Impact of anticoagulants in elderly patients who suffer a hip fracture. Should we have a different approach?

Introduction:

Hip fracture in the elderly is a frequent problem. Chronic treatment with anticoagulants is common in these patients and may delay surgery.

Objectives:

To compare time to surgery, hospital stay, in-hospital and 90 days complications between anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated groups.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort of >64 years-old patients with acute hip fracture. Period June-2014 to December 2019. We estimated crude and adjusted Odds Ratio (95%CI) for in-hospital complications with logistic regression model. We report the crude and adjusted Hazard Ratio for readmission and 90-days mortality with Cox proportional hazards model.

Results:

Of the 1058 patients, 123 (11%) were anticoagulated. Time to surgery was 26.4 hours (IIQ 13.9-48) in anticoagulated and 24 hours (IIQ 2.3-48) in non-anticoagulated, p 0.001. Hospital stay was 7 days (IIQ 5-9) in anticoagulated and 6 days (IIQ 5-10.5) in non-anticoagulated, p 0,000. In-hospital complications were 17 (14%) in anticoagulated and 81 (9%) in non-anticoagulated, p 0.064. The adjusted OR was 1.53 (95%CI 0.8-2.7) p 0.138. For 90-days readmission, the crude HR was 1.51 (95%CI 0.99-2.29) p 0.053 and the adjusted HR was 1.31 (95%CI 0.85-2.00) p0,09. For 90-days mortality, the crude HR was 0.80 (95%CI 0.45-1.43) p 0.464 and the adjusted HR was 0.70 (95% CI 0.39-1.25) p 0.239.

Discussion:

While we found differences between groups in time to surgery and hospital statistics these differences may not be clinically relevant. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Survival and functionality in the elderly over 85 years of age with hip fracture

BACKGROUND

There is a tendency for the aging population to fracture their hips. Our aim was to compare survival and functionality at one year, among elderly and very elderly patients with hip fracture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective cohort of patients included in the Institutional Registry of Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture between 2014 and 2017. We classified patients as elderly patients (EP) <65 and <85 years and very elderly patients (VEP) ≥85 years.

RESULTS

We included 952 patients, 43% were EP and 57% were VEP. The proportion of women was 84% and 86% (P=.33) and with 2 or more points in the Charlson comorbidities index (28 and 31%, P= .36), respectively. The VEP were more dependent according to the Barthel score (34% and 62%, P<.01) and frailer according to the Edmonton score (30% and 61%, P<.01). One-year survival was 91% (95% CI 86-93) in the EP and 76% (95% CI 70-89) in the VEP. In-hospital complications were more frequent in the VEP 12% (7% in the EP, P<.01). Age is an independent risk factor for one-year survival (HR 2.11; 95% CI 1.36-3.29, P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Age is a risk factor for the VEP group survival despite fragility and comorbidities. Because of their vulnerability, an appropriate care plan should be considered for VEP.

Central nervous system manganese induced lesions and clinical consequences in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

Around 47-74% of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have hepatic vascular malformations (HVMs); magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the central nervous system (CNS) might show in T1 sequences a hyper-intensity signal in different areas, mainly in the basal ganglia (BG) as consequence of manganese (Mn) deposits as observed in cirrhotic patients. These patients might suffer from different neuropsychiatric disorders (hepatic encephalopathy). In HHT patients, even in the presence of hepatic shunts, hepatocellular function is usually preserved. Additionally, Mn shares iron absorption mechanisms, transferrin and CNS transferrin receptors. In iron deficiency conditions, the Mn may harbor transferrin and access BG. The objectives were to describe frequency of BG Mn deposit-induced lesions (BGMnIL) in HHT patients, its relationship with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and HVMs. Finally, explore the association between neuropsychological and motor consequences. We performed a cross-sectional study. We determined HHT patients with or without BG-MnIL by the MRI screening of the CNS. We included all patients with lesions and a random sample of those without lesions. All patients underwent standardized and validated neuropsychological assessment to evaluate BG actions. Results were analyzed with multiple logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Among 307 participants from a cohort included in the Institutional HHT Registry, 179 patients had MRI performed and Curaçao Criteria ≥3. The prevalence of BG-MnIL was 34.6% (95%CI 27.69-42.09). While neuropsychological symptoms were present in all patients, BG-MnIL patients performed poorly in three of the neuropsychological tests (serial dotting, line tracing time, number connection test A). HVMs frequency in BG-MnIL was 95.1%, versus 71.4% in those without lesions (p < 0.001). IDA frequency was 90.3% versus 54% (p < 0.001). When IDA is present, estimated risk for BG-MnIL is remarkably high (OR 7.73, 95%CI 2.23-26.73). After adjustment for possible confounders (gender, age, presence of HVMs), IDA was still associated with increased risk of BG-MnIL (adjusted OR 6.32, 95% CI 2.32-17.20; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians should assess BG-MnIL in HHT patients in CNS-MRI. IDA and HVMs present increased risk of lesions. Patients with BG-MnIL have neuropsychological impairment, and they might benefit from sparing IDA, or undergoing future therapeutic options.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01761981 . Registered January 3^rd 2013.