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Kyvetos A, Kyritsi E, Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Manoli AD, Papadopoulou E, Katsaros OF, Toutouzas K. Association Between Chronic Diseases and Frailty in a Sample of Older Greek Inpatients. Cureus 2024; 16:e58568. [PMID: 38765349 PMCID: PMC11102568 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous reports have associated frailty with the existence of various chronic diseases. Especially for cardiovascular diseases, this relationship seems to be bidirectional as common pathophysiological mechanisms lead to the progression of both diseases and frailty. The study aimed to examine the relationship between chronic diseases and frailty in a sample of older Greek inpatients Methodology: In 457 consecutively admitted older patients (226, 49.5% females), the median age was 82 years (interquartile range [IQR] 75-89), and demographic factors, medical history, cause of admission, and the degree of frailty assessed with the Clinical Frailty Scale were recorded. The level of frailty was calculated for the pre-hospital status of the patients. Parametric tests and logistic regression analysis were applied to identify diseases independently associated with frailty. RESULTS Using the scale, 277 patients (60.6%) were classified as frail and 180 as non-frail (39.4%). In univariate analysis, frail patients were more likely to have respiratory disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), atrial fibrillation (AFIB), neoplastic disease, depression, stroke, heart failure (HF), and coronary artery disease. In binomial regression analysis, the diseases that were statistically significantly associated with frailty were respiratory diseases (P = 0.009, odds ratio [OR] = 2.081, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.198-3.615), dementia (P ≤ 0.001, OR = 20.326, 95% CI 8.354-49.459), Parkinson's disease (P = 0.049, OR = 3.920, 95% CI 1.005-15.295), CKD (P = 0.018, OR = 2.542, 95% CI 1.172-5.512), AFIB (P = 0.017, OR = 1.863, 95% CI 1.118-3.103), HF (P = 0.002, OR = 2.411, 95% CI 1.389-4.185), and coronary artery disease (P = 0.004, OR = 2.434, 95% CI 1.324-4.475). CONCLUSIONS Among diseases independently associated with frailty, chronic diseases such as respiratory diseases, dementia, Parkinson's disease, CKD, and cardiovascular diseases (AFIB, HF, and coronary heart disease) have an important role. Recognizing the diseases that are highly related to frailty may contribute, by their optimal management, to delaying the progression or even reversing frailty in a large proportion of the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kyvetos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Eleni Kyritsi
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Anastasia D Manoli
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Pendelis General Children's Hospital, Athens, GRC
| | | | - Odysseas F Katsaros
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC
| | - Konstantinos Toutouzas
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC
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Vrettos I, Anagnostopoulos F, Voukelatou P, Kyvetos A, Theotoka D, Niakas D. Does Old Age Comprise Distinct Subphases? Evidence from an Analysis of the Relationship between Age and Activities of Daily Living, Comorbidities, and Geriatric Syndromes. Ann Geriatr Med Res 2024; 28:65-75. [PMID: 38229437 PMCID: PMC10982449 DOI: 10.4235/agmr.23.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older individuals are usually treated as a homogenous group despite evidence that old age consists of distinct subphases. This observational study including 493 older patients aimed to identify differences among age subgroups of older persons. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was then applied to identify the optimal age cutoff points to distinguish those age groups. METHODS Data were collected on the demographics of older patients, their medical and medication histories, dependence on activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests) and ROC curves were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The 65-79 and ≥80 years of age groups showed distinct frailty status, comorbidity, and dependency in ADLs. The median age to remain completely independent in IADLs was 76-79 years, while the median age for being free from geriatric syndromes was slightly higher (77-80 years) and reached 82 years for the absence of delirium, falls, and swallowing problems. In the ROC analysis, the optimal cutoff ages for the presence of frailty, cognitive impairment, and dependency in ADLs were 80-82 years. CONCLUSION The 65-79 and ≥80 years of age groups differed significantly in numerous parameters, underscoring the need to address these distinct age groups differently, both for applying medical therapies and interventions, as well as for conducting health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Despoina Theotoka
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dimitris Niakas
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Kyvetos A, Makrilakis K, Sfikakis PP, Raptis A, Niakas D. The role of frailty among the predictors of depression on informal caregivers of older adults: a mediation analysis. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:973-984. [PMID: 37704194 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Providing care for older adults has been associated with the presence of depressive symptoms among their informal caregivers. Numerous caregivers and older adults' characteristics have been mentioned as predictors of caregivers' depression. However, studies dealing with the impact of older adults' frailty status on caregivers' depression are scarce. This study was conducted to clarify the precise relationship between caregivers' depression, caregivers' burden, caregivers' characteristics and patients' characteristics, including frailty, among the variables that may have an impact on caregivers' depression. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, patients and caregivers' characteristics were recorded for 311 patient-caregiver dyads, when the patient was admitted to the hospital. For the purpose of the study, a mediation analysis was used with patients and caregiver characteristics considered to be predictors, subjective caregivers' burden as the mediator, and caregivers' depression as the outcome variable. RESULTS Only patients' frailty and caregivers' subjective burden had a direct effect on caregivers' depression. Moreover, caregivers' gender, patients' frailty status and comorbidity, duration of caregiving, and the relationship with the patient, had an indirect effect through caregivers' burden that acted as mediator. Regarding total effects, caregivers burden followed by patients' frailty status had the greater impact on caregivers' depression. CONCLUSIONS By organising interventions to reduce caregivers' depression, patients' frailty status could be among the targets of those interventions considering that frailty might be delayed or reversed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi', Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi', Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi', Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Makrilakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine-Rheumatology Unit, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Raptis
- 2nd Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Niakas
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kyvetos A, Voukelatou P, Vrettos I, Pantzios S, Elefsiniotis I. A Case Report on a Giant Hepatic Inflammatory Adenoma in a Young Female That Presented as Spontaneous Intrahepatic Hematoma. Cureus 2023; 15:e42055. [PMID: 37602100 PMCID: PMC10433037 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the extensive variety of disorders that can cause acute abdominal pain are hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs), pathological entities that otherwise are asymptomatic. Here, we describe a 33-year-old female who presented in the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and a history of liver focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) diagnosed 10 years ago. An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that the cause of the pain was an intrahepatic hematoma. The mass was surgically removed, and the biopsy revealed inflammatory adenomas, a subtype of HCA. Hepatic adenoma diagnosis remains challenging by clinical and imaging techniques, and usually, a biopsy is the main diagnostic tool. HCA should be differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), FNH, hepatic angioleiomyoma, and hepatic hemangioma. In our case, HCA was misdiagnosed in the past as FNH. HCA rarely may present as acute right abdomen pain, and a potential catastrophic hemorrhage or rupture must be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kyvetos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Spyridon Pantzios
- Academic Department of Internal Medicine-Hepatogastroenterology Unit, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Ioannis Elefsiniotis
- Academic Department of Internal Medicine-Hepatogastroenterology Unit, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
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Kollia D, Voukelatou P, Kyvetos A, Elissaiou P, Vrettos I. Neck Abscess Due to Pocket Shot: Is It Just the Tip of the Iceberg? Cureus 2023; 15:e41545. [PMID: 37554596 PMCID: PMC10404912 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A 45-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency department for pain and swelling on the left side of his neck for the past 10 days. His medical history revealed that he was an intravenous (IV) drug abuser. Physical examination demonstrated a 5×5 cm red, swollen bump with a positive fluctuation on the left supraclavicular area concerning for an abscess. Fluid aspiration from the abscess was performed, and three sets of blood cultures were obtained, which later all came back positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). His initial blood tests revealed elevated levels of platelets, leukocytes, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and anemia. The computed tomography (CT) scan showed an enlarged pectoralis major with the presence of air. The retrosternal, infraclavicular, and supraclavicular regions also contained air. The clinical diagnosis was therefore supported by the laboratory results and imaging. Additionally, transthoracic echocardiography showed no vegetations, and transesophageal echocardiography was scheduled. Antibacterial treatment was initiated empirically from the emergency room with meropenem and vancomycin, planned for four weeks. Repeat cultures were obtained for the following three days, which were all negative. However, the patient left the hospital against medical advice and did not complete his antibiotic treatment. The risk of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line being misused for illegal narcotics was considered too high; hence, it was not recommended for continued IV antibiotic therapy at home. Those with a history of intravenous drug use, after using the most accessible injection sites, oftentimes resort to finding alternative and potentially more dangerous injection sites. The major veins of the neck, such as the jugular, subclavian, or brachiocephalic veins, are commonly used. This technique is referred to as a "pocket shot" by intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). Apart from the apparent abscess, clinicians should oversee for other complications including underlying pus collections, pneumothorax, mediastinitis, osteomyelitis, and hemothorax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Kollia
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Pantelitsa Elissaiou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
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Voukelatou P, Kyvetos A, Kollia D, Ellisaiou P, Vrettos I. Translation of the Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale Into the Greek Language and Examination of Its Validity and Reliability. Cureus 2023; 15:e41553. [PMID: 37554610 PMCID: PMC10405557 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For the evaluation of frailty, a great variety of research tools are used internationally; however, only two have been translated and validated in Greek. The aim of the study was to translate the Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale (PFFS) into the Greek language and examine its validity and reliability. METHODS Initially, the PFFS scale was translated into the Greek language through a six-step process. Subsequently, in a sample of 157 elderly patients (47.1% women), construct validity was examined with the known-groups method using the one-way ANOVA test and criterion concurrent validity by comparison with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Finally, inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability were checked using the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS A comparison of known groups showed that older patients with greater dependence on activities of daily living, greater impairment of cognitive function, reduced mobility, balance, and swallowing disorders, as well as those who were socially withdrawn, scored higher on the PFFS scale, supporting the construct validity. The positive correlation between PFFS and CFS (r = 0.625, p ≤ 0.001) demonstrated the concurrent criterion validity of the PFFS scale. Intraclass correlation was excellent for both inter-rater reliability (0.951 (95% CI: 0.934-0.964)) and test-retest reliability (0.948 (95% CI: 0.930-0.962)). CONCLUSION The translated PFFS scale in Greek is a valid and reliable tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Dafni Kollia
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Pantelitsa Ellisaiou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, GRC
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Vrettos I, Anagnostopoulos F, Voukelatou P, Panayiotou S, Kyvetos A, Nikas A, Kollia D, Niakas D. Factors associated with health-related quality of life of informal caregivers of older patients and the mediating role of subjective caregivers' burden. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:286-297. [PMID: 36597270 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caregiving has been associated with increased subjective burden and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for caregivers. The aim of the study was to clarify the precise relationship between caregivers' burden, caregivers' HRQOL, and other risk factors, considering that subjective burden was a risk factor for poor HRQOL, which may also mediate the effects of some known risk factors. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, patients' and their informal caregivers' characteristics were recorded for 311 patient-caregiver dyads. Subjective caregiver burden and caregivers' HRQOL were assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), respectively. Mediation analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. Caregivers' mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores were regarded as outcome variables, caregivers' subjective burden was considered the mediator, and patients' and caregivers' characteristics were treated as predictors. RESULTS Caregivers' subjective burden was negatively related to both PCS and MCS of caregivers' HRQOL, after controlling for the effects of demographic and clinical variables. Moreover, significant associations, mostly indirect via caregivers' subjective burden, existed between caregivers' socio-demographic characteristics, duration of caregiving, patients' frailty status, patients' co-morbidity, and caregivers' HRQOL. CONCLUSION Caregivers' subjective burden plays a major and mediating role on influencing caregivers' HRQOL. Our findings may direct future research and promote the implementation of interventions to reduce caregivers' burden and improve caregivers' HRQOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Fotios Anagnostopoulos
- Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Stefani Panayiotou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Nikas
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Dafni Kollia
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Niakas
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Panayiotou S, Kyvetos A, Nikas A, Makrilakis K, Sfikakis PP, Niakas D. Factors Affecting Caregivers' Burden in a Sample of Greek Family Caregivers Caring for Older Adults. J Gerontol Soc Work 2022:1-14. [PMID: 36256953 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2022.2135658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Caregivers' burden may vary across different countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with caregivers' burden in a sample of Greek patient-caregiver dyads, including patients' frailty status among the evaluated variables. In 204 patient-caregiver dyads, patients' and caregivers' characteristics were recorded. Caregiver burden was evaluated by using the Zarit Burden Interview, and patients' frailty status by using Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Parametric and non-parametric tests and logistic regression analysis were applied to identify the factors that had a significant association with caregivers' burden. Increasing CFS score (p = .001, OR = 1.467, 95%CI 1.178-1.826) and longer duration of caregiving (p = .003, OR = 1.017, 95%CI 1.006-1.028) were associated with an increased likelihood of caregivers' burden. Patients' frailty status is probably a modifiable factor among them that has an impact on caregivers' burden. Strategies and interventions in order to prevent, delay or reverse frailty may have a positive impact on reducing this burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Stefani Panayiotou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Nikas
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Makrilakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P Sfikakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Niakas
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Anagnostopoulos F, Voukelatou P, Panayiotou S, Kyvetos A, Tsigkri A, Boulmetis G, Niakas D. The Indirect Effect of the Frailty of Dependent Elderly People Needing Hospitalization on Their Informal Caregivers' Anxiety. Cureus 2022; 14:e25144. [PMID: 35747056 PMCID: PMC9206522 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Kyvetos A, Panayiotou S, Voukelatou P, Vrettos I, Boulmetis G. The Case Report of a 97 Years Old Patient With Chronic Anemia and Hemoglobin Value of 1.7 g/dl and Review of the Literature. Cureus 2022; 14:e24330. [PMID: 35607581 PMCID: PMC9123386 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although hemoglobin levels beneath 6.5 g/dl are considered to be life-threatening and the patients theoretically suffer from a cluster of symptoms, few cases of patients who seek medical assistance when their hemoglobin levels had fallen beneath 3 g/dl have been reported in the literature. Here, we describe the case of a 97-year-old patient who was transferred to the emergency department with dyspnea and the initial screening tests showed a hemoglobin level of 1.7 g/dl, due to iron deficiency. The patient was hemodynamically stable, and no ischemic lesions were seen on the electrocardiogram. His dyspnea was due to a lower respiratory tract infection and bilateral pleural effusion. He was bedridden for two years. His absence of physical activity in combination with the slow onset of anemia and the absence of severe underlying pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases could hide the symptoms until additional stressful events, such as the respiratory tract infection and the deterioration of heart function, occurred. So, we must keep in mind that in elderly patients with reduced physical activity and without severe pulmonary and cardiovascular comorbidities, the symptoms of severe anemia may go unnoticed until hemoglobin reaches life-threatening levels.
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Kyvetos A, Panayiotou S, Voukelatou P, Papavasileiou G, Vrettos I. A Case of an Inflamed Pericardial Cyst As the Cause of Acute Onset Chest Pain in a Young Patient and Review of the Literature. Cureus 2022; 14:e23961. [PMID: 35547408 PMCID: PMC9085654 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.23961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the extensive variety of disorders that can cause chest pain are the complicated pericardial cysts, pathological entities that otherwise are asymptomatic. Here, we describe a 34-year-old male patient with a symptomatic pericardial cyst presenting at the emergency department with acute chest pain that woke him up about six hours prior to presentation. The work up for his acute chest pain revealed a well-defined, fluid-filled, rounded mass next to the pericardium on the right cardiophrenic angle and increased acute phase reactants. The cyst was surgically removed and the biopsy showed signs of intense inflammatory infiltration with negative culture of the fluid. The patient received intravenous antibiotics for two weeks with complete resolution of the symptoms and remained asymptomatic for about two months after surgical excision. Among other symptoms that may be induced from the presence of a pericardial cyst, the acute onset of chest pain, in this otherwise benign condition, probably indicates the existence of a complication such as rupture, inflammation, or hemorrhage. Careful exclusion of other etiologies of chest pain is mandatory as the surgical excision of a complicated pericardial cyst remains the only therapeutic option.
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Panayiotou S, Kyvetos A, Tsigkri A, Makrilakis K, Sfikakis PP, Niakas D. Factors Associated With Mortality in Elderly Hospitalized Patients at Admission. Cureus 2022; 14:e22709. [PMID: 35386138 PMCID: PMC8967403 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.22709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several factors have been associated with mortality prediction among older inpatients. The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with mortality in hospitalized elderly patients. Methods A total of 353 consecutively admitted elderly patients (47.9% women), with a median age of 83 years (interquartile range 75.00-88.00), were enrolled in the study and patient characteristics were recorded. Comorbidities were assessed using Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), activities of daily living by Barthel Index (BI), frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), cognition by Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and symptom severity at admission by quick Sequential Organ Function Assessment (qSOFA) score. CFS, GDS and BI were estimated for the premorbid patients’ status. Parametric and non-parametric tests and binary logistic regression analysis were applied to identify the factors associated with mortality. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse the prognostic value of CFS and qSOFA. Results In total, 55 patients (15.6%) died during hospitalization. In regression analysis, the factors associated with mortality were the qSOFA score at admission (p=0.001, odds ratio [OR]=1.895, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.282-2.802) and the premorbid CFS score (p=0.001, OR=1.549, 95% CI 1.1204-1.994). The classifiers both have almost similar area under the curve (AUC) scores, with CFS performing slightly better. More specifically, both CFS (AUC 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.85, p=0.001) and qSOFA (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.67-0.83, p<0.001) showed almost the same accuracy for predicting inpatients’ mortality. Conclusion This study strengthens the perception of premorbid frailty and disease severity at admission as factors closely related to mortality in hospitalized elderly patients. Simple measures such as CFS and qSOFA score may help identify, in the emergency department, elderly patients at risk, in order to provide timely interventions.
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Pappa E, Beletsioti C, Niakas D. Gender Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of Overweight and Obese Adults in a Representative Sample of Greek Urban Population. Iran J Public Health 2021; 50:2038-2045. [PMID: 35223571 PMCID: PMC8819223 DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v50i10.7504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main objective was to investigate the relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) and Body Mass Index (BMI) status according to gender in a representative sample of Greek urban population. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 1060 participants (mean age 47.10 yr, 95%CI 46.09-48.07, 52.7% females) in a stratified sample of representative urban population during 1-20 Apr 2016 in Athens, Greece. Socio-demographic characteristics and medical history were involved. BMI (kg/m2) was calculated, based on reported height and weight. HRQL was assessed by using the Greek version of SF36. Parametric tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to identify whether socio-demographic characteristics differed across BMI groups. Mann-Whitney test was used to detect significant differences in SF36 scales between men and women across different BMI and age groups. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the influence of sociodemographic variables on HRQL. RESULTS The effect of being overweight or obese differs by age and gender and that this negative impact in HRQL was greater in women than in men. More vulnerable were overweight young and obese middle-aged woman both in terms of physical and mental health. On the other hand, HRQL of normal weight men and women did not differ in almost all age groups. CONCLUSION Gender differences on HRQL observed in the general population were mediated by the different way that the two genders affected by increases in body weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Evelina Pappa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece
| | | | - Dimitris Niakas
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Panayiotou S, Kyvetos A, Kalliakmanis A, Makrilakis K, Sfikakis PP, Niakas D. Validation of the revised 9-scale clinical frailty scale (CFS) in Greek language. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:393. [PMID: 34187373 PMCID: PMC8243421 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02318-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among many screening tools that have been developed to detect frailty in older adults, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a valid, reliable and easy-to-use tool that has been translated in several languages. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable version of the CFS to the Greek language. METHODS A Greek version was obtained by translation (English to Greek) and back translation (Greek to English). The "known-group" construct validity of the CFS was determined by using test for trends. Criterion concurrent validity was assessed by evaluating the extent that CFS relates to Barthel Index, using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Both inter-rater and test-retest reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS Known groups comparison supports the construct validity of the CFS. The strong negative correlation between CFS and Barthel Index (rs = - 0,725, p ≤ 0.001), supports the criterion concurrent validity of the instrument. The intraclass correlation was good for both inter-rater (0.87, 95%CI: 0.82-0.90) and test-retest reliability (0.89: 95%CI: 0.85-0.92). CONCLUSION The Greek version of the CFS is a valid and reliable instrument for the identification of frailty in the Greek population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Noufaron and 14 Timiou Stavrou street, Athens, Greece
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias street, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Noufaron and 14 Timiou Stavrou street, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefani Panayiotou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Noufaron and 14 Timiou Stavrou street, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kyvetos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Noufaron and 14 Timiou Stavrou street, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kalliakmanis
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “Agioi Anargyroi”, Noufaron and 14 Timiou Stavrou street, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Makrilakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma street, Athens, Greece
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias street, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P. Sfikakis
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias street, Athens, Greece
- 1st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine-Rheumatology Unit, Laikon General Hospital, 17 Agiou Thoma street, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Niakas
- Department of Health Economics, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias street, Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Pappa E, Beletsioti C, Papadopoulos A, Niakas D. Increased Body Mass Index and Hypertension: An Unbreakable Bond. Int J Prev Med 2020; 11:155. [PMID: 33209225 PMCID: PMC7643575 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_218_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adherence with lifestyle recommendations is low among hypertensive patients. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension among the Greek urban population and to examine how lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics differ between already known hypertensive and the rest of the population. METHODS In this cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 1,060 participants (mean age 47.1 ± 16.9 (mean ± 1standard deviation), 52.7% females). Sociodemographic characteristics, health risk factors, and medical history were involved. Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) was calculated, according to reported height and weight. Parametric tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to identify whether socio-demographic characteristics and health risk factors differed between known hypertensive and the rest of the population. RESULTS Already known hypertensives were 179 (101 females-78 males). The prevalence of known hypertension was 16.9% (18.1% in females and 15.6% in males). In multivariate analysis, known hypertensives were more likely to have advanced age (P < 0,001, OR = 1.101, 95%CI 1.081-1.121) and increased BMI (P < 0,001, OR = 1.138, 95%CI 1.085-1.194). Moreover, they had a higher probability of suffering from other cardiovascular diseases or sharing other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS Among Greek urban population, almost one to six adults knows to suffer from hypertension. In spite the recommendations, patients who were aware of their illness have increased BMI compared with the rest of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Vrettos
- Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “AgioiAnargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia “AgioiAnargyroi”, Athens, Greece
| | - Evelina Pappa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece
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Papageorgiou S, Katsikas T, Voukelatou P, Vrettos I, Papanikolaou A, Bouchla A, Pappa V, Kalliakmanis A. Multiple osteolytic lesions due to Double-Expressor Primary non-Hodgkin Lymphoma of the Bone. Autops Case Rep 2020; 10:e2020141. [PMID: 33344270 PMCID: PMC7703350 DOI: 10.4322/acr.2020.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the bone (PLB) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that affects the skeletal system with or without regional lymph node involvement. We present the case of a 74-year-old female patient with pain due to multifocal osteolytic lesions. The diagnosis of diffuse large B-cells (non-GCB) phenotype was made by clinical, laboratory, histopathological examination accompanied by an extensive immunohistochemical profile of one of the skeletal lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios Papageorgiou
- University General Hospital "Attikon", Second Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic and Research Unit. Haidari, Greece
| | - Theodoros Katsikas
- General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Second Department of Internal Medicine. Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Voukelatou
- General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Second Department of Internal Medicine. Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Second Department of Internal Medicine. Athens, Greece
| | | | - Anthi Bouchla
- University General Hospital "Attikon", Second Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic and Research Unit. Haidari, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Pappa
- University General Hospital "Attikon", Second Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic and Research Unit. Haidari, Greece
| | - Andreas Kalliakmanis
- General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi", Second Department of Internal Medicine. Athens, Greece
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Voukelatou P, Vrettos I, Kalliakmanis A. Neurologic symptoms as the only manifestation of B 12 deficiency in a young patient with normal hematocrit, MCV, peripheral blood smear and homocysteine levels. Oxf Med Case Reports 2016; 2016:omw091. [PMID: 28031855 PMCID: PMC5184828 DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omw091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
B12 deficiency is associated with several neurological manifestations. It is well documented that neurologic symptoms due to B12 deficiency may sometimes present in the absence of anemia. However, in most cases there are several indicating factors like megaloblastic changes in complete blood count, hypersegmentated neutrophils or macroovalocytes in peripheral blood smear and abnormal homocysteine levels. In this report, we describe a case of a 32-year-old man with neurological symptomatology as the only manifestation of B12 deficiency with normal hematocrit, mean cell volume, peripheral blood smear and homocysteine levels. All the above emphasize the point that patients with neurologic symptoms must be screened for B12 deficiency even in the absence of any laboratory evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Voukelatou
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi' , Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Vrettos
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi' , Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Kalliakmanis
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, General and Oncology Hospital of Kifissia 'Agioi Anargyroi' , Athens, Greece
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Vrettos I, Voukelatou P, Fokas S, Bitsikokou A, Didaskalou A, Kalliakmanis A. Meningitis as a Hidden Cause of Neurological Deterioration in Patients With Known Brain Metastases: A Report of Two Cases. J Med Cases 2016. [DOI: 10.14740/jmc2631w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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