63 research outputs found
The influence of disease type and activity to sexual life and health quality in inflammatory bowel disease
No full textBackground/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a major impact on patients' quality of life (QoL), mood, and sexual life. The purpose of the present study was to show the effect of disease type and activity on sexual life and QoL in patients with IBD
Rationally decreasing the number of drugs seems to be a useful therapeutic approach in older adults: 6-month follow-up study.
No full text© 2021 Elsevier B.V.Aims: Older adults are at risk for polypharmacy, which has multidimensional safety, clinical and economic implications. Therefore, the optimization of drug therapy is one of the critical components of geriatrics clinical practice. This study is aimed to investigate the effect of drug rationalization on comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA) parameters. Materials and Methods: The study was a retrospective and longitudinal study examining the effect of change in drug number on functionality and physical performance. A total of 515 patients were included in the study. Detailed medication history, laboratory findings, CGA parameters were recorded in the first admission. Polypharmacy was accepted as concurrent usage of five or more drugs. Medications of each patient were reviewed with the guidance of CGA and Beers Criteria. Results: The mean age of patients was 74.13 ± 7.29 years, and 68.7% were female. The baseline mean number of drugs was 5.11 ± 3.34. The polypharmacy group(269 patients) had a higher rate of geriatric syndromes and lower CGA scores in the first admission. After optimization of medications, the mean drug number decreased to 4.76 ± 2.72. Depression, mobility and nutritional scores improved at the end of six months in the patients whose total number of drugs decreased, while global cognition, activities of daily living scores, and gait speed were preserved. Increasing the number of drugs was associated with lower mobility and functionality. Conclusion: Drug rationalization guided with CGA improves the nutritional, physical, and psychosocial status of geriatric patients. Thus, medication reviews have key importance in the management of older patients
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No full textThe Awareness and Attitude of Physicians to Older Adult Routine Vaccination Scheme
No full textPURPOSE: Immunization is one of the main components of preventive medicine measures. Influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus, and shingles vaccines are recommended for older adults routinely. This study aimed to show the knowledge and attitudes of the physicians to older adults’ vaccination schemes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electronic self-reported questionnaire was sent to physicians between March and July 2021 in Turkey. Sociodemographic characteristics, professional experience, area of expertise, and practice setting of the participants were recorded. As multiple-choice questions; the routinely recommended vaccines, and vaccines suggested in their daily practice before and after the COVID-19 pandemic were enquired. RESULTS: A total of 435 participants were included in the study. 43.9% of the patients were primary family physicians, and 36.8% were internists. 63.4% of the participants had reported reviewing the National Vaccination Scheme. 94.5% of the medical doctors indicated that they had recommended any vaccination to their patients. 20.9% of the practitioners could select four or five of the routinely recommended vaccines. Reviewing the National Adult Vaccination Scheme and being an internist were positively related to predicting the recommended vaccines. The recommendation rates of influenza and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) were seen at 88% and 78%, respectively. Except for PCV13, recommendation rates of other routine vaccines were decreased after the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Awareness of routine vaccination schedules should be improved among health-care professionals, and reminders for immunization should be provided periodically in each health-care setting
Abuse/Misuse of Prescription Medications in Older Adults
No full textDespite the evidence that older adults are particularly vulnerable to the misuse and abuse of drugs, insufficient information is available about the screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Awareness of all health care professionals involved in the care and treatment of older patients should be increased regarding the problems of misuse and abuse of drugs
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No full textAn atypical presentation of COVID-19: Hidden risk for seniors to misdiagnose
No full textThe outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Clinical manifestations include cough, fever, dyspnea, myalgia, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Less common extrapulmonary signs and symptoms such as cutaneous manifestations, diarrhea, confusion, functional decline have been reported in the literature. Older patients with multiple comorbidities are at a greater risk for severe disease and death and are vulnerable to atypical presentations due to changes in organ systems, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and sensory disturbances. In this case, a 77-year-old patient diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia presented with atypically acute urticaria with angioedema was reported. Although there were no typical signs of the disease, such as cough or shortness of breath, the patient’s laboratory values, and chest imaging were compatible with COVID-19. Therefore, the diagnosis of COVID-19 should be considered in older patients presenting with subtle signs or cutaneous manifestations
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