Pain and Frailty in Hospitalized Older Adults

Introduction: Pain and frailty are prevalent conditions in the older population. Many chronic diseases are likely involved in their origin, and both have a negative impact on quality of life. However, few studies have analysed their association. Methods: In light of this knowledge gap, 3577 acutely hospitalized patients 65 years or older enrolled in the REPOSI register, an Italian network of internal medicine and geriatric hospital wards, were assessed to calculate the frailty index (FI). The impact of pain and some of its characteristics on the degree of frailty was evaluated using an ordinal logistic regression model after adjusting for age and gender. Results: The prevalence of pain was 24.7%, and among patients with pain, 42.9% was regarded as chronic pain. Chronic pain was associated with severe frailty (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.38–2.07). Somatic pain (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.23–2.07) and widespread pain (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 0.93–2.78) were associated with frailty. Osteoarthritis was the most common cause of chronic pain, diagnosed in 157 patients (33.5%). Polymyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases causing chronic pain were associated with a lower degree of frailty than osteoarthritis (OR = 0.49, 95%CI 0.28–0.85). Conclusions: Chronic and somatic pain negatively affect the degree of frailty. The duration and type of pain, as well as the underlying diseases associated with chronic pain, should be evaluated to improve the hospital management of frail older people

The multifaceted spectrum of liver cirrhosis in older hospitalised patients: Analysis of the REPOSI registry

Background: Knowledge on the main clinical and prognostic characteristics of older multimorbid subjects with liver cirrhosis (LC) admitted to acute medical wards is scarce. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of LC among older patients admitted to acute medical wards and to assess the main clinical characteristics of LC along with its association with major clinical outcomes and to explore the possibility that well-distinguished phenotypic profiles of LC have classificatory and prognostic properties. Methods: A cohort of 6,193 older subjects hospitalised between 2010 and 2018 and included in the REPOSI registry was analysed. Results: LC was diagnosed in 315 patients (5%). LC was associated with rehospitalisation (age-sex adjusted hazard ratio, [aHR] 1.44; 95% CI, 1.10-1.88) and with mortality after discharge, independently of all confounders (multiple aHR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.37-3.22), but not with in-hospital mortality and incident disability. Three main clinical phenotypes of LC patients were recognised: relatively fit subjects (FIT, N = 150), subjects characterised by poor social support (PSS, N = 89) and, finally, subjects with disability and multimorbidity (D&M, N = 76). PSS subjects had an increased incident disability (35% vs 13%, P < 0.05) compared to FIT. D&M patients had a higher mortality (in-hospital: 12% vs 3%/1%, P < 0.01; post-discharge: 41% vs 12%/15%, P < 0.01) and less rehospitalisation (10% vs 32%/34%, P < 0.01) compared to PSS and FIT. Conclusions: LC has a relatively low prevalence in older hospitalised subjects but, when present, accounts for worse post-discharge outcomes. Phenotypic analysis unravelled the heterogeneity of LC older population and the association of selected phenotypes with different clinical and prognostic features

Sex-Differences in the Pattern of Comorbidities, Functional Independence, and Mortality in Elderly Inpatients: Evidence from the RePoSI Register

Background: The RePoSi study has provided data on comorbidities, polypharmacy, and sex dimorphism in hospitalised elderly patients. Methods: We retrospectively analysed data collected from the 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 data sets of the RePoSi register. The aim of this study was to explore the sex-differences and to validate the multivariate model in the entire dataset with an expanded follow-up at 1 year. Results: Among 4714 patients, 51% were women and 49% were men. The disease distribution showed that diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were more frequent in men but that hypertension, anaemia, osteoarthritis, depression, and diverticulitis disease were more common in women. Severity and comorbidity indexes according to the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS-s and CIRS-c) were higher in men, while cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and disability in daily life measured by the Barthel Index (BI) were worse in women. In the multivariate analysis, BI, CIRS, and malignancy significantly increased the risk of death in men at the 1-year follow-up, while age was independently associated with mortality in women. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the relevance and the validity of our previous predictive model in the identification of sex dimorphism in hospitalised elderly patients underscoring the need of sex-personalised health-care

Clinical features and outcomes of elderly hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or both

Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) mutually increase the risk of being present in the same patient, especially if older. Whether or not this coexistence may be associated with a worse prognosis is debated. Therefore, employing data derived from the REPOSI register, we evaluated the clinical features and outcomes in a population of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine wards and having COPD, HF or COPD + HF. Methods: We measured socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, severity and prevalence of comorbidities, clinical and laboratory features during hospitalization, mood disorders, functional independence, drug prescriptions and discharge destination. The primary study outcome was the risk of death. Results: We considered 2,343 elderly hospitalized patients (median age 81 years), of whom 1,154 (49%) had COPD, 813 (35%) HF, and 376 (16%) COPD + HF. Patients with COPD + HF had different characteristics than those with COPD or HF, such as a higher prevalence of previous hospitalizations, comorbidities (especially chronic kidney disease), higher respiratory rate at admission and number of prescribed drugs. Patients with COPD + HF (hazard ratio HR 1.74, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.16–2.61) and patients with dementia (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06–2.90) had a higher risk of death at one year. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed a higher mortality risk in the group of patients with COPD + HF for all causes (p = 0.010), respiratory causes (p = 0.006), cardiovascular causes (p = 0.046) and respiratory plus cardiovascular causes (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this real-life cohort of hospitalized elderly patients, the coexistence of COPD and HF significantly worsened prognosis at one year. This finding may help to better define the care needs of this population

Prevalence of use and appropriateness of antidepressants prescription in acutely hospitalized elderly patients

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Pattern of comorbidities and 1-year mortality in elderly patients with COPD hospitalized in internal medicine wards: data from the RePoSI Registry

Currently, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents the fourth cause of death worldwide with significant economic burden. Comorbidities increase in number and severity with age and are identified as important determinants that influence the prognosis. In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed data collected from the RePoSI register. We aimed to investigate comorbidities and outcomes in a cohort of hospitalized elderly patients with the clinical diagnosis of COPD. Socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were considered. The association between variables and in-hospital, 3-month and 1-year follow-up were analyzed. Among 4696 in-patients, 932 (19.8%) had a diagnosis of COPD. Patients with COPD had more hospitalization, a significant overt cognitive impairment, a clinically significant disability and more depression in comparison with non-COPD subjects. COPD patients took more drugs, both at admission, in-hospital stay, discharge and 3-month and 1-year follow-up. 14 comorbidities were more frequent in COPD patients. Cerebrovascular disease was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. At 3-month follow-up, male sex and hepatic cirrhosis were independently associated with mortality. ICS-LABA therapy was predictor of mortality at in-hospital, 3-month and 1-year follow-up. This analysis showed the severity of impact of COPD and its comorbidities in the real life of internal medicine and geriatric wards

What changed in the Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards during the lockdown

A total of 48 internal medicine or geriatric wards among the 93 adhering to the register REPOSI answered an online questionnaire aimed to investigate the characteristics and activities of converted and non-converted wards in the crucial period of the first wave of the epidemic, 22 February-4 May 202

Hyperglycemia at admission, comorbidities, and in-hospital mortality in elderly patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards: data from the RePoSI Registry

377nononeAims: The association between hyperglycemia at hospital admission and relevant short- and long-term outcomes in elderly population is known. We assessed the effects on mortality of hyperglycemia, disability, and multimorbidity at admission in internal medicine ward in patients aged ≥ 65 years. Methods: Data were collected from an active register of 102 internal medicine and geriatric wards in Italy (RePoSi project). Patients were recruited during four index weeks of a year. Socio-demographic data, reason for hospitalization, diagnoses, treatment, severity and comorbidity indexes (Cumulative Illness rating Scale CIRS-SI and CIRS-CI), renal function, functional (Barthel Index), and cognitive status (Short Blessed Test) and mood disorders (Geriatric Depression Scale) were recorded. Mortality rates were assessed in hospital 3 and 12 months after discharge. Results: Of the 4714 elderly patients hospitalized, 361 had a glycemia level ≥ 250 mg/dL at admission. Compared to subjects with lower glycemia level, patients with glycemia ≥ 250 mg/dL showed higher rates of male sex, smoke and class III obesity. These patients had a significantly lower Barthel Index (p = 0.0249), higher CIRS-SI and CIRS-CI scores (p = 0.0025 and p = 0.0013, respectively), and took more drugs. In-hospital mortality rate was 9.2% and 5.1% in subjects with glycemia ≥ 250 and < 250 mg/dL, respectively (p = 0.0010). Regression analysis showed a strong association between in-hospital death and glycemia ≥ 250 mg/dL (OR 2.07; [95% CI 1.34–3.19]), Barthel Index ≤ 40 (3.28[2.44–4.42]), CIRS-SI (1.87[1.27–2.77]), and male sex (1.54[1.16–2.03]). Conclusions: The stronger predictors of in-hospital mortality for older patients admitted in general wards were glycemia level ≥ 250 mg/dL, Barthel Index ≤ 40, CIRS-SI, and male sex.noneCorrao S.; Nobili A.; Natoli G.; Mannucci P.M.; Perticone F.; Pietrangelo A.; Argano C.; Licata G.; Violi F.; Corazza G.R.; Corrao S.; Marengoni A.; Salerno F.; Cesari M.; Tettamanti M.; Pasina L.; Franchi C.; Franchi C.; Cortesi L.; Tettamanti M.; Miglio G.; Tettamanti M.; Cortesi L.; Ardoino I.; Novella A.; Prisco D.; Silvestri E.; Emmi G.; Bettiol A.; Caterina C.; Biolo G.; Zanetti M.; Guadagni M.; Zaccari M.; Chiuch M.; Zaccari 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.; Mularo S.; Raspanti M.; 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.; Schilardi A.; Loparco F.; De Vincenzo G.M.; Comitangelo A.; Amoruso E.; Fenoglio L.; Falcetta A.; Bracco C.; Fargion A.L.F.S.; Tiraboschi S.; Cespiati A.; Oberti G.; Sigon G.; Peyvandi F.; Rossio R.; Ferrari B.; Colombo G.; Agosti P.; 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 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.Corrao, S.; Nobili, A.; Natoli, G.; Mannucci, P. M.; Perticone, F.; Pietrangelo, A.; Argano, C.; Licata, G.; Violi, F.; Corazza, G. R.; Corrao, S.; Marengoni, A.; Salerno, F.; Cesari, M.; Tettamanti, M.; Pasina, L.; Franchi, C.; Franchi, C.; Cortesi, L.; Tettamanti, M.; Miglio, G.; Tettamanti, M.; Cortesi, L.; Ardoino, I.; Novella, A.; Prisco, D.; Silvestri, E.; Emmi, G.; Bettiol, A.; Caterina, C.; Biolo, G.; Zanetti, M.; Guadagni, M.; Zaccari, M.; Chiuch, M.; Zaccari, 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.; Mularo, S.; Raspanti, M.; 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.; Schilardi, A.; Loparco, F.; De Vincenzo, G. M.; Comitangelo, A.; Amoruso, E.; Fenoglio, L.; Falcetta, A.; Bracco, C.; Fargion, A. L. F. S.; Tiraboschi, S.; Cespiati, A.; Oberti, G.; Sigon, G.; Peyvandi, F.; Rossio, R.; Ferrari, B.; Colombo, G.; Agosti, P.; 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, 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

The multifaceted spectrum of liver cirrhosis in older hospitalised patients: Analysis of the REPOSI registry

Background: Knowledge on the main clinical and prognostic characteristics of older multimorbid subjects with liver cirrhosis (LC) admitted to acute medical wards is scarce. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of LC among older patients admitted to acute medical wards and to assess the main clinical characteristics of LC along with its association with major clinical outcomes and to explore the possibility that well-distinguished phenotypic profiles of LC have classificatory and prognostic properties. Methods: A cohort of 6,193 older subjects hospitalised between 2010 and 2018 and included in the REPOSI registry was analysed. Results: LC was diagnosed in 315 patients (5%). LC was associated with rehospitalisation (age-sex adjusted hazard ratio, [aHR] 1.44; 95% CI, 1.10-1.88) and with mortality after discharge, independently of all confounders (multiple aHR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.37-3.22), but not with in-hospital mortality and incident disability. Three main clinical phenotypes of LC patients were recognised: relatively fit subjects (FIT, N = 150), subjects characterised by poor social support (PSS, N = 89) and, finally, subjects with disability and multimorbidity (D&M, N = 76). PSS subjects had an increased incident disability (35% vs 13%, P < 0.05) compared to FIT. D&M patients had a higher mortality (in-hospital: 12% vs 3%/1%, P < 0.01; post-discharge: 41% vs 12%/15%, P < 0.01) and less rehospitalisation (10% vs 32%/34%, P < 0.01) compared to PSS and FIT. Conclusions: LC has a relatively low prevalence in older hospitalised subjects but, when present, accounts for worse post-discharge outcomes. Phenotypic analysis unravelled the heterogeneity of LC older population and the association of selected phenotypes with different clinical and prognostic features