Dehydration in black and white older adults using diuretics

The relationship between dehydration and etiologic subtypes of major neurocognitive disorder in older patients

PURPOSE

Studies investigating associations between etiologic subtypes of major neurocognitive disorder (MND) and dehydration frequency are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dehydration among older adults with and without MND (dementia), and across different etiologic subtypes of MND.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥ 65 years old from one geriatric outpatient clinic. Dehydration was defined as a calculated [1,86 × (Na + K) + 1,15 × glucose + urea + 14] plasma osmolarity of > 295 mOsm/L.Clinical characteristics and measures of comprehensive geriatric assessments of patients with dehydration and normohydration were compared. MND was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition criteria. The underlying etiologic subtypes were determined by specific diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 1377 patients 72% were female, the mean age was 80 ± 8 years, and 575 had dementia. Dehydration was more common in patients with dementia than those without dementia (58% vs. 53%, p = 0.044). The prevelance of dehydration was 57%, 62%, 54%, 57% and 68% in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia, fronto-temporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia, respectively (p ≥ 0.05). MND was associated with dehydration (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01-1.57; p = 0.037) after adjustment for age and sex. In multivariable analysis, among patients with dementia, hypertension, DM, CKD, and dysphagia were more common while mean Mini-Mental State Examination score was lower in those who had dehydration versus no dehydration in older patients with dementia (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dehydration is slightly associated with the presence of MND independent of age and sex. However, dehydration is also quite common in older patients without cognitive disorders. Therefore, hydration status should be monitored in older adults irrespective of neurocognitive status. Hypertension, DM, CKD, dysphagia and severity of cognitive dysfunction were associated with dehydration in patients with dementia. The prevalence of dehydration is highest in patients with vascular dementia.

[Prevalence of water intake among non-institutionalized elderly individuals in Southern Brazil]

The scope of this study was to determine the percentage of elderly individuals receiving an adequate water intake and associated factors among non-institutionalized elderly individuals in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. It involved a cross-sectional, population-based study carried out in 2014 with elderly participants (≥ 60 years) of the "COMO VAI?" survey. The amount of water ingested per day of the interviewees was investigated, considering the intake of at least eight glasses per day to be adequate. The independent variables were sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics, and Poisson Regression was used to investigate associations. A total of 1,451 elderly people were interviewed, with only 12.6% (95%CI 10.8; 14.7) drinking a sufficient amount. A higher percentage of the elderly with adequate water consumption was observed in younger elderly individuals, those overweight, those with five or more diseases, and those who were more impaired. A low percentage of the elderly with an adequate water intake was observed among the elderly adults in the study. The decreasing trend of water intake in relation to age highlights the importance of developing actions for the higher risk population to stress adequate water intake and the possible consequences of the lack of adequate consumption.

Point-of-Care Saliva Osmolarity Testing for the Screening of Hydration in Older Adults With Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Older adults have an elevated risk of dehydration, a state with proven detrimental cognitive and physical effects. Furthermore, the use of diuretics by hypertensive patients further compounds this risk. This prospective study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care (POC) salivary osmolarity (SOSM) measurement for the detection of dehydration in hypertensive adults with and without diuretic pharmacotherapy.

DESIGN

Prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

SETTING

Home visits to patients recruited from 4 community health centers in West Sulawesi, Indonesia.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 148 hypertensive older adults (57 men, 91 women). The mean ages of male and female patients were 69.4 ± 11.4 and 68.1 ± 7.8 years, respectively.

METHODS

Hypertensive adults were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of diuretics in their pharmacotherapeutic regimen. First-morning mid-stream urine samples were used to perform urine specific gravity (USG) testing. Same-day SOSM measurements were obtained using a POC saliva testing system.

RESULTS

Both USG (P = .0002) and SOSM (P < .0001) were significantly elevated in hypertensive patients with diuretic pharmacotherapy. At a USG threshold of ≥1.030, 86% of diuretic users were classified as dehydrated compared with 55% of non-using participants. A strong correlation was observed between USG and SOSM measurements (r = 0.78, P < .0001). Using a USG threshold of ≥1.030 as a hydration classifier, an SOSM threshold of ≥93 mOsm had a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 91.1% for detecting dehydration.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Hypertensive patients on diuretics have significantly higher first-morning USG and SOSM values, indicating a higher likelihood of dehydration relative to those on other classes of antihypertensive medication. POC SOSM assessment correlates strongly with first-morning USG assessment, and represents a rapid and noninvasive alternative to urinary hydration assessment that may be applicable for routine use in populations with elevated risk of dehydration.

Postoperative Dehydration Is Associated with Frailty and Decreased Survival in Older Patients with Hip Fracture

BACKGROUND

Hyperosmolar dehydration (HD) is a risk factor for severe complications in hip fracture in older patients. However, evidence for recommending screening of dehydration is insufficient and its relation with frailty and mortality is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that postoperative HD is associated with frailty and increased mortality.

METHODS

We recruited 625 older (>65 years) patients surgically treated for hip fracture and co-managed by an orthogeriatric team over one year in 2017. Pre- and postoperative HD (serum osmolarity > 300 mmol/L) was diagnosed. Frailty and associated mortality risk were assessed by the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI).

RESULTS

The prevalence of preoperative HD was 20.4%. Compared with no-HD, MPI was similar in HD patients despite higher (p < 0.05) prevalence of polypharmacy, arterial hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and heart failure. After surgery the incidence of HD decreased to 16.5%, but increased (p = 0.003) in the MPI high-risk subgroup. Postoperative HD was associated with more complications and was an independent determinant of adjusted hospital length of stay (LOS) and of 60- to 365-days mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Older frail patients with hip fracture are prone to developing postoperative HD, which independently predicts prolonged hospital LOS and mortality. Systematically screening older patients for frailty and dehydration is advisable to customize hydration management in high-risk individuals.

Prevalence and risk factors of hypertonic dehydration among older patients admitted to the emergency department: A prospective cross-sectional study

AIM

The prevalence of hypertonic dehydration (HD) among community-dwelling and hospitalized populations has been evaluated. However, to our knowledge, no study had previously focused on older patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and short-term outcomes of HD among Thai older patients admitted to the ED.

METHODS

This was a prospective cross-sectional study at one urban ED in Thailand. Patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted to the ED were enrolled into the study. Data including clinical hydration status, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, activities of daily living score, current use of medications, laboratory examination results and serum osmolarity level were collected. HD was defined as a serum osmolarity level of >300 mOsm/kg. The short-term outcomes were a 30-day ED revisit, hospital readmission and mortality rates.

RESULTS

In total, 80 (21.6%) of 370 patients presented with HD. A CCI score of ≥5 was found associated with HD among older patients (adjusted odds ratio: 1.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-3.21). The ED revisit rates were 18.1% in the dehydrated group and 10.9% in the non-dehydrated group. The hospital readmission rates were 8.3% in the dehydrated group and 10.6% in the non-dehydrated group. Furthermore, the 30-day mortality rates were 6.9% and 5.3% in the dehydrated and non-dehydrated groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

One-fifth of older patients admitted to the ED presented with HD. A CCI score of ≥5 was considered a risk factor of HD. Moreover, further studies should focus on the long-term outcomes of HD and risk reduction. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 485-491.

The association between hydration status and cognitive function among free-living elderly volunteers

Background

Ageing is inevitably associated with a progressive cognitive decline. With the rising percentage of the elderly in society, the number of people with dementia and cognitive impairment increases. Water is a vital ingredient that must be included in the diet. The impact of hydration status on cognitive performance has been studied only a little so far.

Aims

The objective of the study was to investigate the relation between the hydration status and the cognitive function.

Methods

The study was conducted among 60 free-living volunteers, aged 60–93 years. Data on water consumption were gathered based on 3-day records. The hydration status was assessed in morning urine samples by evaluating urine specific gravity. The cognitive function was tested using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Babcock Story Recall Test and the Trail Making Test. Information about depression was gathered by the Geriatric Depression Scale.

Results

The mean daily total water intake was 2441 ± 622 ml, and 70% of respondents met the reference values for an adequate intake. The mean urine specific gravity (1.013 g/cm³, range of 1.004–1.025 g/cm³) indicated that most of the individuals were in a good hydration state. The average result of MMSE was 27.8, which is connected with mild cognitive impairment. There was no significant relationship between the hydration status and the results of the cognitive function test in the studied population.

Discussion/conclusion

As the elderly volunteers had a good hydration status, there was no significant relationship between cognitive performance and urine specific gravity. It is necessary to replicate the findings of this study with a larger and more diverse sample of older adults.

Salivary Osmolality, Function, and Hydration Habits in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hydration status as measured by salivary osmolality and personal hydration habits, selected demographic characteristics, and performance on a walking and balance test in older community-dwelling adults. This study used a descriptive observational design in a convenience sample of multiethnic, community-dwelling older adults (N = 53). We collected saliva for analysis on 3 days both in the morning and early afternoon, along with a hydration habit questionnaire, get up and go test and demographic information. An exploratory factor analysis of the hydration habit questionnaire revealed a two-factor solution including physical barriers and psychological barriers to drinking fluids. A linear mixed-model approach revealed that time of day (p < .01), race (p = .015), mobility (p < .01), and cognitive barriers (p = .023) are all significant predictors of salivary osmolality among noninstitutionalized seniors. There is also a significant interaction between psychological barriers to drinking fluids and time of day (p < .01). Average salivary osmolality was higher in this group of older adults than has been reported in younger adults. Controlling for all other variables, salivary osmolality is higher in the morning than in the afternoon, lower among Black or African American seniors than among White or Caucasian seniors, and higher among seniors with decreased mobility. An interaction between psychological barriers and salivary osmolality showed that those participants with more psychological barriers to drinking had higher salivary osmolality in the morning and an inverse relationship in the afternoon.

Engineering Approaches to Assessing Hydration Status

Dehydration is a common condition characterized by a decrease in total body water. Acute dehydration can cause physical and cognitive impairment, heat stroke and exhaustion, and, if severe and uncorrected, even death. The health effects of chronic mild dehydration are less well studied with urolithiasis (kidney stones) the only condition consistently associated with it. Aside from infants and those with particular medical conditions, athletes, military personnel, manual workers, and older adults are at particular risk of dehydration due to their physical activity, environmental exposure, and/or challenges in maintaining fluid homeostasis. This review describes the different approaches that have been explored for hydration assessment in adults. These include clinical indicators perceived by the patient or detected by a practitioner and routine laboratory analyses of blood and urine. These techniques have variable accuracy and practicality outside of controlled environments, creating a need for simple, portable, and rapid hydration monitoring devices. We review the wide array of devices proposed for hydration assessment based on optical, electromagnetic, chemical, and acoustical properties of tissue and bodily fluids. However, none of these approaches has yet emerged as a reliable indicator in diverse populations across various settings, motivating efforts to develop new methods of hydration assessment.

The Combined Effect of High Ambient Temperature and Antihypertensive Treatment on Renal Function in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

Background

The aging kidney manifests structural, functional as well as pharmacological changes, rendering elderly patients more susceptible to adverse environmental influences on their health, dehydration in particular.

Hypothesis

Higher temperature is associated with renal function impairment in patients 65 years and older who routinely take thiazide and/or ACE-inhibitors/ARBs.

Methods

We obtained health data of patients older than 65 who were admitted to a large tertiary center during the years 2006–2011, with a previous diagnosis of hypertension, and treated with thiazide, ACE-inhibitors/ARBs or both. We collected environmental data of daily temperature, available from collaborative public and governmental institutions. In order to estimate the effect of daily temperature on renal function we performed linear mixed models, separately for each treatment group and creatinine change during hospital admission.

Results

We identified 26,286 admissions for 14, 268 patients with a mean age of 75.6 (±6.9) years, of whom 53.6% were men. Increment in daily temperature on admission of 5°C had significant effect on creatinine increase in the no treatment (baseline creatinine adjusted 0.824 mg/dL, % change 1.212, % change 95% C.I 0.082–2.354) and dual treatment groups (baseline creatinine adjusted 1.032mg/dL, % change 3.440, % change 95% C.I 1.227–5.700). Sub-analysis stratified by advanced age, chronic kidney disease and primary diagnosis on hospital admission, revealed a significant association within patients admitted due to acute infection and treated with dual therapy.

Conclusion

Whereas previous studies analyzed sporadic climate effects during heat waves and/or excluded older population taking anti-hypertensive medications, the present study is novel by showing a durable association of temperature and decreased renal function specifically in elderly patients taking anti-hypertensive medications.

Which Frail Older People Are Dehydrated? The UK DRIE Study

BACKGROUND

Water-loss dehydration in older people is associated with increased mortality and disability. We aimed to assess the prevalence of dehydration in older people living in UK long-term care and associated cognitive, functional, and health characteristics.

METHODS

The Dehydration Recognition In our Elders (DRIE) cohort study included people aged 65 or older living in long-term care without heart or renal failure. In a cross-sectional baseline analysis, we assessed serum osmolality, previously suggested dehydration risk factors, general health, markers of continence, cognitive and functional health, nutrition status, and medications. Univariate linear regression was used to assess relationships between participant characteristics and serum osmolality, then associated characteristics entered into stepwise backwards multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

DRIE included 188 residents (mean age 86 years, 66% women) of whom 20% were dehydrated (serum osmolality >300 mOsm/kg). Linear and logistic regression suggested that renal, cognitive, and diabetic status were consistently associated with serum osmolality and odds of dehydration, while potassium-sparing diuretics, sex, number of recent health contacts, and bladder incontinence were sometimes associated. Thirst was not associated with hydration status.

CONCLUSIONS

DRIE found high prevalence of dehydration in older people living in UK long-term care, reinforcing the proposed association between cognitive and renal function and hydration. Dehydration is associated with increased mortality and disability in older people, but trials to assess effects of interventions to support healthy fluid intakes in older people living in residential care are needed to enable us to formally assess causal direction and any health benefits of increasing fluid intakes.

Validation analysis of a geriatric dehydration screening tool in community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly people

Dehydration is common among elderly people. The aim of this study was to perform validation analysis of a geriatric dehydration-screening tool (DST) in the assessment of hydration status in elderly people. This tool was based on the DST proposed by Vivanti et al., which is composed by 11 items (four physical signs of dehydration and seven questions about thirst sensation, pain and mobility), with four questions extra about drinking habits. The resulting questionnaire was evaluated in a convenience sample comprising institutionalized (n = 29) and community-dwelling (n = 74) elderly people. Urinary parameters were assessed (24-h urine osmolality and volume) and free water reserve (FWR) was calculated. Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the scale’s dimensionality and Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the reliability of each subscale. Construct’s validity was tested using linear regression to estimate the association between scores in each dimension and urinary parameters. Two factors emerged from factor analysis, which were named “Hydration Score” and “Pain Score”, and both subscales showed acceptable reliabilities. The “Hydration Score” was negatively associated with 24-h urine osmolality in community-dwelling; and the “Pain Score” was negatively associated with 24-h urine osmolality, and positively associated with 24-h urine volume and FWR in institutionalized elderly people.

Potentially inappropriate medications and functional decline in elderly hospitalized patients

OBJECTIVES

To verify whether the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is associated with loss of independence in elderly in-patients by promoting adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Five hundred six patients aged 65 and older admitted to 11 acute care medical wards.

MEASUREMENTS

In-hospital loss of one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) and three or more ADLs. PIMs were identified according to diagnosis-independent Beers criteria and ascertained by study physicians based on daily review of medical and nurse records. The relationship between risk factors and outcomes was assessed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 104 patients (20.6%) were taking at least one PIM at the time of admission (baseline users), and 49 (9.7%) were newly prescribed at least one PIM during their hospital stay. The loss of one or more ADLs occurred in 9.6% of baseline users, 16.3% of new users, and 8.5% of nonusers (P=.21) and that of three or more ADLs in 7.7% of baseline users, 12.2% of new users, and 4.8% of nonusers (P=.10). The lack of association was confirmed after correction for potential confounders, including ADRs. The occurrence of ADRs was strongly associated with both outcomes (odds ratio (OR)=7.80, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.53-17.3 for the loss of > or =1 ADLs; OR=3.98, 95% CI=1.50-10.5 for the loss of > or =3 ADLs), but PIMs caused only six of 106 ADRs.

CONCLUSIONS

ADRs to any drugs more than the use of PIMs might be associated with functional decline in elderly hospitalized patients, but because the power of this study was too limited to definitively exclude a direct relationship between PIMs and functional decline, this merits further investigation.

Telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide in the treatment of hypertension

Telmisartan blocks the detrimental actions of angiotensin II mediated via the angiotensin type 1 receptor. Unique features of telmisartan are high lipophilicity and a long terminal elimination half-life (~ 24 h). Telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide is indicated for hypertensive patients unable to achieve target blood pressure with either monotherapy. Fixed-dose combination tablets containing telmisartan 40 or 80 mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg are widely available; in addition, telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide 80/25 mg is available in the USA. Telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide is superior to losartan/hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide in maintaining blood pressure control in the risky early morning hours at the end of the dosing interval. Furthermore, telmisartan/ hydrochlorothiazide provides superior 24-h mean blood pressure reduction and is better tolerated than amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide in elderly patients with predominantly systolic hypertension. Telmisartan has the potential to confer additional reno- and cardioprotection to that due to blood pressure control. The cardioprotective activity of renin–angiotensin system blockade with telmisartan alone and in combination with ramipril is currently being evaluated in the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) and the Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in aCE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND). In total, 31,546 patients have been enrolled worldwide and are being followed for up to 5.5 years.

Oral Hydration in Older Adults

Maintaining adequate fluid balance is an essential component of health at every stage of life. Age-related changes make older adults more vulnerable to shifts in water balance that can result in overhydration or, more frequently, dehydration. This article reviews age-related changes, risk factors, assessment measures, and nursing interventions for dehydration.

Tanita Foot-to-Foot Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis System Validated in Older Adults

Simple, accurate, and noninvasive methods for assessing body composition are needed in many clinical, community, and research settings. The foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) system may be one method of addressing those needs. The objective of this study was to determine the validity of a foot-to-foot BIA system for body-composition assessment of older adults. Subjects 55 years of age or older without functional limitations or cognitive impairments (N=50) were measured using both the Tanita foot-to-foot system (Tanita Corporation of America, Inc, Arlington Heights, IL) and traditional hand-to-foot BIA. The correlation for percent body fat measurements between the Tanita and traditional BIA was r=0.84 (P<.001). Percent body fat estimates from both BIA measures were significantly correlated with waist circumference, body mass index, and age (all P<.01). The Tanita BIA system provides a valid measure of percent body fat in older adults, and could be a convenient and practical approach for assessment in public health settings.