Home Geriatrics October 2019 Briefing – Geriatrics

October 2019 Briefing – Geriatrics

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for October 2019. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

CDC: Prevalence of Diabetes Has Plateaued Since 2012 for Seniors

THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Since 2012, the prevalence of diabetes has plateaued among adults aged ≥68 years, according to research published in the Nov. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

No Benefit Seen for SLNB in BCS for DCIS in Older Women

THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For older patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS), sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is not associated with improvements in long-term outcomes, according to a study published in the December issue of JNCI Cancer Spectrum.

Cognitive Ability in Childhood Linked to Cognitive Scores at 70

THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Childhood cognitive ability is associated with cognitive scores, including the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC), more than 60 years later, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Neurology.

CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Up Slightly, Mortality Lower in 2017

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy has increased slightly in the United States, and mortality is lower than in 2007, according to a report published Oct. 30 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Health, United States, 2018

2011 to 2017 Saw Increase in Heart Disease Deaths in the U.S.

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2017, the age-adjusted mortality rate decreased for heart disease, but the number of heart disease deaths increased, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in JAMA Cardiology.

Many Patients Take OTC Meds That May Interact With Apixaban

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many patients take over-the-counter (OTC) products with potentially serious interactions with the direct-acting oral anticoagulant apixaban, according to research published online Oct. 28 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

High Fiber, Yogurt Intake Linked to Reduced Risk for Lung Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dietary fiber and yogurt consumption are associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer, according to a pooled analysis published online Oct. 24 in JAMA Oncology.

Facebook Launches Preventive Health Tool

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new tool designed to help guide preventive care for heart disease, cancer, and seasonal flu was launched in the United States Monday by Facebook.

CNN Article

Readmissions Up for Preexisting HAIs With Home Discharge

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is associated with fewer avoidable readmissions for preexisting health care-associated infections (HAIs) compared with home discharges, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Outcomes Poor With Medical Care From Fraud, Abuse Perpetrators

MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receiving medical care from fraud and abuse perpetrators (FAPs), subsequently excluded from Medicare, is associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality and emergency hospitalization, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Physical Activity May Lower Postmenopausal Fracture Risk

MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women, physical activity is associated with reduced risks for total fracture and hip fracture, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in JAMA Network Open.

Family Involvement Cuts Postop Delirium in Older Patients

FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The Tailored, Family-Involved Hospital Elder Life Program (t-HELP) is effective in reducing postoperative delirium (POD) for older patients, according to a Chinese study published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Early-Stage Alzheimer Disease Has Adverse Financial Consequences

FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Early-stage Alzheimer disease seems to put households at risk for large adverse changes in liquid assets and may reduce net wealth, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Health Economics.

Fewer Women Than Men Receive Kidney Replacement Therapy

THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fewer women than men receive kidney replacement therapy (KRT), according to a large European study published online Oct. 24 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Knee, Hip Arthritis Increase Risk for Social Isolation in Elderly

THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee increases the risk for social isolation in older, community-dwelling individuals, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Prophylactic Melatonin Does Not Cut Delirium After Major Cardiac Surgery

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prophylactic use of melatonin does not prevent delirium after major cardiac surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Limited English Proficiency May Worsen Chronic Disease Outcome

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In predominantly English-speaking settings, patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and chronic conditions have higher rates of emergency department revisits and hospital readmissions than patients with English proficiency (EP), according to a research letter published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CVD Risk Declines When BP Meds Taken at Bedtime

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Ingestion of prescribed blood pressure-lowering medications at bedtime is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the European Heart Journal.

Personal Colorectal Cancer Risk Should Drive Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Using the GRADE system to review new evidence, a panel issued weak recommendations for colorectal cancer screening options based on estimated 15-year individual risk, according to a clinical practice guideline published online Oct. 2 in The BMJ.

Life-Gained Selection Maximizes Lung Cancer Screening Benefits

MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Selection of ever-smokers for lung cancer screening based on gains in life expectancy can increase total life expectancy from screening but prevents fewer lung cancer deaths, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Long Sleep Duration Linked to Cognitive Decline in Hispanics

MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long sleep duration predicts seven-year cognitive decline among U.S. Hispanic/Latino patients, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Most Cardiovascular Disease Deaths Now Occur at Home

FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2003 to 2017, the proportion of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths that occurred in the hospital decreased, while CVD deaths at home increased, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Nonpharmacologic Interventions Reduce Agitation in Dementia

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For adults with dementia, nonpharmacologic interventions seem to be more efficacious than pharmacologic interventions for reducing aggression and agitation, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Oct. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Recommendations Developed for Preventing Secondary Fractures

FRIDAY, Oct. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Clinical recommendations for the prevention of secondary fractures among older adults with hip or vertebral fracture have been issued by a multi-stakeholder coalition assembled by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and published online Sept. 20 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

CDC: Seasonal Influenza Viruses Circulating in Southern Hemisphere

THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Seasonal influenza viruses are circulating widely in the Southern Hemisphere, but influenza activity is currently low in the United States, according to research published in the Oct. 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

SGLT2 Inhibitors Protect Against Kidney Disease in T2DM

THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The class of diabetes drugs known as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors protect against kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a review published online Sept. 5 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Racial, Ethnic Minorities Want to See Doctor Who Shares Their Culture

THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Minority racial and ethnic groups are more likely to perceive the importance of seeing a health care provider who shares or understands their culture, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statins Tied to Osteoporosis in Dose-Dependent Manner

THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is a dose-dependent relationship between diagnosis of osteoporosis and statin treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Medicare Fraud-Prevention Rules to Be Revised

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Revision of decades-old Medicare rules meant to prevent fraud has been proposed by the Trump administration.

AP News Article

2000 to 2015 Saw Increase in Medicare GME Payments

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medicare graduate medical education (GME) payments increased significantly from 2000 to 2015, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Maintaining Weight Loss Cuts Cardiovascular Risk in T2DM

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, maintaining weight loss is better than weight regain for improving cardiometabolic risk factors, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Acute Respiratory Viral Illness Surveillance Possible in Long-Term Care

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Active acute respiratory illness surveillance can be implemented among patients and staff in an adult long-term care facility, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Proportion of Seniors Taking Antidepressants Has More Than Doubled

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Across two decades, there was an increase in the proportion of older adults taking antidepressants, although the prevalence of depression did not change significantly, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Dog Ownership May Lower Risk for Death After Major CV Event

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dog ownership is associated with better outcomes after a major cardiovascular event as well as a reduced risk for all-cause mortality, according to a cohort study and a meta-analysis published online Oct. 8 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Abstract/Full Text – Mubanga (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Kramer (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Burnout Linked to Poor Quality Care in Published Literature

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the published literature, burnout in health care professionals is frequently associated with poor-quality care, but the effect size may be smaller than reported, according to data from a systematic review published online Oct. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Cost of Waste in U.S. Health System Estimated

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The estimated cost of waste in the U.S. health care system varies from $760 to $935 billion, according to a special communication published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Guideline for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Updated

MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In an updated official clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America, published in the Oct. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, recommendations are presented for the diagnosis and management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Older Adults Have Mixed Feelings About Telehealth Visits

MONDAY, Oct. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many older adults are not quite ready to embrace telehealth, according to a new National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Older Adults Need More Help Navigating Health Care System

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of older nonretired adults need help understanding their health insurance benefits, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Anthem Inc. and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).

Few Older European Men Aware of Prostate Function

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new survey shows that older men have low awareness about prostate health and function, according to a study commissioned by the European Association of Urology (EAU).

Survey: Many U.S. Adults Not Planning to Get Flu Vaccine

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many U.S. adults, including some at the highest risk for the flu and pneumonia, do not plan to get preventive vaccines, according to a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

eGFR Affects Risk for Opioid-Related Death, Hospitalization

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of prescription opioids is associated with an increased risk for death and hospitalization, especially in patients with lower estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs), according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

With Comorbidities, Less Than Six Hours of Sleep Ups Risk for Early Death

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Middle-aged adults with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke could be at higher risk for cancer and early death when sleeping less than six hours per day, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Considerable Proportion of ICU Admissions May Be Preventable

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions may be preventable, according to a study published online Oct. 4 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Risk Calculator Can Help Predict Postmenopausal Morbidity

THURSDAY, Oct. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new risk prediction calculator can make health risk predictions for several outcomes simultaneously in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Sept. 16 in Menopause.

Medicare Spends More Than $6 Billion on Secondary Fractures

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medicare could save billions of dollars if secondary fractures could be prevented with improved osteoporosis screening, according to a new National Osteoporosis Foundation report conducted by Milliman.

Research Report: Medicare Cost of Osteoporotic Fractures

Elderly Who Start Thiopurine Tx for IBD Have Higher Risk for AEs

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk for adverse events (AEs) related to the use of thiopurines, according to a study published in the October issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Food Insecurity Prevalent Among Medicare Enrollees

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Food insecurity is prevalent among Medicare enrollees, affecting 38.3 percent of those aged younger than 65 years, according to a research letter published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Uptitration of Drugs Varies With Target Dosage in Chronic HF

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Uptitration of drugs for chronic systolic heart failure stops farther away from the recommended dosage for drugs with higher versus lower recommended dosages, according to a research letter published online Oct. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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