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Mazen A Basheikh1,2 1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mazen A Basheikh, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tel +966504325067, Email mabasheik@uj.edu.saBackground: Levetiracetam (LEV) is commonly prescribed for epilepsy management. However, neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are concerning adverse effects that may result in medication discontinuation. This study aims to examine the incidence and factors influencing LEV associated NPDs in adult patients aged 50 years and above.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients aged 50 years and above prescribed LEV between 2010 and 2020, with at least one follow-up appointment six months post-treatment initiation. The incidence of new-onset or aggravated NPDs and variables potentially influencing this risk were examined. Independent t-test, chi-squared, and Fisher’s exact test were used, in addition to univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The study included 100 patients with a mean age at LEV start of 63.31 years (SD = 16.48). Neuropsychiatric symptoms were observed in 6 (6.0%) patients. Factors associated with new-onset NPDs were younger age at epilepsy diagnosis (p=0.005), younger age at LEV start (p=0.004), and concurrent use of Carbamazepine/Oxcarbazepine (p=0.004). On multivariate analysis, only the association with Carbamazepine/Oxcarbazepine remained significant (OR 14.62, 95% CI 1.86– 114.70, p=0.011).Conclusion: The findings indicate that the incidence of NPDs in elderly patients is relatively low (6%). Further research with larger samples is needed in comparison with a younger sample as a control group to confirm these findings.Keywords: levetiracetam, neuropsychiatric disorders, elderly patients

Shi CX, Jin J, Qiao LY, Li T, Ma JH, Ma ZK. Clin Interv Aging. 2019;14:571–575. At the request of the authors, the Editor and Publisher of Clinical Interventions in Aging wish to retract the published article. Following publication, concerns were raised that the reported study did not match with details of the associated study that had been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under registration number, ChiCTR-IOR-17014122. The authors responded to our queries and explained that they failed to complete registration of the study to the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry before starting their clinical research. Their request to retrospectively register the study prior to publication was declined by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry because the trial had already been completed for three years. To comply with journal requirements the authors provided the clinical registration number (ChiCTR-IOR-17014122) from an unrelated dexmedetomidine study by members of their own research group. The owners of the study associated with registration number, ChiCTR-IOR-17014122, were unaware this number had been used in the publication of another study. The authors contacted the journal to request that the article be retracted and put this error in judgement down to inexperience and wish to apologise for any confusion that was caused. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”. This retraction relates to this paper

Cunxian Shi,* Jin Jin,* Leyan Qiao, Tao Li, Jiahai Ma, Zhikun Ma Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai 264000, Shandong, China*These authors contributed equally to this workObjective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious complication in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine for general anesthesia maintenance on occurrence and duration of POD in elderly patients after cardiac surgery.Methods: One hundred and sixty-four patients were enrolled after cardiac surgery between June 2009 and December 2016. Patients were assigned by a computer-generated randomization sequence in a 1:1 ratio to receive dexmedetomidine general anesthesia maintenance or propofol general anesthesia maintenance. POD was assessed every day with confusion assessment method for intensive care units (ICU) during the first 5 postoperative days.Results: There was no significance in incidence of POD between the dexmedetomidine group and the propofol group (P=0.0758). In patients treated with dexmedetomidine, the median onset time of delirium was delayed (second day vs first day) and the duration of delirium reduced (2 days vs 3 days) when compared with propofol-treated patients. The dexmedetomidine-treated patients also displayed a lower VAS score and less opiate analgesic consumption. No difference was observed in respect to other postoperative outcomes.Conclusion: For elderly patients, perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine reduced incidence, delayed onset and shortened duration of POD after cardiac surgery.Keywords: dexmedetomidine, postoperative delirium, anesthesia, cardiac surgery, elderly patients

In Japan, transporting elderly patients to emergency departments has recently posed serious problems, including a longer average time from patients’ initial emergency calls to their arrival at hospitals. To manage emergency departments more efficiently, many hospitals in the United States and some other developed countries, including Japan, introduced emergency department observation units (EDOU). However, because the usefulness of EDOUs in managing elderly patients remains uncertain, we analysed data of patients admitted to a Japanese university hospital’s EDOU to gauge its efficacy. We followed 1,426 patients admitted to the hospital’s EDOU from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2014. The average age of patients who stayed in the EDOU increased, whereas the average length of time that they spent there decreased. Although the percentage of patients older than 65 years increased slightly, from 36.42% (2011–2012) to 37.73% (2013–2014), the proportion of those patients between the two periods did not significantly change (P = .61). Moreover, their average length of stay was 2.16 ± 0.91 days, whereas patients younger than 65 years stayed for significantly less time (1.92 ± 0.82 days). By condition, approximately 36% of patients older than 65 years presented with non-neurosurgical trauma, approximately 59% presented with other forms of trauma, but proportions of both categories of trauma were significantly smaller in patients younger than 65 years (nonneurosurgical trauma, 23%; all trauma, 47%). Most elderly patients with limb trauma prepped for surgery were transferred to other hospitals after a few days. Results suggest that the EDOU at the university hospital has served to as a buffer for regional emergency medical systems in Japan, especially given the continued ageing of the Japanese population.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is an important strategy for reducing cardiovascular events (CV) after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Elderly patients undergoing DAPT have a higher risk of bleeding than younger patients for a variety of reasons. Stratification of thrombotic/hemorrhagic risk is mandatory in order to decide on the type and duration of DAPT. The percentage of patients ≥ 75 years represented in clinical trials is not large, so very often elderly people are prescribed treatment protocols only experimented on younger patients with a lower hemorrhagic risk. However, even in patients aged ≥ 75 treated with invasive or conservative therapy, after an ACS, a DAPT with aspirin 80-100 mg/day plus a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor for 12 months is recommended. In elderly patients, DAPT should be considered a dynamic process that can be modified over time based on the patient's clinical conditions, or any other necessities (non-procrastinating surgical interventions, comorbid-like effects that can increase hemorrhagic risk). In patients with moderate-high or very high hemorrhagic risk, DAPT treatment should last less than 12 months. A prolongation of DAPT beyond 12 months in this setting is limited to a very low percentage of patients, after careful assessment of ischemic/hemorrhagic profile.

The world population is ageing, with the proportion of older people (65+ years) expected to reach 21% in 2050 and to exceed the number of younger people (aged 15 or less) for the first time in history. Because cancer is particularly a chronic disease of older people, a large increase in the number of elderly patients with cancer is anticipated. The estimated number of new cancer cases worldwide among people over 65 is expected to grow from about 6 million in 2008 to more than 11 million during the coming decade. By 2030, individuals over 65 are expected to account for 70% of all cancer patients in the Western world.Along with the increase in oncology patients, the number of older people caring for their ill spouses or other relatives is also growing, with the ensuing toll on these caregivers causing major concern, especially in western countries.In different societies the characteristics of family caregiver stressors, cultural norms concerning care giving, and the availability of support have a huge impact on those providing care. Any study of older caregivers of older cancer patients requires an integrative evaluation of ageing that takes into account cultural, social, psychological, and behavioral variables.This review proposes a critical discussion of the multidimensionality of the caregiving and of the impact that age, culture and gender have on it.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is an important strategy for reducing cardiovascular events (CV) after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Elderly patients undergoing DAPT have a higher risk of bleeding than younger patients for a variety of reasons. Stratification of thrombotic/hemorrhagic risk is mandatory in order to decide on the type and duration of DAPT. The percentage of patients ≥ 75 years represented in clinical trials is not large, so very often elderly people are prescribed treatment protocols only experimented on younger patients with a lower hemorrhagic risk. However, even in patients aged ≥ 75 treated with invasive or conservative therapy, after an ACS, a DAPT with aspirin 80-100 mg/day plus a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor for 12 months is recommended. In elderly patients, DAPT should be considered a dynamic process that can be modified over time based on the patient's clinical conditions, or any other necessities (non-procrastinating surgical interventions, comorbid-like effects that can increase hemorrhagic risk). In patients with moderate-high or very high hemorrhagic risk, DAPT treatment should last less than 12 months. A prolongation of DAPT beyond 12 months in this setting is limited to a very low percentage of patients, after careful assessment of ischemic/hemorrhagic profile.

Background: At present, there is a high incidence of elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and it is important to know the long term progression and the factors that influence it., Objectives: To analyse the progression of advanced CKD in elderly patients and the influence of bone-mineral metabolism., Methods: Retrospective study of 125 patients ≥70years of age with CKD stages 4-5 who started follow-up from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008, showing the progression of CKD (measured by the slope of the regression line of the estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] by MDRD-4) over 5years., Results: Progression in the entire group (median and 25th and 75th percentiles): -1.15 (-2.8/0.17) ml/min/1.73m 2 /year, CKD-4: -1.3 (-2.8/0.03) ml/min/1.73m 2 /year, CKD-5: -1.03 (-3.0/0.8) ml/min/1.73m 2 /year; the slope of the regression line was positive in 35 patients (28%: CKD does not progress) and negative in 90 patients (72%: CKD progresses). Negative correlation (Spearman) (slower progression): PTH, albumin/Cr ratio and daily Na excretion (all baseline measurements). No correlation with eGFR, serum P, urinary P excretion, protein intake and intake of P (all baseline measurements). In the linear regression analysis (dependent variable: slope of progression): albuminuria and PTH (both at baseline measurements) influenced this variable independently. Logistic regression (progresses vs. does not progress): PTH, albuminuria and eGFR (all at baseline measurements) influenced significantly., Conclusions: In our group of elderly patients, impairment of renal function is slow, particularly in CKD-5 patients. Albuminuria and PTH at baseline levels are prognostic factors in the evolution of renal function., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)