Effect of Dementia on Postoperative Mortality in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture

Impact of general vs. regional anaesthesia on one-year clinical outcomes and healthcare utilisation after lower limb arthroplasty: a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

General anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia are used for hip and knee arthroplasty but their impact on long-term outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to compare one-year clinical outcomes and healthcare utilisation in patients receiving general or regional anaesthesia for hip or knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

Using data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 247,142 patients aged 40-90 y who underwent hip or knee arthroplasty between 2010 and 2023. After propensity score matching, 12,558 patients were included in the general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia cohorts. The primary outcome was one-year all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included one-year incidence of dementia; cerebral infarction; pneumonia; major depression; care provider dependency; and readmission rates. Subgroup analyses according to sex, age (40-70 y vs. > 70 y) and timeframe (2010-2016 vs. 2017-2023) were also performed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in one-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.12, 95%CI 0.89-1.41, p = 0.322). General anaesthesia was associated with a lower incidence of major depression (hazard ratio 0.82, 95%CI 0.70-0.97, p = 0.021) and care provider dependency (hazard ratio 0.47, 95%CI 0.38-0.58, p < 0.001), but higher readmission rates (hazard ratio 1.22, 95%CI 1.16-1.29, p < 0.001) than regional anaesthesia. Subgroup analysis revealed that patient characteristics including sex and age, as well as evolving peri-operative care practices over time, may influence the comparative outcomes of general and regional anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective hip or knee arthroplasty.

DISCUSSION

Although general anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia showed comparable one-year mortality, general anaesthesia was associated with lower risks of major depression and care provider dependency but higher readmission rates than regional anaesthesia. These findings suggest that the choice of anaesthesia may have important implications for long-term outcomes beyond mortality.

Anesthesia Management of Hip Fracture Surgery in Geriatric Patients: A Review

Hip fractures are increasingly prominent concerns in healthcare, especially in light of a growing elderly population. These fractures contribute to mortality and morbidity in the elderly. Many hip fractures require emergent surgical intervention and may have consequences of serious postoperative complications. Multidisciplinary approaches of management have been utilized to optimize care and improve patient outcomes. Due to the myriad of multi-organ system comorbidities that are increasingly prevalent in the geriatric population, anesthetic management proves to be difficult to standardize. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have shown benefits for optimizing patient outcomes by focusing on premedication, nutritional support, and pain management; however, specific anesthetic management techniques are not discussed. This literature review aims to discuss ways to optimize hip fracture management in geriatric patients through effective preoperative evaluation, anesthetic considerations, and postoperative optimization and care. A review of currently available guidelines may help determine the optimal management for hip fractures in geriatric patients and improve immediate and lasting postoperative outcomes.

Evaluating Pain Management from Peripheral Nerve Block for Geriatric Patients following Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Displaced Femoral-Neck Fracture

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate peripheral nerve block (PNB) effectiveness in postoperative pain management and surgical outcomes for displaced femoral-neck fracture in geriatric patients (>70 years) who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA).

METHODS

From January 2017 to December 2021, 231 geriatric patients with displaced femoral-neck fracture who consecutively underwent BHA were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) group (n = 132) who received only intravenous (IV) PCA for postoperative pain management, and all others who received PNB with IV PCA (PNB+PCA) such as femoral nerve block or fascia iliaca compartment block after surgery (n = 99). Primary outcomes were postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and during activity at 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, changes in hemoglobin, length of hospital stay, and total morphine usage after surgery.

RESULTS

Postoperative resting VAS at 6 h and 48 h was significantly lower in the PNB+PCA group compared with the PCA group (p = 0.075, p = 0.0318, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in either resting VAS at 24 h or active VAS. Complications of pneumonia and delirium until 1 month postoperative were significantly lower in the PNB + PCA group than the PCA group (p = 0.0022, p = 0.0055, respectively).

CONCLUSION

PNB with IV PCA seems to have a beneficial effect on geriatric femoral-neck patients who underwent BHA with postoperative analgesia for reducing postoperative resting pain and complications, especially pneumonia and delirium.

Patients risk for mortality at 90 days after proximal femur fracture - a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND

Despite improving the management of proximal femur fractures (PFF) with legal requirements of timing the surgery within 24 h, mortality rates in these patients remain still high. The objective of our study was to analyze potential cofactors which might influence the mortality rate within 90 days after surgery in PFF to avoid adverse events, loss of quality of life and high rates of mortality.

METHODS

In this retrospective, single-center study all patients with PFF aged 65 years and older were included. We recorded gender, age, type of fracture, surgery and anesthesia, time, comorbidities and medication as well as complications and mortality rate at 90 days. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess which parameters were associated with patients' mortality. The mortality rate was neither associated with timing, time and type of surgery nor time and type of anesthesia, but with higher age (OR 1.08 per year; 95% CI 1.034-1.128), lower BMI (OR 0.915 per kg/m2; 95% CI 0.857-0.978), higher CCI (OR 1.170 per point; 95% CI 1.018-1.345), dementia (OR 2.805; 95% CI 1.616-4.869), non-surgical complications (OR 2.276; 95% CI 1.269-4.083) and if mobilization was impossible (OR 10.493; 95% CI 3.612-30.479).

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of 734 patients (age ≥ 65 years) who had a PFF in 2019 and 2020 and received surgery. 129 patients (17.6%) died until 90 days at an median age of 89.7 years (range 65-101 years).

CONCLUSION

The proportion of patients who died until 90 days after surgery is still high. It is less extend influenced by surgical and anaesthesiologic factors than by patient-related factors like age or lower BMI. Physicians should be aware of the importance of avoiding adverse events and the importance of patients' mobilization to reduce mortality and improve patients' outcome.

Mind the Gap: Unraveling the Intricate Dance Between Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and Bone Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review examines the linked pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease/related dementia (AD/ADRD) and bone disorders like osteoporosis. The emphasis is on "inflammaging"-a low-level inflammation common to both, and its implications in an aging population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Aging intensifies both ADRD and bone deterioration. Notably, ADRD patients have a heightened fracture risk, impacting morbidity and mortality, though it is uncertain if fractures worsen ADRD. Therapeutically, agents targeting inflammation pathways, especially Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and TNF-α, appear beneficial for both conditions. Additionally, treatments like Sirtuin 1 (SIRT-1), known for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, are gaining attention. The interconnectedness of AD/ADRD and bone health necessitates a unified treatment approach. By addressing shared mechanisms, we can potentially transform therapeutic strategies, enriching our understanding and refining care in our aging society. This review article is part of a series of multiple manuscripts designed to determine the utility of using artificial intelligence for writing scientific reviews.

Comparing survival rates and mortality in operative versus nonoperative treatment for femoral neck fractures among Alzheimer's disease patients: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Addressing femoral neck fractures resulting from ground-level falls in older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a personalized treatment plan. There is considerable ongoing debate concerning the relative advantages and disadvantages of surgical treatment (internal fixation or arthroplasty) vs nonoperative treatment for femoral neck fractures in older persons with AD.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study compared the mortality, hazard ratio, and survival rate between operative and nonoperative treatments, controlling for patients' demographic information and baseline health status. The study population consisted of Optum beneficiaries diagnosed with AD who experienced an initial femoral neck fracture claim between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were applied to compare the treatment groups' post-fracture survival rates and mortality. Cox regression was used to examine the survival period by controlling the covariates.

Results

Out of the 4157 patients with AD with femoral neck fractures, 59.8% were women (n = 2487). The median age was 81 years. The 1-year survival rate for nonoperative treatment (70.19%) was lower than that for internal fixation (75.27%) and arthroplasty treatment (82.32%). Compared with the nonoperative group, arthroplasty surgical treatment had significant lower hazard risk of death (arthroplasty hazard ratio: 0.850, 95% CI: 0.728-0.991, P < 0.05).

Discussion

The findings suggest that the operative treatment group experiences higher survival rates and lower mortality rates than the nonoperative group. This paper provides insights into treatment outcomes of older adults with AD receiving medical care for femoral neck fractures.

Hip Fractures in Patients with Dementia: An Emerging Orthopedic Concern

Hip fractures are a very common injury in the elderly population associated with an increased mortality rate. Currently, more and more elderly patients are diagnosed with dementia. Demented patients are more prone to falls and hip fractures compared to the general population because of conditions related to their disease such as instability, osteoporosis, poor muscle control and weakness. The coexistence of dementia and hip fractures is a difficult situation for both the patients and the treating physicians because of postoperative complications in this frail subgroup of patients and their inability to stand up and walk. To enhance the literature, we reviewed published studies of hip fracture patients suffering from dementia to discuss why they have more frequent hip fractures, to review their associated in-hospital complications, and to emphasize on their postoperative management to be able to reach the pre-injury activity level and optimal quality of life.

Association of dementia with clinical and financial outcomes following lobectomy for lung cancer

Objective

The number of adults with dementia is rising worldwide. Although dementia has been linked with inferior outcomes following various operations, this phenomenon has not been fully elucidated among patients undergoing elective lung resection. Using a national cohort, we evaluated the association of dementia with clinical and financial outcomes following lobectomy for cancer.

Methods

Adults undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer were identified within the 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients with a comorbid diagnosis of dementia were considered the Dementia cohort (others: Non-Dementia). Multivariable regressions were developed to evaluate the association between dementia and key outcomes.

Results

Of ∼314,436 patients, 2863 (0.9%) comprised the Dementia cohort. Compared with Non-Dementia, the Dementia cohort was older (75 vs 68 years, P < .001), less commonly female (49.4 vs 53.9%, P = .01), and had a greater burden of comorbid conditions. After adjustment, dementia remained associated with similar odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.38) but greater likelihood of pneumonia (aOR, 1.31; CI, 1.04-1.65) and infectious complications (aOR, 1.37; CI, 1.01-1.87). Further, dementia was associated with longer length of stay (β +0.96 days; CI, 0.51-1.41), but no difference in hospitalization cost (β $1528; CI, -92 to 3148).

Conclusions

Patients with dementia faced similar odds of mortality, but greater complications and resource use following lobectomy for lung cancer. Novel interventions are needed to improve care coordination and develop standardized recovery pathways for this growing cohort.

Impact of Dementia on Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Following Hip Fracture Surgery Among Older Patients

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are the leading cause of death following hip fracture surgery. Dementia has been identified as a PPC risk factor that complicates the clinical course. By leveraging electronic health records, this retrospective observational study evaluated the impact of dementia on the incidence and severity of PPCs, hospital length of stay, and postoperative 30-day mortality among 875 older patients (≥65 years) who underwent hip fracture surgery between October 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 at a health system in the southeastern United States. Inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores was utilized to balance confounders between patients with and without dementia to isolate the impact of dementia on PPCs. Regression analyses revealed that dementia did not have a statistically significant impact on the incidence and severity of PPCs or postoperative 30-day mortality. However, dementia significantly extended the hospital length of stay by an average of 1.37 days.

Effect of dementia on all-cause mortality in hip fracture surgery: a retrospective study on a nationwide Korean cohort

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the effect of dementia on the 1-year all-cause mortality in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, using a nationwide cohort in Korea.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a nationwide, retrospective study. Elderly patients (≥60 years) with and without dementia who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2005 and December 2012 were distinguished using the data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior cohort.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The mortality rates with 95% CIs and the impact of dementia on all-cause mortality were calculated using a generalised linear model with Poisson distribution and a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 10 833 patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, 13.4% were diagnosed with dementia. During the 1-year follow-up period, 1586 patients with hip fracture without dementia died in 8356.5 person-years (incidence rate (IR)=189.2 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 179.91 to 198.99), while 340 deaths were confirmed in patients with hip fracture with dementia in 1240.8 person-years (IR, 273.1 per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 244.94 to 304.58). Patients with hip fracture and dementia were 1.23 times more likely to die than those in the control group in the same period (HR=1.23, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.39).

CONCLUSION

Dementia is a risk factor for 1-year all-cause mortality after hip fracture surgery. To improve the postoperative outcomes of patients with dementia who have undergone hip fracture surgery, effective treatment models such as multidisciplinary diagnosis and strategic rehabilitation should be established.

Effects of Dementia on Outcomes after Cervical Spine Injuries in Elderly Patients: Evaluation of 1512 Cases in a Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan

We aimed to retrospectively investigate the demographic characteristics and short-term outcomes of traumatic cervical spine injuries in patients with dementia. We enrolled 1512 patients aged ≥ 65 years with traumatic cervical injuries registered in a multicenter study database. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of dementia, and 95 patients (6.3%) had dementia. Univariate analysis revealed that the dementia group comprised patients who were older and predominantly female and had lower body mass index, higher modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5), lower pre-injury activities of daily living (ADLs), and a larger number of comorbidities than patients without dementia. Furthermore, 61 patient pairs were selected through propensity score matching with adjustments for age, sex, pre-injury ADLs, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale score at the time of injury, and the administration of surgical treatment. In the univariate analysis of the matched groups, patients with dementia had significantly lower ADLs at 6 months and a higher incidence of dysphagia up to 6 months than patients without dementia. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with dementia had a higher mortality than those without dementia until the last follow-up. Dementia was associated with poor ADLs and higher mortality rates after traumatic cervical spine injuries in elderly patients.

Predictability of Radiologically Measured Psoas Muscle Area for Intraoperative Hypotension in Older Adult Patients Undergoing Femur Fracture Surgery

This retrospective study aimed to determine the predictive value of radiologically measured psoas muscle area (PMA) for intraoperative hypotension (IOH) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in older adult patients with hip fractures. The cross-sectional axial area of the psoas muscle was measured by CT at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebrae and normalized by body surface area (BSA). The modified frailty index (mFI) was used to assess frailty. IOH was defined as an absolute threshold of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg or a relative decrease in MAP > 30% from baseline MAP. Among the 403 patients, 286 (71.7%) had developed IOH. PMA normalized by BSA in male patients was 6.90 ± 0.73 in the no-IOH group and 4.95 ± 1.20 in the IOH group (p < 0.001). PMA normalized by BSA in female patients was 5.18 ± 0.81 in the no-IOH group and 3.78 ± 0.75 in the IOH group (p < 0.001). The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve for PMA normalized by BSA and modified frailty index (mFI) were 0.94 for male patients, 0.91 for female patients, and 0.81 for mFI (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, low PMA normalized by BSA, high baseline systolic blood pressure, and old age were significant independent predictors of IOH (adjusted odds ratio: 3.86, 1.03, and 1.06, respectively). PMA measured by computed tomography showed an excellent predictive value for IOH. Low PMA was associated with developing IOH in older adult patients with hip fractures.

Patient-specific risk factors for adverse outcomes following geriatric proximal femur fractures

BACKGROUND

Proximal femur fractures (PFFs) occur frequently among geriatric patients due to diverse risk factors, such as a lower bone mineral density and the increased risk of falls.

METHODS

In this review, we focus on recent literature of patient-specific risk factors and their impact on common complications and outcome parameters in patients with PFF.

RESULTS

Patient- and treatment related factors have a significant impact on outcome and are associated with an increased risk of mortality, impairments in functional rehabilitation and complicative courses.

CONCLUSION

Geriatric patients at high risk for complications are nursing home inhabitants suffering from severe osteoporosis, dementia and sarcopenia. The early and ongoing assessment for these individual risk factors is crucial. Strategies including interdisciplinary approaches, addressing comorbidities and facilitating an optimal risk factor evaluation result in a beneficial outcome. The ongoing ambulant assessment and therapy of complicating factors (e.g., malnutrition, sarcopenia, frailty or osteoporosis) have to be improved.

What do hip fracture patients die from?

Hip fractures in the elderly are associated with an increased mortality rate, even if they are operated within the recommended time window. However, the causes of mortality vary considerably depending on the postoperative period and the patients' comorbidities. In the 30-day postoperative period, the most common causes of death are acute processes such as bacterial and aspiration pneumonia followed by myocardial infarction, cancer, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and acute renal failure. In the 6-month and 1-year postoperative period, chronic processes appear to be the most important causes of death, as well as decompensation of patients' chronic diseases. To enhance the literature, we performed this literature review to summarize and discuss the causes of mortality of elderly hip fracture patients depending on the postoperative period that they occur, and possibly to address the question what do hip fracture patients die from? Our aim was to perform an interesting and concise paper that the curious reader will find interesting and informative.

Early Detection of Pneumonia with the Help of Dementia in Geriatric Hip Fracture Patients

Objective

To investigate the role of dementia in pneumonia among geriatric patients with hip fracture and further develop an algorithm for stratifying risk of developing postoperative pneumonia.

Methods

The algorithm was developed after retrospectively analyzing 1344 hip fracture patients in the National Clinical Research Center for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation from 1992 to 2012. Twenty‐eight variables were analyzed for evaluating the ability to predict postoperative pneumonia. The validation of the algorithm was performed in the MIMIC‐III database after enrolling 235 patients.

Results

One thousand five hundred and seventy‐nine patients were enrolled, 4.69% patients had postoperative pneumonia in our hospital, and 17.02% suffered pneumonia in the MIMIC‐III database. Dementia patients had more postoperative pneumonia (12.68% vs 4.24%, P = 0.0075), as compared with patients without dementia. The algorithm included nine predictors: dementia, age, coronary heart disease, the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, surgical method, mechanical ventilation, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and high creatinine. Internal validation showed the algorithm with dementia could improve predictive performance, while external validation found the algorithm with or without dementia both had similar and good predictive ability.

Conclusions

The algorithm has the potential to be a pragmatic risk prediction tool to calculate risk of pneumonia in clinical practice and it may also be applicable in critically ill hip fracture patients with dementia.