Background:Many patients show deterioration in functioning and increased care needs in the last year of life. End-of-life care needs and health care utilization might differ between groups of acutely hospitalized older patients.Aim:To investigate differences in geriatric conditions, advance care planning, and health care utilization in patients with cancer, organ failure, or frailty, who died within 1 year after acute hospitalization.Design:Prospective cohort study conducted between 2002 and 2008, with 1-year follow-up.Setting:University teaching hospital in the Netherlands.Participants:Aged ⩾65 years, acutely hospitalized for ⩾48 h, and died within 1 year after hospitalization. At admission, all patients received a systematic comprehensive geriatric assessment. Hospital records were searched for advance care planning information and health care utilization. Differences between patient groups were calculated.Results:In total, 306 patients died within 1 year after acute admission (35%) and were included; 151 with cancer, 98 with end-stage organ failure, and 57 frail older persons. At hospital admission, 72% of the frail group had delirium and/or severe pre-existing cognitive impairment. The frail and organ failure group had many pre-existing disabilities. Three months post-discharge, 75% of the frail and organ failure group had died, 45% of these patients had an advance care plan in their hospital records.Conclusion:Patients with frailty and organ failure had highest rates of geriatric conditions at hospital admission and often had missing information on advance care planning in the hospital records. There is a need to better identify end-of-life needs for these groups.
DOCUMENT
Rationale To improve the quality of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) a practice guideline from the Dutch Royal Society for Physiotherapy (KNGF) has been developed. Guideline development A systematic literature search was performed to formulate conclusions on the efficacy of exercise-based intervention during all CR phases in patients with CHF. Evidence was graded (1–4) according the Dutch evidence-based guideline development criteria. Clinical and research recommendations Recommendations for exercise-based CR were formulated covering the following topics: mobilisation and treatment of pulmonary symptoms (if necessary) during the clinical phase, aerobic exercise, strength training (inspiratory muscle training and peripheral muscle training) and relaxation therapy during the outpatient CR phase, and adoption and monitoring training after outpatient CR. Applicability and implementation issues This guideline provides the physiotherapist with an evidence-based instrument to assist in clinical decision-making regarding patients with CHF. The implementation of the guideline in clinical practice needs further evaluation. Conclusion This guideline outlines best practice standards for physiotherapists concerning exercise-based CR in CHF patients. Research is needed on strategies to improve monitoring and follow-up of the maintenance of a physical active lifestyle after supervised CR.
DOCUMENT
Mensen leven steeds langer, vaak met meerdere, meestal chronische aandoeningen. Dit vergroot de vraag naar zorg van verschillende disciplines. Tegelijkertijd zorgt de vergrijzing voor een relatief kleinere beroepsbevolking. Daarnaast is er mede door verbeterde behandelmogelijkheden vaker meer keuze uit verschillende zorg en behandelopties, elk met voor en nadelen op het gebied van levensverwachting, bijwerkingen en kwaliteit van leven. Zorg en behandeling vinden steeds vaker thuis plaats, zowel vanuit de acute als de langdurige zorg. Deze ontwikkelingen vragen veel van zorgverleners in de complexe omgeving van zorg voor ouderen.
MULTIFILE
