Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Documentation of treatment effects in acutely sick frail older patients in geriatric evaluation and management units (GEMUs) is scarce. The present study evaluated whether treatment in a GEMU would reduce mortality as compared to traditional treatment delivered in the Department of Internal Medicine.
DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial.
SETTING: GEMU or general medical ward
PARTICIPANTS: Acutely sick frail patients aged 75 and older who had been admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine were randomly assigned to treatment in the GEMU (n = 127) or to the general medical wards (n = 127). The following inclusion criteria were used to target frail patients: chronic disability, acute impairment of single activity of daily living, mild/moderate dementia, confusion, depression, imbalance/dizziness, falls, impaired mobility, urinary incontinence, malnutrition, polypharmacy, vision or hearing impairment, social problems, or prolonged bedrest.
INTERVENTION: in the GEMU, the treatment strategy emphasized interdisciplinary assessment of all relevant disorders, prevention of complications and iatrogenic conditions, early mobilization/rehabilitation, and comprehensive discharge planning. The control group received treatment as usual from the Department of Internal Medicine. After discharge neither group received specific follow-up.
MEASUREMENTS: Mortality and causes of death.
RESULTS: Mortality in the intervention and control groups, respectively, was 12% and 27% at 3 months (P = .004), 16% and 29% (P = .02) at 6 months, and 28% and 34% (P = .06) at 12 months. The hazard ratio was 0.39 (95% confidence interval = 0.21-0.72) at 3 months. The main cause of death was cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: Treatment Of acutely sick, frail, older patients in a GEMU substantially reduced mortality.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 792-798 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society |
Volume | 50 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- geriatrics
- acute care
- frail
- hospital
- mortality
- FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES
- MEDICAL UNIT
- TARGETING CRITERIA
- CLINICAL-TRIAL
- ACUTE-CARE
- HOSPITALIZATION
- PREDICTORS
- SERVICE
- ILLNESS