Effect of a comprehensive geriatric assessment nursing intervention model on older patients with diabetes and hypertension

BACKGROUND The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment(CGA)was introduced late in China and is primarily used for investigating and evaluating health problems in older adults in outpatient and community settings.However,there are few reports on its application in hospitalized patients,especially older patients with diabetes and hypertension.AIM To explore the nursing effect of CGA in hospitalized older patients with diabetes and hypertension.METHODS We performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension who were hospitalized and treated in the Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between September 2020 and June 2022.Among the 80 patients included,40 received CGA nursing interventions(study group),while the remaining 40 received routine nursing care(control group).The study group's comprehensive approach included creating personalized CGA profiles,multidisciplinary assessments,and targeted inter-ventions in areas,such as nutrition,medication adherence,exercise,and mental health.However,the control group received standard nursing care,including general and medical history collection,fall prevention measures,and regular patient monitoring.After 6 months of nursing care implementation,we evaluated the effectiveness of the interventions,including assessments of blood glucose levels fasting blood glucose,2-h postprandial blood glucose,and glycated hemoglobin,type A1c(HbA1c);blood pressure indicators such as diastolic blood pressure(DBP)and systolic blood pressure(SBP);quality of life as measured by the 36-item Short Form Survey(SF-36)questionnaire;and treatment adherence.RESULTS After 6 months,the nursing outcomes indicated that patients who underwent CGA nursing interventions experienced a significant decrease in blood glucose indicators,such as fasting blood glucose,2-h postprandial blood glucose,and HbA1c,as well as blood pressure indicators,including DBP and SBP,compared with the control group(P<0.05).Quality of life assessments,including physical health,emotion,physical function,overall health,and mental health,showed marked improvements compared to the control group(P<0.05).In the study group,38 patients adhered to the clinical treatment requirements,whereas only 32 in the control group adhered to the clinical treatment requirements.The probability of treatment adherence among patients receiving CGA nursing interventions was higher than that among patients receiving standard care(95%vs 80%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION The CGA nursing intervention significantly improved glycemic control,blood pressure management,and quality of life in hospitalized older patients with diabetes and hypertension,compared to routine care.

Study on the impact of comprehensive geriatric assessment on anxiety and depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

BACKGROUND Psychological factors such as anxiety and depression will not only aggravate the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)patients and reduce the quality of life of patients,but also affect the treatment effect and long-term prognosis.Therefore,it is of great significance to explore the clinical application of senile comprehensive assessment in the treatment of COPD and its influence on psychological factors such as anxiety and depression.AIM To explore the clinical application of comprehensive geriatric assessment in COPD care and its impact on anxiety and depression in elderly patents.METHODS In this retrospective study,60 patients with COPD who were hospitalized in our hospital from 2019 to 2020 were randomly divided into two groups with 30 patients in each group.The control group was given routine nursing,and the observation group was given comprehensive assessment.Clinical symptoms,quality of life[COPD assessment test(CAT)score],anxiety and depression Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA)and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD)were compared between the two groups.RESULTS CAT scores in the observation group decreased from an average of 24.5 points at admission to an average of 18.3 points at discharge,and in the control group from an average of 24.7 points at admission to an average of 18.3 points at discharge.The average score was 22.1(P<0.05).In the observation group,HAMA scores decreased from 14.2 points at admission to 8.6 points at discharge,and HAMD scores decreased from 13.8 points at admission to 7.4 points at discharge.The mean HAMD scores in the control group decreased from an average of 14.5 at admission to an average of 12.3 at discharge,and from an average of 14.1 at admission to an average of 11.8 at discharge.CONCLUSION The application of comprehensive geriatric assessment in COPD care has a significant effect on improving patients'clinical symptoms and quality of life,and can effectively reduce patients'anxiety and depression.

A poor performance in comprehensive geriatric assessment is associated with increased fall risk in elders with hypertension： a cross-sectional study

Background Fall and serious fall injuries have become a major health concern for elders. Many factors including blood pressure and anti-hypertensive medication application were reported as hazards of fall. The purpose of this study was to determine if age related systemic functional decline related with increased fall risks in elderly patients with hypertension. Methods A total of 342 elderly hypertension patients （age 79.5 ＋ 6.7 years, male 63.8%） were recruited to the study. Comprehensive geriatric assessment （CGA）, including measurements about activity of daily living （ADL）, nutrition, cognition, depression, numbers of prescription medication and number of clinical diagnosis, was conducted to evaluate the physical and mental status of each participants. Fall risk was evaluated by Morse fall scale, Tinetti perform- ance oriented mobility assessment （POMA） and history of fall in the recent years. Participants were grouped into tertiles according to CGA score. Correlation between CGA and fall risk was analyzed through SPSS 18.0. Results Participants with higher CGA score were likely to be older, had a lower body mass index （BMI）, and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）, cerebrovascular disease and osteoarthropathia. Participants in higher tertile of CGA score got increased prevalence of fall risk than those in lower tertile （P 〈 0.01 T3 vs. T1, P 〈 0.01 T3 vs. T2）. Correlation analysis and regression analysis showed significant association between CGA and Morse fall scale （P 〈 0.001）, as well as CGA and POMA （P 〈 0.001）. Meanwhile, CGA components also showed co-relationships with increase fall risks. After adjusting age, BMI, benzodiazepine use, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, COPD and osteoarthropathia, both history of fall in the recent year and rising Morse fall scale were significantly associated with ADL im- pairment （OR： 2.748, 95%CI： 1.598-4.725）, （OR： 3.310, 95%CI： 1.893-5.788）. Decreased Tinetti POMA score was associated with Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） （OR： 4.035, 95%CI： 2.100-7.751）, ADL （OR： 2.380, 95%CI： 1.357-4.175） and shortened MNA form （MNA-SF） impairment （OR： 2.692, 95%CI： 1.147-6.319）. Conclusions In elderly adults with hypertension, impaired physical and mental function is associated with increased fall risk. Further study is required to investigate possible mediators for the association and effec- tive interventions.

Artificial Intelligence Providing a More Optimized Assessment Tool for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

With the continuous development of science and technology,artificial intelligence(AI)is coming into our lives and changing our lives.Since China entered the aging society in 2000,the degree of population aging has deepened.Comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)is now the accepted gold standard for the care of older people in hospitals.However,some problems limit the clinical application,such as complexity and time consuming.Therefore,by analyzing previous studies,we summarize some existing AI tools in order to find a more optimized assessment tool to complete the entire CGA process.

Role of comprehensive geriatric assessment in screening for mild cognitive disorders

BACKGROUND The role of comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)in screening for mild cognitive disorders was not known.AIM To evaluate the role of CGA in screening for mild cognitive disorders.METHODS A total of 100 elderly people who underwent health examinations in our hospital and community between January 2020 and December 2021 were included for analysis.Using Petersen as the diagnostic gold standard,healthy individuals were included in the control group and patients with mild cognitive impairment were assigned to the study group.The correlation between the cognitive function of the patients and their baseline clinical profiles was analyzed.Patients'Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)and CGA screening results were compared,and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated to assess the screening role of CGA.RESULTS CGA assessment yielded higher diagnostic accuracy than MoCA.The results of the multivariate regression analysis showed no correlation of gender,age,body mass index and literacy with cognitive function.Patients with mild cognitive impairment obtained significantly lower MoCA scores than healthy individuals(P<0.05).In the CGA scale,patients with mild cognitive impairment showed significantly lower Mini-mental State Examination,Miniature Nutritional Assessment and Berg Balance Scale scores,and higher Activity of Daily Living,Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale and Frailty Screening Inventory scores than healthy individuals(P<0.05),whereas the other assessment scales showed no significant differences(P>0.05).The CGA provides higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity than the MoCA(P<0.05).CONCLUSION CGA allows accurate identification of mild cognitive impairment with high sensitivity and specificity,facilitating timely and effective intervention,and is thus recommended for clinical use.

Geriatric assessment for oncologists

The world is experiencing aging of its population. Age-specific incidence rates of cancer are higher and cancer is now recognized as a part of aging. Treating older patients can be challenging. The clinical behavior of some tumors changes with age and the aging process itself brings physiological changes leading to decline in the function of organs. It is essential to identify those patients with longer life expectancy, potentially more likely to benefit from aggressive treatment vs. those that are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes. A primary determination when considering therapy for an older cancer patient is a patient's physiologic, rather than chronologic age. In order to differentiate amongst patients of the same age, it is useful to determine if a patient is fit or frail. Frail older adults have multiple chronic conditions and difficulties maintaining independence. They may be more vulnerable to therapy toxicities, and may not have substantial lasting benefits from therapy. Geriatric assessment(GA) may be used as a tool to determine reversible deficits and devise treatment strategies to mitigate such deficits. GA is also used in treatment decision making by clinicians, helping to risk stratify patients prior to potentially high-risk therapy. An important practical aspect of GA is the feasibility of incorporating it into a busy oncology practice. Key considerations in performing the GA include: available resources, patient population, GA tools to use, and who will be responsible for using the GA results and develop care plans. Challenges in implementing GA in clinical practice will be discussed.

Geriatric assessment for older people with cancer:policy recommendations

Most cancers occur in older people and the burden in this age group is increasing.Over the past two decades the evidence on how best to treat this population has increased rapidly.However,implementation of new best practices has been slow and needs involvement of policymakers.This perspective paper explains why older people with cancer have different needs than the wider population.An overview is given of the recommended approach for older people with cancer and its benefits on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness.In older patients,the geriatric assessment(GA)is the gold standard to measure level of fitness and to determine treatment tolerability.The GA,with multiple domains of physical health,functional status,psychological health and socio-environmental factors,prevents initiation of inappropriate oncologic treatment and recommends geriatric interventions to optimize the patient’s general health and thus resilience for receiving treatments.Multiple studies have proven its benefits such as reduced toxicity,better quality of life,better patient-centred communication and lower healthcare use.Although GA might require investment of time and resources,this is relatively small compared to the improved outcomes,possible cost-savings and compared to the large cost of oncologic treatments as a whole.

Exploring the Care Experience of a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Team in the Management of Debilitating Syndromes in Older People

This study was conducted to investigate the clinical effects of applying the integrated geriatric assessment team approach on the care of elderly patients with debilitating syndromes.This study was conducted in Xi’an Jiaotong University hospital from January 2021 to January 2022.Around 50 patients with the geriatric debilitating syndrome were selected and retrospectively were analyzed,and psychiatrists,geriatric nurses,pharmacists,medical specialists,physiotherapists,and dieticians were selected to form a comprehensive geriatric assessment team.The patients were then assessed,a treatment plan was developed,and care was provided according to the actual situation,and the effectiveness of the clinical intervention was analyzed.This study demonstrated that,of the 50 patients in this study,the longest hospital stay was 15 days,while the shortest was 4 days,and the average length of stay was 10.23±4.37 days.Around 40 of the patients were able to eat on their own and consume food as prescribed,with a compliance rate of 80%,showing the effectiveness rate of the geriatric assessment team.In summary,the use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment team to treat and care for patients with debilitating syndromes in the elderly is an effective way,and this can significantly improve the life quality of the patients.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment and its role in oncology:a brief review

As the global population ages,the incidence of cancer among older adults is increasing.The management of older patients with cancer poses unique challenges due to the age-related physiological changes,multiple comorbidities,and functional decline often observed in this population.Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment(CGA)has emerged as a valuable tool in oncology to evaluate the overall health and functional status of older cancer patients in order to optimise cancer care for older adults.This comprehensive approach acknowledges the unique challenges faced by elderly patients with cancer and seeks to optimize outcomes by considering their specific circumstances and individual requirements.

Geriatric Assessment to Predict Survival and Risk of Serious Adverse Events in Elderly Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients： A Multicenter Study in China

Background： Elderly multiple myeloma （MM） patients often tend to suffer a variety of diseases, so the treatment of choice is very difficult for the elderly myeloma patients. The overall survival （OS） time and side effects with elderly patients are unclear in China. The study tried to find out the role of geriatric assessment in the Chinese elderly MM. Methods： We retrospectively analyzed the data of 628 newly diagnosed patients from six hospitals from June 2011 to June 2013. A geriatric assessment had been performed to assess comorbidities, cognitive, and physical status for these patients. The primary endpoint was to evaluate different physical states of elderly patients with OS time and treatment-related side effects. Results： An additive scoring system （range： 0-5）, based on age, Katz＇s Activity of Daily Living （ADL） and Lawton＇s Instrumental Activity of Daily Living （IADL） 〈5 and Charlson Comorbidity Index （CC1） was developed to identify three groups： fit （score = 0）; intermediate-fitness （score = 1 ）; and fi＇ail （score ≥2）. The 3-year OS was 63% in fit patients, 63% in intermediate-fimess patients, and 49% in frail patients ≥3 hematologic adverse events （AEs） were documented in 45 （35.4%） fit, 34 （34%） intermediate-fitness, and 121 （30.2%） frail patients. The risk of a grade ≥3 hematologic AEs was not significantly increase in intermediate-fitness （hazard ratios [HR]： 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.54 1.47, P = 1.000） and in frail patients （tfR： 1.16, 95% CI： 0.70-1.93, P- 0.558） compared with fit ones. Conclusions： MM occurs earlier in life and being advanced when the diagnosis is made in the mainland of China. The overall survival in fi＇ailty with International Staging System （ISS） ll/lll was the worst in all patients.

What the Hell Am I Doing Here？ A Look at a Series of Geriatric Centers, Profile of the Institutionalized Persons and Reasons for Admission

The main objective of this study was always to know the profile of the institutionalized people in our environment, to know their reality： age, age of admission, level of dependency and evolution during their stay, years of stay, number of children, reason for admission. We use data from more than 600 patients from different residences of different backgrounds： public and private, lay and religious, rural and urban. We performed a descriptive study expressing the results in percentages with standard deviation and later evaluated the statistical significance of the differences using the student＇s t-test for the quantitative and Chi-square variables to compare qualitative variables. The results of the study are numerous and of diverse nature, because of their extension, from the general profile of the resident, to the important gender differences, attributed in principle to the different roles of each gender in the studied generations. There are also differences depending on the funding, the reason for admission or the environment. This is at the end only the beginning of a large comparative study with non-institutionalized population, in order to compare this population.

Advances in caring for the older cancer patient：a report from the 2015 conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology

A paradox in cancer research is that the majority of patients enrolled in clinical trials are relatively young and fit while typical patients in daily practice are elderly and have comorbidities and impaired organ function. Given these differences, many major studies provide an imperfect guide to optimizing the treatment of the majority of patients. Since cancer incidence is highly correlated with age, and since the world's population is rapidly ageing, this problem can only increase. For this reason, oncologists and geriatricians need to collaborate in developing tools to systematically assess the health status of elderly patients and their fitness to receive cancer therapies of various intensity. Tailoring anti-cancer treatments and supportive care to individual needs should be seen as part of the move towards personalized medicine. Achieving this goal is as much of a challenge to developing and middle-income countries as it is to western nations. The 2015 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology(SIOG) held in Prague, Czech Republic, November 2015 and had a global focus on advancing the science of geriatric oncology and supportive care. Central to this approach is the systematic assessment of life expectancy, independent functioning, and the physical and psychological health of older cancer patients. The assumption behind comprehensive geriatric assessment is that elderly cancer patients have complex needs. The implication is that effective intervention will require a multidisciplinary team. Examples of effective geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary working and supportive care were presented at the SIOG conference.

Assessment methods and services for older people with cancer in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND National cancer strategy calls for comprehensive assessments for older people but current practice across the United Kingdom is not well described.AIM To identify current assessment methods and access to relevant supporting services for older people with cancer.METHODS A web-based survey(SurveyMonkey)targeting health professionals(oncologists,cancer surgeons,geriatricians,nurses and allied health professionals)was distributed January-April 2016 via United Kingdom nationally recognised professional societies.Responses were analysed in frequencies and percentages.Chi Square was used to compare differences in responses between different groups.RESULTS 640 health care professionals responded.Only 14.1%often/always involved geriatricians and 52.0%often/always involved general practitioners in assessments.When wider assessments were used,they always/often influenced decision-making(40.5%)or at least sometimes(34.1%).But 30.5%-44.3%did not use structured assessment methods.Most clinicians favoured clinical history taking.Few used scoring tools and few wished to use them in the future.Most had urgent access to palliative care but only a minority had urgent access to other key supporting professionals(e.g.geriatricians,social workers,psychiatry).69.6%were interested in developing Geriatric Oncology services with geriatricians.CONCLUSION There is variability in assessment methods for older people with cancer across the United Kingdom and variation in perceived access to supporting services.Clinical history taking was preferred to scoring systems.Fostering closer links with geriatricians appears supported.

Personalized surgical management of colorectal cancer in elderly population

Colorectal cancer(CRC)in the elderly is extremely common but only a few clinicians are familiar with the complexity of issues which present in the geriatric population.In this phase of the life cycle,treatment is frequently suboptimal.Despite the fact that,nowadays,older people tend to be healthier than in previous generations,surgical undertreatment is frequently encountered.On the other hand,surgical overtreatment in the vulnerable or frail patient can lead to unacceptable postoperative outcomes with high mortality or persistent disability.Unfortunately,due to the geriatric patient being traditionally excluded from randomized controlled trials for a variety of factors(heterogeneity,frailty,etc.),there is a dearth of evidence-based clinical guidelines for the management of these patients.The objective of this review was to summarize the most relevant clinical studies available in order to assist clinicians in the management of CRC in the elderly.More than in any other patient group,both surgical and non-surgical management strategies should be carefully individualized in the elderly population affected by CRC.Although cure and sphincter preservation are the primary goals,many other variables need to be taken into account,such as maintenance of cognitive status,independence,life expectancy and quality of life.

Real-world characteristics of hospitalized frail elderly patients with atrial fibrillation： can we improve the current prescription of anticoagulants？

Background In elderly patients, especially those older than 80 years, atrial fibrillation （AF） is associated with an almost 25% in- creased risk of stroke. Stroke prophylaxis with anticoagulants is therefore highly recommended. The prevalence of factors that have been associated with a lower rate of prescription and adherence to anticoagulant therapy in these patients is little known. The objective of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of elderly subjects, with and without AF, consecutively admitted to an acute geriatric unit, discussing factors that may decrease the persistence on stroke prophylaxis therapy. We also highlight possible strategies to overcome the barriers conditioning the current underuse of oral anticoagulants in this segment of the population. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed on a cohort of elderly patients with and without AF admitted to the Acute Geriatric Unit of San Gerardo Hospital （Monza, Italy）. Results Compared to patients without AF （n = 1216）, those with AF （n = 403） had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index （3 vs. 2, P 〈 0.001）, number of administered drugs （4 vs. 3, P 〈 0.001）, rate of heart failure （36.5% vs. 12%, P 〈 0.001） and chronic kidney disease （20.6 vs. 13.2, P 〈 0.001）. Many patients with AF were frail （54%） or pre-frail （29%）. Conclusions Elderly patients with AF have higher rates of conditions that affect adherence to traditional anticoagulant therapy （vitamin K antagonists, VKA）. New direct oral anticoagulants （DOAs） can help overcome this problem. In order to prescribe the most appropriate VKA or DOAs, with the best efficacy/safety profile and the highest compliance, a comprehensive geriatric assessment should always accompany the scores for thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk stratification.

Treatment patterns and a prognostic scoring system for elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients:a retrospective multicenter cohort study in China

Objective:Acute myeloid leukemia(AML)is primarily a malignant disorder affecting the elderly.We aimed to compare the outcomes of different treatment patterns in elderly AML patients and to propose a prognostic scoring system that could predict survival and aid therapeutic decisions.Methods:Patients aged≥60 years who had been diagnosed with AML at 7 hospitals in China were enrolled(n=228).Treatment patterns included standard chemotherapy,low intensity therapy,and best supportive care(BSC).Results:The early mortality rates were 31%,6.8%,and 6.3%for the BSC,low intensity therapy,and standard chemotherapy groups,respectively.The complete remission rate of the standard chemotherapy group was higher than that of the low intensity therapy group.The median overall survival(OS)was 561 days and 222 days for the standard chemotherapy and low intensity therapy groups,respectively,and were both longer than that of the BSC group(86 days).Based on multivariate analyses,we defined a prognostic scoring system that enabled classification of patients into 3 risk groups,in an attempt to predict the OS of patients receiving chemotherapies and low intensity therapies.Low and intermediate risk patients benefited more from standard chemotherapies than from low intensity therapies.However,the median OS was comparable between standard chemotherapies and low intensity therapies in high risk patients.Conclusions:Our prognostic scoring system could predict survival and help select appropriate therapies for elderly AML patients.Standard chemotherapy is important for elderly AML patients,particularly for those categorized into low and intermediate risk groups.

How to select elderly colorectal cancer patients for surgery: a pilot study in an Italian academic medical center

Objective: Cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in elderly patients. Of all types of abdominal cancer, colorectal cancer(CRC) is undoubtedly the most frequent. Median age at diagnosis is approximately 70 years old worldwide. Due to the multiple comorbidities affecting elderly people, frailty evaluation is very important in order to avoid over- or undertreatment. This pilot study was designed to investigate the variables capable of predicting the long-term risk of mortality and living situation after surgery for CRC.Methods: Patients with 70 years old and older undergoing elective surgery for CRC were prospectively enrolled in the study. The patients were preoperatively screened using 11 internationally-validated-frailty-assessment tests. The endpoints of the study were long-term mortality and living situation. The data were analyzed using univariate Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis to verify the predictive value of score indices in order to identify possible risk factors.Results: Forty-six patients were studied. The median follow-up time after surgery was 4.6 years(range, 2.9-5.7 years) and no patients were lost to follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 39%. Four of the patients who survived(4/28, 14%) lost their functional autonomy. The preoperative impaired Timed Up and Go(TUG), Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status(ECOG PS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADLs), Vulnerable Elders Survey(VES-13) scoring systems were significantly associated with increased long term mortality risk.Conclusion: Simplified frailty-assessing tools should be routinely used in elderly cancer patients before treatment in order to stratify patient risk. The TUG, ECOG-PS, IADLs and VES-13 scoring systems are potentially able to predict long-term mortality and disability. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the preliminary data in order to improve management strategies for oncogeriatric surgical patients.

Cognitive Ability in Elderly in a City in Northeastern Brazil: An Analytical Study

To analyze the cognitive ability of elderly people assisted by the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in a northeastern Brazilian city, a cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted with 406 elderly assisted by the FHS in Mossoro-RN, Brazil, from March to May 2014. The data were collected through two validated questionnaires. For the data analysis, the Alpha Cronbach’s, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square and Pearson correlation statistical tests were applied. There was a predominance of women (67.98%) in the survey. Among the respondents, 50% had an index of up to 27 points in Pfeffer Instrument, identifying greater degree of dependence in performing instrumental daily activities related to mobility in the community (39.7%) and financial management (57.1%). On Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 75% of seniors had an index above 27 points, with the scores classification as standard (50.99%), mild (25.12%), moderate (22.66%) and severe (1.23%). Although changes have been identified in cognitive performance and independence of elderly people in some areas, these difficulties do not completely affect the lives and daily activities of the elderly.

Prevalence of Malnutrition and Frailty in Elderly Cancer Patients and Resulting Impact on Primary Treatment Recommendations in Colorectal and Breast Cancer

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly cancer patients and its association with frailty and primary cancer treatment recommendations in patients with the two most prevalent cancers(colorectal cancer,CRC and breast cancer,BC)in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France.Methods The entire cohort of 704 patients aged 75 years or older presenting with cancer who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)between 2014 and 2017 was included.Nutritional status,frailty(defined by the Balducci classification system based on CGA parameters and comorbidity),and pathological criteria were analyzed in terms of the cancer treatment recommendations suggested by geriatricians both in the whole cohort and in those with CRC and BC.Results In the whole group of 704 patients(84.3+/-4.8 years),the prevalence of malnutrition was 62.9%,and was higher in CRC than in BC patients(71.1%vs 55.4%,P<0.01).In a multivariate analysis,malnutrition and frailty(as determined by the Balducci classification system)were independently related in CRC patients(OR:7.28,95%CI,1.58~34.03;P=0.012)and were unrelated to metastasis[odds ratio(OR):1.34,95%CI,0.56~3.18;P=0.5].By contrast,malnutrition in BC patients was related exclusively to the extent of metastasis(OR:3.52,95%CI,1.50~8.24;P=0.002).It was also demonstrated that geriatricians had a greater tendency to suggest only palliative care to CRC patients presenting with malnutrition(15.4%vs 2.7%,P=0.006)than to BC patients(9.8%vs 5.4%,NS).Conclusion Malnutrition in elderly cancer patients is prevalent,especially in those with colorectal cancer,where malnutrition is frailty-related and may strongly impact on cancer treatment strategies.

Co-Occurrence of COVID-19 Infection and Intracerebral Hemorrhage in an Older Adult: A Case Report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often has multifaceted presentations, even in young adults, which poses a significant challenge to clinicians who are caring for older adults. Older patients often present with subtle atypical manifestations, and failure to recognize these may lead to a cascade of negative events. Age-related immune system changes, comorbidities, and atypical presentations often make early diagnosis of COVID-19 difficult. Here, we report a case of an 82-year-old moderately frail male patient who presented with generalized body weakness and tested positive for COVID-19. On the second day of admission, he developed unilateral body weakness and aphasia, and computed tomography of the brain revealed acute right frontal spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with no vascular anomaly. He did not have any traditional risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage and was not on any anticoagulants. The course of this case illustrates the delicate balance between the atypical presentations of COVID-19, the importance of a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and the management of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.