Biomedical subjects

B E Paris

Publications and source records attributed to B E Paris.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Use of digoxin, diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers in older patients in an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of and indications for digoxin use and the prevalence of beta blocker and calcium channel blocker use in older patients with previous myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease (CAD), and the prevalence of use of diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers in older patients with hypertension in an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of charts from 528 unselected older patients, seen from June 1995 through July 1996 at an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice, was performed to investigate the prevalence of digoxin use and indications for digoxin use, the prevalence of beta blocker and calcium channel blocker use in older patients with previous myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease (CAD), and the prevalence of use of diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers in older patients with hypertension. SETTING: An academic hospital-based, primary care geriatrics practice staffed by fellows in a geriatrics training program and full-time faculty geriatricians. PATIENTS: A total of 416 women and 112 men, mean age 81 +/- 8 years (range 58 to 101), were included in the study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ninety-two of the 528 patients (17%) were taking digoxin. Recorded indications for digoxin were atrial fibrillation with or without congestive heart failure (CHF) in 39% of patients, CHF with sinus rhythm and abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 18% of patients, a clinical assessment of CHF with sinus rhythm and no recorded measurement of LVEF in 20% of patients, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 14% of patients, and coronary artery disease (CAD) in 9% of patients. Of 121 patients with previous myocardial infarction, 23 (19%) were prescribed beta blockers, and 54 (45%) were taking calcium channel blockers. Of 173 patients with CAD, 41 (24%) were treated with beta blockers, and 79 (46%) were taking calcium channel blockers. LVEF was not recorded in the charts of 90 of 121 patients (74%) with prior myocardial infarction and of 125 of 173 patients (72%) with CAD. Of 480 older patients with hypertension, 154 (37%) were treated with diuretics, 55 (13%) were treated with beta blockers, 160 (38%) were treated with ACE inhibitors, and 197 (47%) were treated with calcium channel blockers. CONCLUSIONS: In 528 older patients seen in an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice, the prevalence of digoxin use was 19%. Appropriate indications for digoxin were documented clearly in the charts of 53 of 92 patients (57%). Calcium channel blockers were used more often than beta blockers in patients with previous myocardial infarction or CAD. Calcium channel blockers were the most frequently used antihypertensive drugs.

Academic Medical Centers↗

PubMed1997

The utility of CT scanning in diagnosing dementia.

Dementia is an illness that affects an estimated 10% of noninstitutionalized persons older than 65 years of age. Among those older than 85 years of age, dementia is estimated to affect 20 to 50% of the population. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is based on clinical criteria and the exclusion of other causes of dementia. Neuroimaging procedures, mostly CT scans, have been used to exclude other lesions presenting as dementia. The yield of these procedures has been estimated to be about 3%. This article reviews some of the literature on this topic in an effort to establish specific recommendations for neuroimaging procedures in patients who present with dementia.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Elder abuse and neglect: how to recognize warning signs and intervene.

Elder mistreatment, whether abuse or neglect, can be classified as physical, psychological, or financial/material. Several types of mistreatment may occur simultaneously. Abuse occurs across all socioeconomic, racial, and religious lines. Risk factors include a history of mental illness or alcohol/drug abuse, a family history of violence, isolation of the victim, and recent stressful events in the life of the victim or abuser. For the physician the patient workup includes a careful history and physical exam, including cognitive evaluation. Ask about living arrangements, financial status, social supports, and emotional stressors. If possible, observe the interaction between the patient and family member or caregiver. Helpful resources include your state's Office of Protective Services and the American Medical Association's recently published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of elder abuse and neglect.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Roadblocks to do-not-resuscitate orders. A study in policy implementation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a potentially lifesaving procedure, is initiated on hospitalized patients who have an arrest in the absence of a written do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. New York State Law specifies that attending physicians may write a DNR order on an adult patient either with his/her consent or that of a surrogate. Under specified circumstances, concurring physician and witness signatures are also required. This study examines potential obstacles physicians may encounter when implementing a DNR order for a hospitalized patient. METHODS: Sixty house staff officers and 45 attending physicians at two New York City medical centers responded to a questionnaire listing 18 potential problems in obtaining a DNR order. Using a Likert scale, respondents rated the prevalence of each problem. RESULTS: Analysis of the data indicates that attending physician's failure to discuss DNR issues with patients and situations involving surrogate decision making are considered major obstacles to obtaining a DNR order. Procedural regulations, including abundant paperwork and witnessed signatures, are not identified as major obstacles. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a need for improved communication among physicians, patients, and surrogates about advance directives, when feasible, either prior to hospitalization or early in its course, in an effort to comply with DNR legislation in a manner that reflects the patient's wishes and best interests.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Substituted judgment: how accurate are proxy predictions?

Substituted judgment has been proposed as a method of promoting the autonomy of the mentally incapacitated patient, but little is known about the accuracy of surrogate decision makers in reflecting the true wishes of patients. In this study, surrogate decision makers' views (those of primary care providers and close family members) were compared with the decisions of currently competent chronically ill elderly patients, using a hypothetic cardiopulmonary resuscitation scenario under circumstances of current health and progressive dementia. Concordance between patients and their surrogates was evaluated by assessing percent agreement, kappa coefficient (for concordance beyond chance), and directionality of discrepant responses. Most patient respondents chose to be resuscitated in both scenarios. Although patients predicted that both their physicians (90%) and family members (87%) would accurately represent their wishes, neither family members nor physicians, in fact, were able to adequately predict patients' wishes in both scenarios (kappa less than or equal to 0.3 in all scenarios; percent agreement range, 59% to 88%). Few patients had ever discussed their resuscitation preferences with either their family member (16%) or their physician (7%). These results cast doubt on the usefulness of a strict substituted judgment standard as an approach to medical decision making for patients with diminished mental capacity.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

The prevalence and one-year outcome of limb arterial obstructive disease in a nursing home population.

To assess the utility of bedside diagnostic measures to detect prognostically significant peripheral vascular disease, we examined 60 nursing home residents by physical examination, Doppler sphygmomamometry and pneumatic oscillometry, and recorded the clinical history. Eighty-eight percent of the cases had tibial/brachial arterial systolic pressure indices below 0.95, the lower limit traditionally considered normal. Yet, no more than 5% of the patients carried a previous diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease or had intermittent claudication, leg ulcers or gangrene. Approximately half of the patients had tibial/brachial pressure indices less than 0.7, and one year later in these cases, there was significantly greater morbidity and nearly twice the mortality of patients with less severe disease. We conclude that simple bedside diagnostic tests of arterial disease used in this study discloses a high prevalence of disease in institutionalized elderly patients and identifies a group at particular risk for morbid complications.

Aged↗