Malnutrition as a factor aggravating the heart failure course in the elderly and senile age

Cardiovascular diseases are the main death causes in the modern world. Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of most cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of HF is increasing in patients of older age groups. At the same time, the number of geriatric syndromes increases with age, one of which is malnutrition. Recent studies demonstrate the mutually aggravating effect of heart failure and malnutrition, and that the correction of malnutrition can improve the heart failure course. The introduction of screening and timely correction of malnutrition will reduce the hospitalization and mortality rates in geriatric patients with HF

Diagnosis and Treatment of Elderly and Senile Chronic Constipation: an Expert Consensus

Aim. An appraisal of practitioners with chronic constipation management details in older and senile adults.Key points. Chronic constipation is a common issue in geriatrics. Aside to age-related physiological bowel disfunction, a higher constipation incidence is conditioned by declined physical activity and frailty, polypharmacy and a series of secondary constipation-developing chronic states and diseases. Chronic constipation is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and complications, impaired general perception of health and pain, growing alarm and depression, and reduced quality of life. The treatment tactics in chronic constipation is cause-conditioned and should account for the patient’s history and therapy line, overall clinical condition, cognitive status and functional activity level. An essential baseline aspect of constipation management is apprising the patient and his family of the underlying factors and methods for non-drug and drug correction. An higher-fibre diet is recommended as first measure, with osmotic laxatives added and titrated to clinical response if none observed towards the non-drug and high-fibre regimens. Stimulant laxatives and prokinetics should be recommended in patients reluctant to fibre supplements and osmotic laxatives. Subsidiary correction includes biofeedback, transanal irrigation, acupuncture, foot reflexology and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation.Conclusion. Elderly and senile chronic constipation is a prevalent multifactorial state requiring an efficient management via assessment and correction of total risk factors and consistent use of non-medication and drug therapies

Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Russian Scientific Liver Society, Russian Gastroenterological Association, Russian Association of Endocrinologists, Russian Association of Gerontologists and Geriatricians and National Society for Preventive Cardiology on Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease

Aim: present clinical guidelines, aimed at general practitioners, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, comprise up-to-date methods of diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Key points. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the most wide-spread chronic liver disease, is characterized by accumulation of fat by more than 5 % of hepatocytes and presented by two histological forms: steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Clinical guidelines provide current views on pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a multisystem disease, methods of invasive and noninvasive diagnosis of steatosis and liver fibrosis, principles of nondrug treatment and pharmacotherapy of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and associated conditions. Complications of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease include aggravation of cardiometabolic risks, development of hepatocellular cancer, progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhotic stage.Conclusion. Progression of liver disease can be avoided, cardiometabolic risks can be reduced and patients' prognosis — improved by the timely recognition of diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and associated comorbidities and competent multidisciplinary management of these patients

Особенности гериатрического статуса у пожилых пациентов с остеоартритом в сочетании с невропатической болью: данные российского эпидемиологического исследования ЭВКАЛИПТ

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) are pain and dysfunction of the joints. Neuropathic pain (NP) occurs in more than half of patients with OA, it is refractory in nature and is the cause for seeking medical advice more frequently, poor quality of life and disability.Objective: to evaluate the frequency of NP and its relationship with geriatric syndromes (GS) in patients with OA aged 65 years and older. Patients and methods. The subanalysis of the study EVKALIPT included 2286 patients with OA and chronic pain syndrome. All patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and diagnostics of NP using the DN4 questionnaire.Results and discussion. The prevalence of NP in patients with OA was 22.7%. Patients with OA and NP more often experienced pain of any localization with a large number of tender points, they had a higher frequency and intensity of pain syndrome, they more often took analgesics and noted limitations in daily life. When conducting a correlation analysis, correlations of medium strength were found between the sum of scores according to DN4 questionnaire and the pain intensity assessment on a numerical rating scale at the time of examination (r=0.26; p<0.001) and in the previous 7 days (r=0.29; p<0.001). CGA data in patients with OA and NP demonstrated worse geriatric status and a higher incidence of GS. The most common GSs were basic (81%) and instrumental (64%) dependence in everyday life, senile asthenia (70%), urinary incontinence (69%), depression (69%) and cognitive impairment (67%). Multivariate analysis showed that, in addition to age, the presence of NP was independently associated with sensory deficits, depression, falls, urinary incontinence, and bedsores (odds ratio 1.77–2.49). Patients with NP were more likely to use mobility aids, absorbent underwear, and orthotics.Conclusion. NP was diagnosed in 22.7% of OA patients aged 65 years and older. Such patients have worse functional status, they are more often diagnosed with a number of GSs.Главные симптомы остеоартрита (ОА) – боль и нарушение функции суставов. Невропатическая боль (НБ) встречается более чем у половины больных ОА, носит рефрактерный характер и является причиной более частого обращения за медицинской помощью, низкого качества жизни и инвалидизации.Цель исследования – оценить частоту НБ и ее взаимосвязь с гериатрическими синдромами (ГС) у пациентов с ОА в возрасте 65 лет и старше.Пациенты и методы. В субанализ исследования ЭВКАЛИПТ включено 2286 пациентов с ОА и хроническим болевым синдромом. Всем больным проведены комплексная гериатрическая оценка (КГО) и диагностика НБ с помощью опросника DN4.Результаты и обсуждение. Распространенность НБ у пациентов с ОА составила 22,7%. Пациенты с ОА и НБ чаще испытывали боль любой локализации с большим количеством болевых точек, у них были выше частота и интенсивность болевого синдрома, они чаще принимали анальгетики и отмечали ограничения в повседневной жизни. При проведении корреляционного анализа обнаружены взаимосвязи средней силы между суммой баллов по опроснику DN4 и оценкой интенсивности боли по числовой рейтинговой шкале в момент осмотра (r=0,26; p<0,001) и в предшествующие 7 дней (r=0,29; p<0,001). Данные КГО у пациентов с ОА и НБ продемонстрировали худший гериатрический статус и более высокую частоту ГС. Наиболее распространенными ГС были базовая (81%) и инструментальная (64%) зависимость в повседневной жизни, старческая астения (70%), недержание мочи (69%), депрессия (69%) и когнитивные нарушения (67%). Многофакторный анализ показал, что с наличием НБ, помимо возраста, независимо ассоциированы сенсорный дефицит, депрессия, падения, недержание мочи и пролежни (отношение шансов 1,77–2,49). Пациенты с НБ чаще использовали вспомогательные средства для облегчения мобильности, абсорбирующее белье и ортопедические изделия.Заключение. НБ диагностирована у 22,7% пациентов с ОА в возрасте 65 лет и старше. Такие больные имеют худший функциональный статус, у них чаще диагностируется ряд ГС

Комплексный подход к выбору терапии у пациентов с остеоартритом при первичном обращении к врачу. Консенсус экспертов (обзор литературы и резолюция)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common pathology of the musculoskeletal system and is a serious medical and social problem. OA is of particular importance in elderly and senile people due to the high frequency of comorbid pathology. Pain relief is a priority in the formation of individual therapeutic programs for patients with OA, starting from their first request for medical assistance. At the same time, due to the ambiguity of existing clinical recommendations, most experts note a number of difficulties in prescribing treatment for patients with OA.The article presents a consensus position of experts regarding a complex approach to the choice of therapy in patients with OA at the initial visit to the doctor. The article discusses: current clinical guidelines for the management of patients with OA; most common problems in the management of patients with OA in real clinical practice; goals of treatment strategies for OA taking into account the risk factors for its progression; an algorithm of pain relief during initial treatment in patients with OA; prevention of OA exacerbations with the use of basic structure-modifying drugs; recommendations for the choice of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.According to experts, a rational approach to the treatment of OA is based on the combined use of non-drug and pharmacological methods with constant monitoring of therapy regimens and side effects. These recommendations can be considered disease-modifying strategies that in many cases allow improving functional status and achieving long-term remission in patients with OA.Остеоартрит (ОА) – наиболее распространенная патология опорно-двигательного аппарата, являющаяся серьезной медико-социальной проблемой. Особое значение ОА приобретает у лиц пожилого и старческого возраста из-за высокой частоты коморбидной патологии. Купирование болевого синдрома является приоритетным при формировании индивидуальных терапевтических программ для пациентов с ОА, начиная с момента их первичного обращения за медицинской помощью. Вместе с тем из-за неоднозначности существующих клинических рекомендаций большинство экспертов отмечают ряд сложностей при назначении лечения больным ОА.В статье представлена согласованная позиция экспертов, касающаяся комплексного подхода к выбору терапии у пациентов с ОА при первичном обращении к врачу. Рассмотрены имеющиеся на сегодняшний день клинические рекомендации по ведению пациентов с ОА, наиболее часто возникающие проблемы при курации больных ОА в реальной клинической практике, цели лечебных стратегий при ОА с учетом факторов риска его прогрессирования, алгоритм лечения боли у пациентов с ОА при первичном обращении и профилактики обострений ОА с использованием базисных структурно-модифицирующих препаратов, рекомендации по выбору нестероидных противовоспалительных препаратов.По мнению экспертов, рациональный подход к терапии ОА основан на комбинированном использовании немедикаментозных и фармакологических методов при постоянном мониторинге режимов терапии и побочных эффектов. Данные рекомендации можно рассматривать как болезнь-модифицирующие стратегии, позволяющие во многих случаях улучшить функциональный статус и добиться длительной ремиссии у пациентов с ОА

TELOMERES AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES

The ageing is the main risk factor for arterial hypertension (AH) and cardiovascular diseases. Natural ageing with normal BP is followed by changes in large arteries (rigidity), myocardium (hypertrophy) and diastolic relaxation and filling of cardiac muscle (diastolic dysfunstion). In AH these changes develop earlier and progress faster. These can be found at any age in AH. The telomere length (TL) — a special terminal structures on somatic cells chromosomes — is dependent on the age and is being shortened with age. This review concerns modern views on the role of telomeres as biological markers of ageing to understand the pathophysiology of essential arterial hypertension as a syndrome of accelerated cardiovascular system ageing

Central pressure in clinical practice: current state of the problem

Pathophysiologic mechanisms of central aortal pressure (CAP) are more complex than those of peripheral pressure, measured at brachial artery level. CAP indirectly reflects the state of circulatory system as a whole, since it is modulated by aorta elasticity, as well as structure and function of middle arteries and microcirculatory vessels. The difference between central and peripheral systolic blood pressure is maximal in young people and decreases in the elderly. For non-invasive CAP measurement, radial artery applanation tonometry is used, with subsequent computer transformation of peripheral pulse wave into central one, or applanation tonometry of carotid artery. The growing body of evidence supports the use of CAP measurement in assessing cardiovascular risk assessment and comparing various therapeutic regimens

Aortic pressure: current views on clinical and prognostic value of measure

Reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is not always or only owed to antihypertensive effect of treatments. Decrease in systolic blood pressure helped by antihypertensive drugs may be different in the central and peripheral vascular segments, which is largely explained by different pathophysiology of central and peripheral arterial blood pressure. This review is devoted to current views on pathophysiology, diagnostic techniques, medication effects on central blood pressure, clinical and prognostic value of measuring central blood pressure and prospects for its evaluation

Brachial artery status in patients with arterial hypertension and various variants of left ventricular remodeling

Aim. To assess middle-size vessel wall status, by volume compression oscillometry method, in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and various variants of left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Material and methods. The study included 112 patients (44 males; mean age 53.5±11.1 years) with AH and reproducible LV myocardial mass index (LVMMI) >100 g/m2 at echocardiography. Brachial artery (BA) wall status was assessed by volume compressive oscillometry method. Results. LVMMI significantly correlated with levels of systolic and pulse blood pressure (BP) (r=0.28 and r=0.29, р<0.01). LV hypertrophy (LVH) was associated with minimal BA lumen diameter (BAD). Compared to eccentric LVH, concentric LVH was characterized by lower BAD and vascular wall deformation coefficient, as well as by increased linear blood flow velocity, volume elasticity module, total peripheral vascular resistance. Conclusion. LV remodeling variant could be linked to middle-size vessel viscosity and elasticity parameters