Better mattresses improve care, cut hospital costs: study
Hospitals could reduce health care costs arising from pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores, by investing in pressure-reduction mattresses for elderly patients in emergency departments, according...
View ArticleComplex choices in Medicare Advantage program may overwhelm seniors, study finds
In health care, more choice may not always lead to better choices, particularly for the elderly.
View ArticleDon't be afraid: very old patients treated with Vitamin K antagonists, if...
Results of the EPICA Study (Elderly Patients followed by Italian Centres for Anticoagulation Study), were presented at the ESC Congress 2011 today. This is the largest study on very old patients...
View ArticleHemodynamic results after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
Since 2007 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative treatment for elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. At...
View ArticleMedicare patients at risk of long-term institutionalization after hospital stay
Confirming many elderly patients' worst fears, a national study has shown that being hospitalized for an acute event, such as a stroke or hip fracture, can lead to long-term institutionalization in a...
View ArticleStudy identifies earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease
Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they...
View ArticleStudy finds no link between elderly patient activity and hospital falls
In 2008, as part of a larger initiative aimed at reducing preventable hospital errors and lowering costs, Medicare stopped reimbursing for the treatment of injuries related to in-hospital falls.
View ArticleResults of the STACCATO Trial reported at TCT 2011
Researchers leading a clinical trial said that transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (a-TAVI) may be inferior to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in operable elderly patients....
View ArticleUS baby boomers feed need for joint replacements
US baby boomers are fueling a wave of joint replacement surgeries, hoping to use new artificial knees and hips to stay active as they get older.
View ArticleDoctors should tell patients the realities of aging
Dr. Alexander K. Smith hopes to provoke a national discussion about being frank with the very elderly about their individual medical prognosis.
View Article99-year-old woman regains mobility following spinal procedures
(Medical Xpress) -- A 99-year-old woman has returned to her daily routine after doctors repaired three separate compression fractures in her spine three times in a month. Specialists at the University...
View ArticleHigh rates of disability and health care use for older Americans with cirrhosis
New research shows that older Americans with cirrhosis have significantly worse health status and greater functional disability compared to those without this potentially deadly disease. In fact,...
View ArticleKnee replacement may lower a patient's risk for mortality and heart failure
New research presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) highlights the benefits of total knee replacement (TKR) in elderly patients with osteoarthritis,...
View ArticleUndiagnosed neurological disorders may cause falls and hip fractures in the...
Hip fractures are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Cervical myelopathy is a common neurological condition that can diminish balance and coordination.
View ArticleRobotic surgery proves successful, less invasive way to treat HPV-related...
Over the past few decades, doctors have noted a surprising trend in cancer of the tonsils and base of the tongue. Though oral cancer previously appeared predominantly in elderly patients with a history...
View ArticlePoor health literacy increases risk of medication side-effects
The risk of serious side-effects associated with a common blood-thinning medication are related to elderly patients misunderstanding medical instructions, according to new research.
View ArticleVitamin D deficiency linked to higher mortality in female nursing home residents
The majority of institutionalized elderly female patients are vitamin D deficient and there is an inverse association of vitamin D deficiency and mortality, according to a recent study accepted for...
View ArticleWarming up before flu vaccine could boost effectiveness
You might have heard of warming up for a football match, but researchers from the University of Sydney are hoping that warming up for a flu vaccine could improve its effectiveness and reduce illness...
View ArticleCarotid artery stenting found to be safe in the elderly
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and a multicenter team of investigators have found that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is safe and effective in patients age 70 and...
View ArticleElderly thyroid surgery patients at increased risk for postoperative...
Elderly patients who undergo thyroid surgery are at a much higher risk than their younger counterparts for serious cardiac, pulmonary and infectious complications, according to a recent study accepted...
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