Medicine (RMH) - Research Publications
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ItemVery Low Calorie Diets for Weight Loss in Obese Older Adults-A Randomized Trial(OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2018-01)BACKGROUND: Obesity contributes to disability in older adults, and this is offset by weight loss and exercise. Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCDs) achieve rapid weight loss; however, these have not been rigorously evaluated in older people. METHODS: A randomized trial was conducted from August 2012 through December 2015. The intervention was 12 weeks of thrice weekly exercise combined with either healthy eating advice (Ex/HE), hypocaloric diet (Ex/Diet), or VLCD (Ex/VLCD). Outcomes were physical function, measured by 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI). Other measures were body composition measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, and nutritional parameters (albumin, vitamins B12 and D, ferritin and folate). RESULTS: 36, 40, and 41 participants were randomized to Ex/HE, Ex/Diet, and Ex/VLCD, respectively. At 12 weeks, weight was reduced by 3.7, 5.1, and 11.1% (p < .01), respectively. Ex/VLCD had significant reduction in fat (16.8%), lean mass (4.8%), and bone mineral density (1.2%), but increased relative lean mass (3.8%). DEMMI improved by 14.25, 14.25, and 13.75 points in Ex/HE, Ex/Diet, and Ex/VLCD, respectively; however, there was no between-group difference (p = .30). 6MWT improved by 53.1, 64.7, and 84.4 meters in Ex/HE, Ex/Diet, and Ex/VLCD (p = .18). Post hoc stratification for gender and adjustment for initial physical function and type 2 diabetes only revealed significant between-group differences for men in the 6MWT, with improvement by 57.8, 77.8, and 140.3 meters in Ex/HE, Ex/Diet, and Ex/VLCD, respectively (p = .01). Improvements in nutritional parameters were seen in Ex/VLCD, but not in Ex/HE and Ex/Diet. The VLCD was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: VLCDs have potential in the treatment of obesity in older persons; of particular benefit is improvement in nutritional status. The gait speed improvement observed in men warrants further investigation.
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ItemReliability of an Online Geriatric Assessment Procedure Using the interRAI Acute Care Assessment System(WILEY, 2017-09)OBJECTIVES: To determine whether geriatric triage decisions made using a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) performed online are less reliable than face-to-face (FTF) decisions. DESIGN: Multisite noninferiority prospective cohort study. Two specialist geriatricians assessed individuals sequentially referred for an acute care geriatric consultation. Participants were allocated to one FTF assessment and an additional assessment (FTF or online (OL)), creating two groups-two FTF (FTF-FTF, n = 81) or online and FTF (OL-FTF, n = 85). SETTING: Three acute care public hospitals in two Australian states. PARTICIPANTS: Admitted individuals referred for CGA. INTERVENTION: Nurse-administered CGA, based on the interRAI Acute Care assessment system accessed online and other online clinical data such as pathology results and imaging enabling geriatricians to review participants' information and provide input into their care from a distance. MEASUREMENTS: The primary decision subjected to this analysis was referral for permanent residential care. Geriatricians also recorded recommendations for referrals and variations for medication management and judgment regarding prognosis at discharge and after 3 months. RESULTS: Overall percentage agreement was 88% (n = 71) for the FTF-FTF group and 91% (n = 77) for the OL-FTF group. The difference in agreement between the FTF-FTF and OL-FTF groups was -3%, indicating that there was no difference between the methods of assessment. Judgements made regarding diagnoses of geriatric syndromes, medication management, and prognosis (with regard to hospital outcome and location at 3 months) were found to be equally reliable in each mode of consultation. CONCLUSION: Geriatric assessment performed online using a nurse-administered structured CGA system was no less reliable than conventional assessment in making clinical triage decisions.
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ItemMedical student-led patient education prior to hospital discharge improves 1-month adherence rates(WILEY, 2017-03)Approximately 40% of patients are non-adherent to their medications. A prospective study of 80 patients evaluated the effectiveness of medical student-led pre-discharge medication education sessions. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the intervention group were adherent to their regular medications at 1 month compared with the control group (76.3% compared to 60.3%, P = 0.037). Medical student-led patient education significantly improved medication adherence rates.
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ItemObesity in older adults: Effect of degree of weight loss on cardiovascular markers and medications(WILEY, 2019-08)Obesity worsens the age-related tendency towards cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Older adults are vulnerable to medication adverse effects. Intentional weight loss in older adults with obesity has been shown to improve cardiovascular and glycaemic markers. The effect of rapid weight loss induced by very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) on these markers has not been evaluated in this group. In this 12-week study, participants were randomized to one of healthy eating, hypocaloric diet or VLCD, all combined with three times weekly exercise (Ex/HE, Ex/Diet, Ex/VLCD, respectively). The effects of these interventions on weight, blood pressure, lipids, glucose and HbA1c , inflammatory markers and cardiovascular and diabetes medication changes were measured. Weight loss was 3.7%, 5.1% and 11.1% in Ex/HE, Ex/Diet and Ex/VLCD, respectively. There were significant improvements in HbA1c in all groups, but by the greatest degree in Ex/VLCD (0.18 ± 0.07%, 0.18 ± 0.06% and 0.59 ± 0.13%, respectively). Similar patterns were seen in total cholesterol (0.13 ± 0.15, 0.21 ± 0.11 and 0.53 ± 0.13 mmol/L, respectively, P = .047), triglycerides (0.35 ± 0.13, 0.20 ± 0.10 and 0.51 ± 0.09 mmol/L, respectively, P = .011) and systolic blood pressure (9 ± 2, 2 ± 3 and 14 ± 3 mmHg respectively, P = .025). There were no between-group differences in fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, LDL-C and inflammatory markers. Reductions in anti-hypertensive or diabetes medication were made in 4/29, 7/36 and 16/37 participants in Ex/HE, Ex/Diet and Ex/VLCD, respectively (P = .017). Significant weight loss achieved with a VLCD gave rise to improvements in multiple cardiovascular risk markers, despite reduction in medication. Weight loss is an under-utilized method of cardiovascular risk management in this group.
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ItemHospital-Associated Complications of Older People: A Proposed Multicomponent Outcome for Acute Care(WILEY, 2019-02)OBJECTIVES: To propose a new multicomponent measure of hospital-associated complications of older people (HAC-OP) and evaluate its validity in a large hospital sample. DESIGN: Observational study using baseline (pre-intervention) data from the Collaboration for Hospitalised Elders Reducing the Impact of Stays in Hospital cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Acute medical and surgical wards in 4 hospitals in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older (mean age 76, 48% female) with a hospital stay of 72 hours or longer (N=434). MEASUREMENTS: We developed a multicomponent measure including 5 well-recognized hospital-associated complications of older people: hospital-associated delirium, functional decline, incontinence, falls, and pressure injuries. To evaluate construct validity, we examined associations with common risk factors (aged ≥75, functional impairment, cognitive impairment, history of falls). To evaluate predictive validity, we examined the association between length of stay, facility discharge, and 6-month mortality and any HAC-OP and total number of HAC-OP. RESULTS: Overall, 192 (44%) participants had 1 or more HAC-OP during their admission. Any HAC-OP was strongly associated with the proposed shared risk factors, and there was a strong and graded association between HAC-OP and length of stay (9.1±7.4 days for any HAC-OP vs 6.8 ±4.1 days with none, p < .001), facility discharge (59/192 (31%) vs 27/242 (11%), p < .001) and 6-month mortality (26/192 (14%) vs 17/242 (7%), p = .02). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of construct and predictive validity of the proposed measure of HAC-OP as a potential outcome measure for research investigating and improving hospital care of older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:352-356, 2019.
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ItemA frail future(WILEY, 2018-08)
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ItemDevelopment of a Frailty Index from Routine Hospital Data in Perioperative and Critical Care(WILEY, 2020-12)BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Frailty is common in surgical and intensive care unit (ICU) populations, yet it is not routinely measured. Frailty indices are able to quantify this condition across a range of health deficits. We aimed to develop a frailty index (FI) from routinely collected hospital data in a surgical and ICU population. DESIGN: Prospective observational single-center cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral metropolitan Australian hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 336 individuals aged 65 and older undergoing surgery or aged 50 and older admitted to the ICU. MEASUREMENTS: Routine admission health data were used to derive an FI comprising 36 health deficits. We examined the FI correlation with existing frailty tools (Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS] and Edmonton Frail Scale [EFS]) and assessed its predictive ability for negative outcomes including 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Median FI was .17 (interquartile range [IQR]) = .10-.24) for ICU patients and .17 (IQR = .11-.25) for surgical patients; maximum FI was .58, and 25% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 10.4-29.6) of patients overall were diagnosed with frailty (FI score ≥.25). Correlation was strong between the FI and the EFS: ρ = .76 (95% CI = .70-.83) for ICU patients and .71 (95% CI = .64-.78) for surgical patients, and the CFS was .77 (95% CI = .70-.84) for ICU patients and .72 (95% CI = .65-.79) for surgical patients. The FI had good discriminative ability for prediction of 30-day mortality in ICU patients (multivariate odds ratio for each increase in FI of .1 = 2.04 [95% CI = 1.19-3.48]), comparable with the performance of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score (ICU patients) and the Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity score (surgical patients). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to construct an FI from hospital admission data in a cohort of critically ill and surgical patients.
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ItemNo Preview AvailablePrevalence of malnutrition comparing the GLIM criteria, ESPEN definition and MST malnutrition risk in geriatric rehabilitation patients: RESORT(CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE, 2020-11)BACKGROUND & AIMS: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) has developed new criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition. This study aimed 1) to determine and compare malnutrition prevalence and risk using the GLIM criteria, European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) definition of malnutrition and the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) in patients admitted to subacute geriatric rehabilitation wards, 2) to explore the agreement of malnutrition prevalence determined by each definition, and 3) to determine the accuracy of the MST against the GLIM criteria and ESPEN definition as references. METHODS: Geriatric rehabilitation patients (n = 444) from the observational, longitudinal REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) cohort in Melbourne, Australia were included. The GLIM criteria, ESPEN definition and MST were applied. Accuracy was determined by the sensitivity, specificity and Area Under the Curve (AUC). RESULTS: According to the GLIM criteria, the overall prevalence of malnutrition was 52.0%. The ESPEN definition diagnosed 12.6% of patients as malnourished and the MST identified 44.4% of patients at risk for malnutrition. Agreement was low; 7% of patients were malnourished and at risk for malnutrition according to all three definitions. The accuracy of the MST compared to the GLIM criteria was fair (sensitivity 56.7%, specificity 69.0%) and sufficient (AUC 0.63); MST compared to the ESPEN definition was fair (sensitivity 60.7%, specificity 58.0%) and poor (AUC 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: According to the GLIM criteria, half of geriatric rehabilitation patients were malnourished, whereas the prevalence was much lower applying the ESPEN definition. This highlights the need for further studies to determine diagnostic accuracy of the GLIM criteria compared to pre-existing validated tools.
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ItemA study protocol for the development of a multivariable model predicting 6- and 12-month mortality for people with dementia living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia.(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020)BACKGROUND: For residential aged care facility (RACF) residents with dementia, lack of prognostic guidance presents a significant challenge for end of life care planning. In an attempt to address this issue, models have been developed to assess mortality risk for people with advanced dementia, predominantly using long-term care minimum data set (MDS) information from the USA. A limitation of these models is that the information contained within the MDS used for model development was not collected for the purpose of identifying prognostic factors. The models developed using MDS data have had relatively modest ability to discriminate mortality risk and are difficult to apply outside the MDS setting. This study will aim to develop a model to estimate 6- and 12-month mortality risk for people with dementia from prognostic indicators recorded during usual clinical care provided in RACFs in Australia. METHODS: A secondary analysis will be conducted for a cohort of people with dementia from RACFs participating in a cluster-randomized trial of a palliative care education intervention (IMPETUS-D). Ten prognostic indicator variables were identified based on a literature review of clinical features associated with increased mortality for people with dementia living in RACFs. Variables will be extracted from RACF files at baseline and mortality measured at 6 and 12 months after baseline data collection. A multivariable logistic regression model will be developed for 6- and 12-month mortality outcome measures using backwards elimination with a fractional polynomial approach for continuous variables. Internal validation will be undertaken using bootstrapping methods. Discrimination of the model for 6- and 12-month mortality will be presented as receiver operating curves with c statistics. Calibration curves will be presented comparing observed and predicted event rates for each decile of risk as well as flexible calibration curves derived using loess-based functions. DISCUSSION: The model developed in this study aims to improve clinical assessment of mortality risk for people with dementia living in RACFs in Australia. Further external validation in different populations will be required before the model could be developed into a tool to assist with clinical decision-making in the future.
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ItemRelationship between health-related quality of life, and acute care re-admissions and survival in older adults with chronic illness(BMC, 2013-08-06)BACKGROUND: Australia's ageing population means that there is increasing emphasis on developing innovative models of health care delivery for older adults. The assessment of the most appropriate mix of services and measurement of their impact on patient outcomes is challenging. The aim of this evaluation was to describe the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of older adults with complex needs and to explore the relationship between HRQoL, readmission to acute care and survival. METHODS: The study was conducted in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia; participants were recruited from a cohort of older adults enrolled in a multidisciplinary case management service. HRQoL was measured at enrolment into the case-management service using The Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) instrument. In 2007-2009, participating service clinicians approached their patients and asked for consent to study participation. Administrative databases were used to obtain data on comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index) at enrolment, and follow-up data on acute care readmissions over 12 months and five year mortality. HRQoL was compared to aged-matched norms using Welch's approximate t-tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore which patient factors were predictive of readmissions and mortality. RESULTS: There were 210 study participants, mean age 78 years, 67% were female. Participants reported significantly worse HRQoL than age-matched population norms with a mean AQOL of 0.30 (SD 0.27). Seventy-eight (38%) participants were readmitted over 12-months and 5-year mortality was 65 (31%). Multivariate regression found that an AQOL utility score <0.37 (OR 1.95, 95%CI, 1.03 - 3.70), and a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥6 (OR 4.89, 95%CI 2.37 - 10.09) were predictive of readmission. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age ≥80 years (OR 7.15, 95%CI, 1.83 - 28.02), and Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥6 (OR 6.00, 95%CI, 2.82 - 12.79) were predictive of death. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the AQoL instrument is a robust measure of HRQoL in older community-dwelling adults with chronic illness. Lower self-reported HRQoL was associated with an increased risk of readmission independently of comorbidity and kind of service provided, but was not an independent predictor of five-year mortality.