Background: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and geriatric syndromes (GS) increases with age, however the associations between these conditions have not yet been studied.
Aims: To evaluate the associations between AF and GS in elderly patients.
Methods: Four hundred and seventy-two in-patients (18% male) aged 75-100 (mean 81±4) years were included in the nursing study. Patients were examined by nurses on a specially designed nursing assessment algorithm that included Mini-Cog test, Morse Fall scale, Norton scale, Barthel Activities of daily living Index, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests, and a number of other questionnaires.
Results: AF was observed in 104 patients (22%). CHA2DS2-VASc score was 5,6±1,4 points. HAS-BLED score was 2,9±0,7 points. Patients with and without AF did not differ by age and gender. AF patients had lower points on Norton scale (17,4±2,1 vs 18,2±1,7; p< 0,001), Barthel Index (89,3±16,7 vs 95,1±8,7; p< 0,001), SPPB (4,9±3,2 vs 6,0±3,3; p=0,002), and higher points on Morse Fall scale (46,3±19,5 vs 39,8±20,9; p=0,004) compared non-AF patients. AF patients had higher frequency of pressure ulcers high risk (4,8% vs 0,8%; p=0,015), frailty (79% vs 66%; p=0,015), and functional dependence (Barthel Index ≤60 points) (5,8% vs 1,4%; p=0,018). CHA2DS2-VASc score was correlated with Norton scale (r=-0,29; p=0,003), Barthel Index (r=-0,24; p=0,015), and SPPB (r=-0,32; p=0,001). Univariate regression analysis showed that presence of AF increases the frailty risk in 1,9 times (OR 1,89; 95% CI 1,13-3,18; p=0,016), functional dependence risk – in 4,5 times (OR 4,45; 95% CI 1,33-14,87; p=0,015), and pressure ulcers high risk – in 6,2 times (OR 6,15; 95% CI 1,44-26,15; p=0,014). Also in AF patients, increasing CHA2DS2-VASc score by 1 point increases the frailty risk on 79% (OR 1,79; 95% CI 1,18-2,73; p=0,007).
Conclusions: Elderly AF patients have higher risk of GS such as frailty, pressure ulcers high risk, functional dependence in daily living.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Tsareva I, Vorobyeva N, Semochkina G, Kotovskaya Y, Tkacheva O. Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Have Higher Risk of Geriatric Syndromes: Results of the Nursing Study [abstract]. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020; 4 (Suppl 1). https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/elderly-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-have-higher-risk-of-geriatric-syndromes-results-of-the-nursing-study/. Accessed April 18, 2024.« Back to ISTH 2020 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/elderly-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-have-higher-risk-of-geriatric-syndromes-results-of-the-nursing-study/