Exploring Suspected Diagnoses in Elderly Patients: A Case Study of Potential Necrotizing Otitis Externa

Necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) is a rare invasive infection affecting the EAC and the base of the skull. This condition is more prevalent in the elderly, diabetics, and immunocompromised individuals, often attributed to the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this case report, we present the clinical scenario of a 90-year-old woman with a history of diabetes and epilepsy. Initially admitted with acute pyelonephritis, fever, and prostration, she subsequently developed left facial paralysis during treatment. Cranial computed tomography (CT) revealed inflammation in the middle ear and bone erosion of the facial nerve canal. The examination by the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) describes that NOE would be the most likely diagnosis. Given the patient's comorbidities and the severity of the disease, the treatment was initiated empirically and later adjusted based on the culture and sensitivity results with ceftazidime. NOE is a critical condition requiring early diagnosis and interdisciplinary collaboration due to the associated risk of complications. Adequate glycemic control is imperative, and the judicious use of antibiotics is crucial in light of escalating resistance.

Geriatric Assessment of Older Adults With Cancer During Acute Hospitalizations: Challenges and Opportunities

Introduction Geriatrics is a discipline that covers all adult healthcare, and oncology is no exception. The global geriatric assessment process plays a crucial role, impacting research, funding, resource allocation, as well as therapeutic decision-making. Thus, greater knowledge of the epidemiology of the frailty and functionality of elderly patients with cancer will allow for the development of a global care strategy. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of geriatric conditions in elderly cancer patients admitted to a medical geriatric unit following unplanned hospitalisation. Methods A retrospective, single-centre cohort study was conducted of patients aged ≥ 75 with an active oncological disease who were admitted to a geriatric medicine unit over a two-year period. Results A total of 65 patients were included. The median age was 85 (IQR 81-88), and 86% were aged ≥ 80. A moderate-to-high functional dependence was found: 67.7% on ≥ 3 basic activities of daily living (Katz ≥ D), with the majority classified as severely dependent based on the Barthel Index (mean 49.0 ± 33.7). Frailty was found in 90.7%. A high prevalence of geriatric syndromes was observed: malnutrition (84.6%), polypharmacy (64.6%), urinary incontinence (58.5%) and pressure ulcers (33.8%). The mortality rate was 36.9% during hospitalisation and 13.8%, 30 days post-discharge. Conclusions The study revealed a high prevalence of geriatric conditions, emphasising the importance of comprehensive assessment in managing elderly patients at different stages of the disease. This multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach optimises patient care throughout admission, hospitalisation and discharge.

Implementation of Orthogeriatrics in Portugal

INTRODUCTION

Orthogeriatrics is the subspecialty of geriatrics that is dedicated to the care of elderly patients with fragility fractures. The Orthogeriatrics Unit of the Vila Nova de Gaia Hospital Centre was the first unit created in Portugal in October 2015, in a co-management model.

METHODS

Patients older than 65 years and with femur fractures were admitted to the unit after surgery. The department was run by internists with differentiation in geriatrics, and multidisciplinary support from orthopaedics, physiatrists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and social workers, as well as rehabilitation nursing. A comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment was performed upon admission, including comprehensive geriatric assessment as well as postoperative monitoring of complications, investigation of fall mechanisms, functional rehabilitation, and outpatient orientation. Analysed variables included demographics, comorbidities, prior level of functionality, delay of orthopaedic surgery, complications, time of hospitalization, functional prognosis, and destination after discharge. Follow-up was maintained to assess short- and medium-term mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used for the statistical analysis of mortality.

RESULTS

In four years of activity with 444 admissions, the typical patients were women (80.7%), with an average age of 84 years, coming from home (92%) after an accidental fall resulting in a proximal femur fracture. About half (54%) were previously autonomous, but with a high index of comorbidities (mean Charlson Index of 4.85), the most relevant of which were arterial hypertension (71%), malnutrition (46%), heart failure (35%), hyperlipidaemia (34%), osteoporosis (32%), and dementia (16%). During hospitalization, most patients had medical complications (86.3%), the most frequent ones being anaemia (45%), infections (35%), namely, urinary, respiratory, and surgical wound infections, acute heart failure (15%), and acute kidney injury (11%). Prevalent geriatric syndromes were also identified and corrected through protocols for delirium, urinary incontinence, pressure ulcers, and constipation. The mean length of stay was 12.49 days. At discharge, 75% presented a modified Rankin Scale score lower than 3 and 73% of patients were able to return home, with a low referral rate to long-term care facilities (5.9%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.65%. It was possible to maintain follow-up protocol after discharge in 343 patients, and the mortality at 12 months was 19.23% and at three years, it was 25.52%, with a risk of death almost doubled for patients discharged with a high degree of dependence (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3; OR: 2.19; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated reduced in-hospital mortality despite an elderly, frail population, with multiple previous comorbidities and a high number of inpatient intercurrences evidencing the importance of a good in-hospital co-management between internal medicine and orthopaedics, demonstrating the benefit of orthogeriatric units in patients with fragility fractures of the femur.

MO647RENOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SGLT2 INHIBITORS AFTER FIVE YEARS OF TREATMENT: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background and Aims

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, the most recent glucose lowering oral agents, prevent glucose and sodium reabsorption at proximal tubules. These drugs have the potential of nephroprotection by their glucose lowering effects, but also through direct renal effects, such as reducing intraglomerular pressure and suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors. Several randomized control trials have demonstrated these effects with slowing chronic kidney disease progression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on estimated glomerular filtration rate throughout five years of treatment.

Method

This was a retrospective observational and longitudinal study that included patients diagnosed with DM2 and treated with an iSGLT2 in a Diabetic Clinic. Demographic and clinical variables were collected, including HbA1c, disease duration and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). Patient glucose-control therapy as well as RAAS inhibitor drugs were gathered. The estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) by the formula CKD-EPI and albuminuria, using the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, were evaluated at the iSGLT2 introduction date and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months of treatment. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables as means or medians for variables with skewed distributions. All reported p values are two-tailed, with a p value of 0.05 indicating statistical significance. A paired Student’s t-test or paired-sample test were performed for continuous variables and a chi-squared test was performed for categorical variables.

Results

A total of 205 patients, 54,6 % male, mean age 65,4 years, median baseline HbA1c 8,4% and median duration of DM2 14 years were studied. Of all patients, 94,1% had at least 1 CVRF, 71,2% hypertensive, 83,4% dyslipidemia, 48,8% obese, and 25,4% had past/current smoking habits. Regarding glucose-control therapy 17,1% were treated with one drug class and the remaining patients were treated with 2 or more classes. Among the patients 82,0% of them were taking metformin and 51,2% were on insulin therapy. Also, 56,6 % were on a RAAS inhibitor. Overall, 129 (62,9 %) patients received dapaglifozin therapy (5 or 10mg) and 76 (37,1%) empaglifozin (10 or 25mg). Regarding albuminuria at baseline, 37 patients had normal albuminuria (&lt;30mg/g), 18 patients had moderate albuminuria (30-300mg/g) and 6 patients had severe albuminuria (&gt;300mg/g). As for eGFR, 15,6 % patients had an eGFR between 30 and 60 and 84,4% patients had an eGFR greater than 60 ml/min/1,73m2. These clinical features were similar between the patients that received either SGLT2 inhibitor, with the exception of obesity being more prevalent in the dapaglifozin group (55,8 % vs 36,8%, p=0,009). Assessing the eGFR during the 5 years of treatment, a significant decrease was noticed in the first 6 months from an 82,3 to 78,6 ml/min/1,73m2 (p=0,002), followed by a significant increase in the second semester to 82,9 ml/min/1,73m2 (p&lt;0,001). Thereafter there is a slight increase in eGFR throughout the years, to a maximum of 84,1 ml/min/1,73m2 at 24 months and after a slow reduction to 80,6ml/min/1,73m2 in the end of the 5 years of SGLT2 inhibitor use.

Conclusion

This observational study shows that after an initial reduction in eGFR during the first 6 months of treatment, the use of iSGLT2 after five years slowed the decrease in eGFR, similar to what randomized control trials have demonstrated, promoting a renoprotective effect on type 2 diabetic patients.

Chylous Ascites due to Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Chylous ascites is rare and results in accumulation of lymph in the abdominal cavity, due to several mechanisms. The ascitic liquid is milky because of the high concentration of triglycerides (>200 mg/dl). The higher incidence compared to the past is explained by increased survival of patients with cancer and more aggressive surgery. We describe the case of an 87-year-old man admitted to the geriatric ward due to general oedema, chylous ascites and loss of weight, explained by mantle cell lymphoma.

The Quadruple Helix-Based Innovation Model of Reference Sites for Active and Healthy Ageing in Europe: The Ageing@Coimbra Case Study

Challenges posed by demographic changes and population aging are key priorities for the Horizon 2020 Program of the European Commission. Aligned with the vision of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), the development, exchange, and large-scale adoption of innovative good practices is a key element of the responses required to ensure all European citizens remain as active and healthy as possible as they age. Urged by the need of developing scalable disruptive innovation across Europe, the European Commission and the EIP on AHA created the Reference Sites; local coalition of partners that develop good practices to support AHA. Ageing@Coimbra is an example of how this can be achieved at a regional level. The consortium comprises over 70 institutions that develop innovative practices to support AHA in Portugal. Ageing@Coimbra partners support a regional network of stakeholders that build a holistic ecosystem in health and social care, taking into consideration the specificities of the territories, living environments and cultural resources (2,243,934 inhabitants, 530,423 aged 65 or plus live in the Centre Region of Portugal). Good practices in reducing the burden of brain diseases that affect cognition and memory impairment in older people and tackling social isolation in urban and rural areas are among the top priorities of Ageing@Coimbra. Profiting from the collaborative work of academia, business companies, civil society, and authorities, the quadruple helix of Ageing@Coimbra supports: early diagnosis of frailty and disease; care and cure; and active, assisted, and independent living. This paper describes, as a Community Case Study, the creation of a Reference Site of the EIP on AHA, Ageing@Coimbra, and its impact in Portugal. This Reference Site can motivate other regions to develop innovative formulas to federate stakeholders and networks, building consortia at regional level. This growing movement, across Europe, is inspired by the quadruple helix concept and by the replication of innovative good practices; creating new Reference Sites for the benefit of Citizens.

Looking for the Perfect Mentor

INTRODUCTION

The authors established the profile of the Internal Medicine clinical teachers in Portugal aiming to define a future interventional strategy plan as adequate as possible to the target group and to the problems identified by the residents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Observational, transversal, analytic study. An online anonymous questionnaire was defined, evaluating the demographic characteristics of the clinical teachers, their path in Internal Medicine and their involvement in the residents learning process.

RESULTS

We collected 213 valid questionnaires, making for an estimated response rate of 28.4%. Median global satisfaction with the clinical teacher was 4.52 (± 1.33 points) and the classification of the relationship between resident and clinical teacher was 4.86 ± 1.04 points. The perfect clinical teacher is defined by high standards of dedication and responsibility (4.9 ± 1.37 points), practical (4.8 ± 1.12 points) and theoretical skills (4.8 ± 1.07 points). The multiple linear regression model allowed to determine predictors of the residentâs satisfaction with their clinical teacher, justifying 82,5% of the variation of satisfaction with the clinical teacher (R2 = 0.83; R2 a = 0.82).

DISCUSSION

Postgraduate medical education consists of an interaction between several areas of knowledge and intervening variables in the learning process having the clinical teacher in the central role. Overall, the pedagogical abilities were the most valued by the Internal Medicine residents regarding their clinical teacher, as determinants of a quality residentship.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the critical relevance of the clinical teacher in the satisfaction of residents with their residentship. The established multiple linear regression model highlights the impact of the clinical and pedagogical relantionship with the clinical teacher in a relevant increase in the satisfaction with the latter.