Introduction/AimAnticholinergic drugs, which have severe central and peripheric side effects, are frequently prescribed to older adults. Increased anticholinergic drug burden is associated with poor physical and cognitive functions. On the other side, the impact of anticholinergics on nutritional status is not elaborated in the literature. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of the anticholinergic burden on nutrition.Materials and MethodsPatients who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) 6 months apart were included in the study. Patients diagnosed with dementia were excluded because of the difference in the course of cognition, physical performance and nutrition. Nutritional status and global cognition were evaluated using Mini Nutritional Assessment-short form (MNA-SF), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Anticholinergic drug burden was assessed with the Drug Burden Index (DBI), enabling a precise dose-related cumulative exposure. Patients were divided into three groups according to DBI score: 0, no DBI exposure; 0–1, low risk; and ≥1, high risk. Regression analysis was performed to show the relationship between the difference in CGA parameters and the change in DBI score at the sixth month.ResultsA total of 423 patients were included in the study. Participants' mean age was 79.40 ± 7.50, and 68.6% were female. The DBI 0 score group has better MMSE and MNA-SF scores and a lower rate of falls, polypharmacy, malnutrition, and risk of malnutrition in the baseline. Having malnutrition or risk of malnutrition is 2.21 times higher for every one-unit increase in DBI score. Additionally, during the 6-month follow-up, increased DBI score was associated with decreased MNA-SF and MMSE score, albumin.ConclusionsThe harmful effects of anticholinergics may be prevented because anticholinergic activity is a potentially reversible factor. Therefore, reducing exposure to drugs with anticholinergic activity has particular importance in geriatric practice.
Objectives Orthostatic hypotension is a well-known disorder, but orthostatic hypertension (OHT) still remains unclear in older adults. The aim of this study was to determine the comparison orthostatic hypotension with OHT according to fall risk and geriatric assessment parameters. Methods A total of 741 patients who were admitted to the geriatric clinic and underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment were reviewed. Orthostatic blood pressure changes were measured by head-up-tilt Table test within the first three minutes. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as 20 or 10-mmHg drop in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure from supine to standing position. OHT was defined as an increase in systolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg or more while the patient was standing up from the supine position. Results The mean age was 75 ± 8 and 65. About 65% of all participants were female. The rate of orthostatic hypotension and OHT was 17.3 and 7.2%, respectively. The falls and dementia were more frequent, and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) score was lower in orthostatic hypotension group than in OHT and control groups (P < 0.05). These variables were similar between OHT and control groups (P > 0.05). The rates of falls [odds ratio (OR) = 2.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), (0.94–4.33); P = 0.044] and dementia [OR = 2.65; 95% CI, (1.08–6.48); P = 0.032] in orthostatic hypotension group were still higher than in OHT group, even after adjusting for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate and drugs. Conclusion Orthostatic hypotension may be more significant in terms of falls, dementia and impaired IADLs scores in older adults than in OHT and control groups. It seems that OHT may be of no clinical importance in geriatric practice.
Background: It is crucial to evaluate the causes of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with dementia, such as orthostatic hypotension (OH), which may affect their daily life activities, reduce the quality of life, and increase the caregiver burden. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between OH and the most common subtypes of dementia in detail. Methods: A total of 268 older adults with dementia diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), vascular dementia (VaD), and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and 539 older adults without dementia were included in this prospective study. Comprehensive geriatric assessment including comorbidity, medication evaluation, and the head-up tilt test was also performed. Results: Of the participants, 13.8, 8.3, 6.4, and 4.8% had AD, DLB, bvFTD, and VaD, respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, the presence of comorbidities, and usage of OH-induced drugs; AD, DLB, and VaD were associated with OH (odds ratio [OR]: 2.23 confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.31–3.80; p = 0.003; OR: 3.68 CI 95% 1.98–6.83; p < 0.001, and OR: 3.56 CI 95% 1.46–8.69; p = 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, VaD was independently related to diastolic OH (OR: 4.19 CI 95% 1.66–10.57; p = 0.002), whereas AD and DLB were not. Conclusions: This study shows that elderly patients with DLB, AD, and VaD often have OH, a disabling autonomic dysfunction feature. Moreover, diastolic OH may play a role in the development of VaD. Therefore, considering potential complications of OH, it is essential to evaluate OH in the follow-up and management of those patients.
Background Hematological parameters like red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) were reported to be associated with inflammation, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. In this study, we evaluated RDW and MPV along with clinical features in patients with advanced CKD. We also aimed to detect clues for causative relations concerning these parameters, renal function and comorbidities. Methods Stage 3-5 CKD patients (627 total) were included (mean age 63.1 years, 48.3% male). Patients with malignancies, cirrhosis, infections, severe anemia, and systemic inflammation were excluded. Patients were evaluated for clinical features and grouped for comparison using median RDW and MPV. Linear regression models were generated to predict potential influences on RDW and MPV. Results Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 27.3 mL/min/1.73m 2 . Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was 5.83 ± 2.06. Patients with high RDW (n = 303) were older with higher CRP and CCI, they also had lower eGFR, hemoglobin, and albumin (P < 0.001 for all). Patients with low MPV (n = 311) had lower eGFR, and platelet counts (P = 0.015 and 0.017). eGFR was negatively correlated with RDW after adjusting for age, gender and comorbidities. In a further adjusted model RDW was associated with CRP, CCI, hemoglobin and albumin (P < 0.05 for all), not with eGFR. MPV was positively correlated with eGFR in our adjusted, and fully adjusted regression models (P = 0.003). Conclusion In this study, we found that high RDW is associated with comorbidity burden, anemia, and inflammatory status in patients with advanced CKD. Meanwhile, low MPV seems to be associated with worse renal function.
Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common dementia. Features of DLB include postganglionic cardiac sympathetic denervation and autonomic instability. Rivastigmine therapy, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is widely used in the primary treatment of DLB; however, the cardiovascular safety and tolerability of transdermal rivastigmine needs to be reviewed. Objective: To evaluate whether transdermal rivastigmine has an effect on blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiography measurements. Materials and Methods: A total of 722 patients diagnosed with dementia were retrospectively screened. Fifty-seven of 98 DLB patients who received transdermal rivastigmine treatment with available serial electrocardiography and blood pressure measurements were included in the study. Baseline and follow-up measurements were compared for patients on the 9.5 to 13.3 mg/d rivastigmine dose for at least 4 weeks. Results: The mean age of the patients was 80.77±6.04, and the majority were women (63%). A total of 8 cases with bradycardia and 5 with orthostatic hypotension were detected during follow-up, and rivastigmine patch was stopped in one of those 8 patients due to symptomatic bradycardia. Nonetheless, there was no difference between baseline and follow-up measurements of the patients, including heart rate, cardiac rhythm, electrocardiographic intervals, blood pressure, pulse pressure, and postural blood pressure changes. Conclusions: Transdermal rivastigmine therapy is not associated with arrhythmogenic or hypotensive effects in the elderly patients with DLB. However, when prescribing transdermal rivastigmine, physicians should pay attention to newly emerging orthostatic hypotension during the follow-up in these patients.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the possible interrelationships between sarcopenia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Background: Sarcopenia and AD are two common geriatric syndromes; however, sarcopenia has not been evaluated in detail so far. Objective: The objective is to evaluate the relationship between AD and sarcopenia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed retrospectively on 128 patients with probable AD, with a mean age of 76.56±7.54 years. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, including the activities of daily living (ADLs), malnutrition, frailty, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and orthostatic hypotension was performed. Sarcopenia was defined according to the revised EWGSOP-2 criteria. Results: The frequency of probable sarcopenia and definitive sarcopenia was 54.7% and 35.9%, respectively. AD patients with probable sarcopenia had lower MMSE and ADLs scores and were frailer. Clinical dementia rating (CDR) score, MMSE, and basic and instrumental ADLs were independently related to probable sarcopenia in the patients (p=0.003, p<0.001, p=0.001, and p=0.001, respectively). The prevalence of probable sarcopenia in those with CDR 2 was higher than in those with CDR 0.5 and 1 (p=0.002). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that probable sarcopenia seems to be related to worse MMSE and ADLs scores and frailty in patients with AD and seems to be related to the severity of AD. Considering adverse health outcomes and the burden of sarcopenia on the patients and their caregivers, optimal care and treatment of sarcopenia in patients with AD are of great importance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.