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. 2022 Sep 2;25(3):269–278. doi: 10.5770/cgj.25.579

TABLE 4.

Characteristics, complications, and outcomes of patients ≥70 admitted to hospital after presenting with at least one geriatric syndromea

At Least One Geriatric Syndrome a No Geriatric Syndrome
N 119 141

Characteristics

Demographics
 Mean age (SD) 84 (7.3) 82 (7.2)
 Women: no. (%) 54 (45) 73 (52)

Living Situation: no. (%)
 Home 23 (19) 60 (43)
 Autonomous private residence 9 (8) 13 (9)
 Long-term care (private and public) 87 (73) 67 (48)

Complications: no. (%)
 Any 111 (93) 109 (77)
 Cardiovascular
  NSTEMIb or unstable angina 20 (17) 14 (10)
  STEMIc 20 (17) 14 (10)
 Hematological
  Disseminated intravascular coagulation 1 (1) 1 (1)
  Thrombocytopenia (<100 x 109/L) 20 (17) 21 (15)
  Venous thromboembolismd,e 0 (0) 3 (2)
 Infectious
  Clostridiodes difficile infection 2 (2) 1 (1)
  Septic shock 3 (3) 3 (2)
  Bacterial pneumonia superinfection 22 (18) 22 (16)
 New geriatric syndrome
  New fall(s) 6 (5) 1 (1)
  New delirium 48 (40) 29 (21)
  Pressure injury 3 (3) 7 (5)
  Malnutrition or denutrition 12 (10) 12 (9)
  Deconditioning 9 (8) 12 (9)
 Renal and metabolic
  Acute kidney injury 53 (45) 39 (28)
  Hyponatremia (≤128 mmol/L) 7 (6) 14 (10)
  Hypernatremia (≥148 mmol/L) 52 (44) 30 (21)
  Rhabdomyolysis 3 (3) 2 (1)
  Transaminitis (ALTf x 3 upper normal limit) 8 (7) 5 (4)
 ICU and ventilatory support
  Admission to ICU if within goals of care (N=48 for those with geriatric syndrome, N=71 for those without) 14 (29) 21 (30)
  Intubation and mechanical ventilation (N=48 for those with geriatric syndrome, N=71 for those without) 7 (15) 11 (15)

Outcomes
 Discharge from hospital: no. (%) 75 (63) 103 (73)
  Mean length of stay: days 23 20
 Death: no. (%) 44 (37) 40 (28)
  Mean length of stay: days 14 18
a

Geriatric syndromes included on presentation were fall(s), functional decline, and delirium.

b

Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

c

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

d

Definitive diagnose of pulmonary embolism via CT-angio or V/Q scan at any point in time during admission and of deep vein thrombosis via duplex.

e

Includes massive, hilar, segmental, and subsegmental pulmonary embolisms.

f

Alanine Aminotransferase.