano, Roberta; Bolondi, Luigi; Rasciti, Leonardo; Serio, Ilaria; Masala, Cesare; Mammarella, Antonio; Raparelli, Valeria; Fanelli, Filippo Rossi; Delfino, Massimo; Amoroso, Antonio; Violi, Francesco; Basili, Stefania; Perri, Ludovica; Serra, Pietro; Fontana, Vincenzo; Falcone, Marco; Landolfi, Raffaele; Grieco, Antonio; Gallo, Antonella; Zuccalà, Giuseppe; Franceschi, Francesco; De Marco, Guido; Chiara, Cordischi; Marta, Sabbatini; Bellusci, Martino; Setti, Donatella; Pedrazzoli, Filippo; Romanelli, Giuseppe; Pirali, Caterina; Amolini, Claudia; Rosei, Enrico Agabiti; Rizzoni, Damiano; Castoldi, Luana; Picardi, Antonio; Gentilucci, Umberto Vespasiani; Mazzarelli, Chiara; Gallo, Paolo; Guasti, Luigina; Castiglioni, Luana; Maresca, Andrea; Squizzato, Alessandro; Contini, Sara; Molaro, Marta; Annoni, Giorgio; Corsi, Maurizio; Zazzetta, Sara; Bertolotti, Marco; Mussi, Chiara; Scotto, Roberto; Ferri, Maria Alice; Veltri, Francesca; Arturi, Franco; Succurro, Elena; Sesti, Giorgio; Gualtieri, Umberto; Perticone, Francesco; Sciacqua, Angela; Quero, Michele; Bagnato, Chiara; Loria, Paola; Becchi, Maria Angela; Martucci, Gianfranco; Fantuzzi, Alessandra; Maurantonio, Mauro; Corinaldesi, Roberto; De Giorgio, Roberto; Serra, Mauro; Grasso, Valentina; Ruggeri, Eugenio; Carozza, Lorenzo Mauro; Pignatti, FabioFranchi, Carlotta; Salerno, Francesco; Conca, Alessio; Djade, Codjo D.; Tettamanti, Mauro; Pasina, Luca; Corrao, Salvatore; Marengoni, Alessandra; Marcucci, Maura; Mannucci, Pier Mannuccio; Nobili, Alessandro; Sparacio, Eleonora; Alborghetti, Stefania; Di Costanzo, Rosa; Prisco, Domenico; Silvestri, Elena; Cenci, Caterina; Barnini, Tommaso; Delitala, Giuseppe; Carta, Stefano; Atzori, Sebastiana; Guarnieri, Gianfranco; Zanetti, Michela; Spalluti, Annalisa; Serra, Maria Grazia; Bleve, Maria Antonietta; Vanoli, Massimo; Grignani, Giulia; Casella, Gianluca; Gasbarrone, Laura; Maniscalco, Giorgio; Gunelli, Massimo; Tirotta, Daniela; Brucato, Antonio; Ghidoni, Silvia; Di Corato, Paola; Bernardi, Mauro; Li Bassi, Silvia; Santi, Luca; Agnelli, Giancarlo; Iorio, Alfonso; Marchesini, Emanuela; Mannarino, Elmo; Lupattelli, Graziana; Rondelli, Pamela; Paciullo, Francesco; Fabris, Fabrizio; Carlon, Michela; Turatto, Francesca; Baroni, Maria Cristina; Zardo, Marianna; Manfredini, Roberto; Molino, Christian; Pala, Marco; Fabbian, Fabio; Nuti, Ranuccio; Valenti, Roberto; Ruvio, Martina; Cappelli, Silvia; Paolisso, Giuseppe; Rizzo, Maria Rosaria; Laieta, Maria Teresa; Salvatore, Teresa; Sasso, Ferdinando Carlo; Utili, Riccardo; Mangoni, Emanuele Durante; Pinto, Daniela; Olivieri, Oliviero; Stanzial, Anna Maria; Fellin, Renato; Volpato, Stefano; Fotini, Sioulis; Barbagallo, Mario; Dominguez, Ligia; Plances, Lidia; D'Angelo, Daniela; Rini, Giovanbattista; Mansueto, Pasquale; Pepe, Ilenia; Licata, Giuseppe; Calvo, Luigi; Valenti, Maria; Borghi, Claudio; Strocchi, Enrico; Rinaldi, Elisa Rebecca; Zoli, Marco; Fabbri, Elisa; Magalotti, Donatella; Auteri, Alberto; Pasqui, Anna Laura; Puccetti, Luca; Pasini, Franco Laghi; Capecchi, PIER LEOPOLDO; Bicchi, Maurizio; Sabbà, Carlo; Vella, Francesco Saverio; Marseglia, Alessandro; Luglio, Chiara Valentina; Palasciano, Giuseppe; Modeo, Maria Ester; Aquilino, Annamaria; Raffaele, Pallante; Pugliese, Stefania; Capobianco, Caterina; Postiglione, Alfredo; Barbella, Maria Rosaria; De Stefano, Francesco; Fenoglio, Luigi; Brignone, Chiara; Bracco, Christian; Giraudo, Alessia; Musca, Giuseppe; Cuccurullo, Olga; Cricco, Luigi; Fiorentini, Alessandra; Cappellini, Maria Domenica; Fabio, Giovanna; Seghezzi, Sonia; De Amicis, Margherita Migone; Fargion, Silvia; Bonara, Paola; Bulgheroni, Mara; Lombardi, Rosa; Magrini, Fabio; Massari, Ferdinando; Tonella, Tatiana; Peyvandi, Flora; Tedeschi, Alberto; Rossio, Raffaella; Moreo, Guido; Ferrari, Barbara; Roncari, Luisa; Monzani, Valter; Savojardo, Valeria; Folli, Christian; Magnini, Maria; Mari, Daniela; Rossi, Paolo Dionigi; Damanti, Sarah; Prolo, Silvia; Lilleri, Maria Sole; Micale, Giuliana; Podda, Mauro; Selmi, Carlo; Meda, Francesca; Accordino, Silvia; Monti, Valentina; Corazza, Gino Roberto; Miceli, Emanuela; Lenti, Marco Vincenzo; Padula, Donatella; Balduini, Carlo L.; Bertolino, Giampiera; Provini, Stella; Quaglia, Federica; Murialdo, Giovanni; Bovio, Marta; Dallegri, Franco; Ottonello, Luciano; Quercioli, Alessandra; Barreca, Alessandra; Secchi, Maria Beatrice; Ghelfi, Davide; Chin, Wu Sheng; Carassale, Laura; Caporotundo, Silvia; Anastasio, Luigi; Sofia, Lucia; Carbone, Maria; Traisci, Giancarlo; De Feudis, Lucrezia; Di Carlo, Silvia; Davì, Giovanni; Guagnano, Maria Teresa; Sestili, Simona; Bergami, Elisabetta; Rizzioli, Emanuela; Cagnoni, Carlo; Bertone, Luca; Manucra, Antonio; Buratti, Alberto; Tognin, Tiziana; Liberato, Nicola Lucio; Bernasconi, Giordano; Nardo, Barbara; Bianchi, Giovanni Battista; Benetti, Giampiero; Quagliolo, Michela; Centenaro, Giuseppe Riccardo; Purrello, Francesco; Di Pino, Antonino; Piro, Salvatore; Mancuso, Gerardo; Calipari, Daniela; Bartone, Mosè; Gullo, Francesco; Cortellaro, Michele; Magenta, Marina; Perego, Francesca; Meroni, Maria Rachele; Cicardi, Marco; Magenta, Antonio Gidaro Marina; Sacco, Andrea; Bonelli, Antonio; Dentamaro, Gaetano; Rozzini, Renzo; Falanga, Lina; Giordano, Alessandro; Perin, Paolo Cavallo; Lorenzati, Bartolomeo; Gruden, Gabriella; Bruno, Graziella; Montrucchio, Giuseppe; Greco, Elisabetta; Tizzani, Pietro; Fera, Giacomo; Di Luca, Maria Loreta; Renna, Donatella; Perciccante, Antonio; Coralli, Alessia; Tassara, Rodolfo; Melis, Deborah; Rebella, Lara; Menardo, Giorgio; Bottone, Stefania; Sferrazzo, Elsa; Ferri, Claudio; Striuli, Rinaldo; Scipioni, Rosa; Salmi, Raffaella; Gaudenzi, Piergiorgio; Gamberini, Susanna; Ricci, Franco; Morabito, Cosimo; Fava, Roberto; Semplicini, Andrea; Gottardo, Lucia; Vendemiale, Gianluigi; Serviddio, Gaetano; Forlano, Roberta; Bolondi, Luigi; Rasciti, Leonardo; Serio, Ilaria; Masala, Cesare; Mammarella, Antonio; Raparelli, Valeria; Fanelli, Filippo Rossi; Delfino, Massimo; Amoroso, Antonio; Violi, Francesco; Basili, Stefania; Perri, Ludovica; Serra, Pietro; Fontana, Vincenzo; Falcone, Marco; Landolfi, Raffaele; Grieco, Antonio; Gallo, Antonella; Zuccalà, Giuseppe; Franceschi, Francesco; De Marco, Guido; Chiara, Cordischi; Marta, Sabbatini; Bellusci, Martino; Setti, Donatella; Pedrazzoli, Filippo; Romanelli, Giuseppe; Pirali, Caterina; Amolini, Claudia; Rosei, Enrico Agabiti; Rizzoni, Damiano; Castoldi, Luana; Picardi, Antonio; Gentilucci, Umberto Vespasiani; Mazzarelli, Chiara; Gallo, Paolo; Guasti, Luigina; Castiglioni, Luana; Maresca, Andrea; Squizzato, Alessandro; Contini, Sara; Molaro, Marta; Annoni, Giorgio; Corsi, Maurizio; Zazzetta, Sara; Bertolotti, Marco; Mussi, Chiara; Scotto, Roberto; Ferri, Maria Alice; Veltri, Francesca; Arturi, Franco; Succurro, Elena; Sesti, Giorgio; Gualtieri, Umberto; Perticone, Francesco; Sciacqua, Angela; Quero, Michele; Bagnato, Chiara; Loria, Paola; Becchi, Maria Angela; Martucci, Gianfranco; Fantuzzi, Alessandra; Maurantonio, Mauro; Corinaldesi, Roberto; De Giorgio, Roberto; Serra, Mauro; Grasso, Valentina; Ruggeri, Eugenio; Carozza, Lorenzo Mauro; Pignatti, Fabi

Antipsychotic prescription and mortality in hospitalized older persons

Background: Recent scientific reports have shown that older persons treated with antipsychotics for dementia-related behavioural symptoms have increased mortality. However, the impact of these drugs prescribed during hospitalization has rarely been assessed. We aimed to investigate whether antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality during hospitalization and at 3-month follow-up in elderly inpatients. Methods: We analyzed data gathered during two waves (2010 and 2012) by the REPOSI (Registro Politerapie Società Italiana Medicina Interna). All new prescriptions of antipsychotic drugs during hospitalization, whether maintained or discontinued at discharge, were collected, and logistic regression models were used to analyze their association with in-hospital and 3-month mortality. Covariates were age, sex, the Short Blessed Test (SBT) score, and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. Results: Among 2703 patients included in the study, 135 (5%) received new prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs. The most frequently prescribed antipsychotic during hospitalization and eventually maintained at discharge was haloperidol (38% and 36% of cases, respectively). Patients newly prescribed with antipsychotics were older and had a higher Cumulative Illness Rating Scale comorbidity index both at admission and at discharge compared to those who did not receive a prescription. Of those prescribed antipsychotics, 71% had an SBT score ≥10 (indicative of dementia), 12% had an SBT score of 5–9 (indicative of questionable dementia); and 17% had an SBT score <5 (indicative of normal cognition). In-hospital mortality was slightly higher in patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs (14.3% vs 9.4%; P = 0.109), but in multivariate analysis only male sex, older age, and higher SBT scores were significantly related to mortality during hospitalization. At 3-month follow-up, only male sex, older age, and higher SBT scores were associated with mortality. Conclusion: We found that the prescription of antipsychotic drugs during hospitalization was not associated with in-hospital or follow-up mortality. Short-term antipsychotic prescriptions (for acutely ill patients) may have a different effect than long-term, repeated prescriptions