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Resumen: Objetivo: Estudiar la asociación entre prescripciones potencialmente inapropiadas (PPI) y eventos adversos a los 30 y 180 días tras el alta de una unidad de corta estancia (UCE). Material y método: Estudio analítico observacional de cohortes retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes ≥ 75 años al alta de una UCE. Se utilizó la versión 2 de los criterios STOPP-START. La variable resultado fue la presencia de algún evento adverso a 30 y 180 días. Resultados: Se incluyeron 179 pacientes con una media de 84 (DE: 5) años. La presencia de ≥ 1PPI al alta no se asoció con la aparición de algún evento adverso a los 30 ni a los 180 días de manera global. La presencia de ≥ 1PPI al alta de fármacos del proceso cardiovascular tuvo mayor riesgo de presentar algún evento adverso a los 30 días del alta (OR ajustada 2,1; IC 95%: 1,0-3,2; p = 0,045), los fármacos del proceso «neuropsiquiátrico y riesgo de caídas» se relacionaron con deterioro funcional a los 30 días del alta (OR ajustada 6,3; IC 95%: 1,7-22,5; p = 0,005), y la omisión de fármacos del sistema cardiovascular se asoció con el reingreso a los 180 días (OR ajustada 3,6; IC 95%: 1,5-8,3, p = 0,003). Conclusiones: La presencia de eventos adversos de pacientes ancianos dados de alta de una UCE podría relacionarse con PPI detectadas por algunos criterios STOPP-START, y concretamente con los fármacos de los procesos cardiovasculares, neuropsiquiátrico y relacionado con las caídas. Abstract: Objective: To study the association between the potential inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) and the 30 and 180-day adverse event rate after discharge from a Short Stay Unit (SSU). Methodology: A retrospective cohort observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 75 years discharged from an SSU from February to April, 2014. STOPP-START criteria version 2 was used. The main outcome was 30 and 180-day adverse event rate after being discharged. Results: A total of 179 patients, with a mean age of 84 (SD 5) years were included. The presence of ≥ 1PIP after being discharged was not associated with a 30 and 180-day composite adverse event. Patients with ≥ 1PIP related to a cerebro-cardiovascular process were at higher risk of an adverse event at 30 days after discharge (adjusted OR, 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-3.2; P = .045), those with ≥ 1PIP related to neuropsychiatric process and risk of fall were at higher risk of increased 30-day functional impairment (adjusted OR, 6.3; 95% CI: 1.7-22.5; P = .005), and those with ≥ 1PIP related to omission of cardiovascular system were at higher risk of 180-day hospital readmission (adjusted OR, 3.6; 95% CI: 1.5-8.3; P = .003). Conclusions: The presence of adverse events in older patients discharged from SSU may be associated with PIP, identified by STOPP-START criteria, and more specifically with drugs related to cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric disorders, and falls. Palabras clave: Anciano, Prescripción inadecuada, Unidad de corta estancia, Keywords: Elderly, Inappropriate prescription, Emergency short-stay unit

OBJECTIVE: To assess heart failure prevalence, epidemiology, co-morbidities and polypharmacy in our region from electronic patient records. To evaluate gender differences in heart failure patients. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care Lleida (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: All patients from 21 primary care centers with the diagnosis of heart failure in medical records were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Demografic data, comorbidities and therapeutical subgroups in patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in their clinical record. RESULTS: Heart failure was found in 0.99% (3017 from 306229 patients), of whom 59% were women, and a mean age of 80 years. Comorbidities: hypertension 67%, diabetes 30%, hyperlipidemia 26.5%, obesity 27%, ischemic heart disease 19%, stroke 11%, atrial fibrillation 31%, COPD 26%, renal failure 12%. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity were more frequent in women, COPD, ischemic heart disease and renal failure in men. There were no differences in diabetes, stroke and atrial fibrillation. Patients were prescribed a median of 8 different therapeutic subgroups (P25 = 6 and P75 = 11). Women were more frequently prescribed diuretics (76%), cardiac glycosides (22%) and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and men ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonists in combination with beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure patients in primary care are elderly, with significant co-morbidities and treated with a high number of drugs. Gender differences exist in cardiovascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and also in therapy.

In this article the current state in the detection and management directives of the frail elderly from Primary Care are reviewed. These include the recommendations of the 2009 Preventive Activities Program and Health Promotion of the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (PAPPS-semFYC) and define future lines worthy of review. The lack of defined limits between frailty and good functionality, and with disability and dependency, makes it difficult to diagnose. The two currently most widely methods for detecting the frail elderly are: screening based on risk factors with a sound prediction of suffering adverse events and functional loss (advanced age, hospitalisation, falls, changes in movement and balance, muscle weakness and little exercise, comorbidity, adverse social conditions, multiple medications, etc.) or based on the loss of incipient functionality or early loss if there is still no ostensible degree of incapacity or dependence, and with the possibilities of reversing or modifying it with suitable interventions. Other detection methods, although less used or in the experimental phase include, detection of a phenotype (geriatric syndrome) according to clinical criteria established by Fried, or by biological markers (pre-clinical stage).