Aim RCT to evaluate the efficacy of multi-component interventions for prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized older patients. Findings The multi-component interventions did not reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia but increased the mean time to next hospitalisation due to respiratory infection (11.5 months vs. 9.5 months; P = 0.049), and reduced the risk of hospitalisation in 1 year (18.6% vs. 34.4%; P = 0.049). This was likely due to the increased recognition of oropharyngeal dysphagia (35.6% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001) and improved influenza (54.5% vs 17.2%; P < 0.001) and pneumococcal vaccination rates (52.5% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001). Message A multi-component intervention for nosocomial pneumonia may not significantly reduce the incidence of hospitalacquired pneumonia but significantly increases the frequency of diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia, improves vaccination rates and can reduce future hospitalisations for respiratory infections in older adults.

Objective Anticholinergic burden refers to the cumulative effects of taking multiple medications with anticholinergic effects. This study was carried out in a public hospital in Singapore, aimed to improve and achieve a 100% comprehensive identification and review of measured, anticholinergic burden in a geriatric psychiatry liaison service to geriatric wards. We evaluated changes in pre-to post-assessment anticholinergic burden scores and trainee feedback. Method Plan Do Study Act methodology was employed, and Anticholinergic Effect on Cognition scale (AEC) was implemented as the study intervention. A survey instrument evaluated trainee feedback. Results There was no measured anticholinergic burden in a baseline of 170 assessments. 75 liaison psychiatry assessments were conducted between June and November 2021 in two cycles. 94.7% of pre-assessments (at the time of assessment) and 71.1% of post-assessments (following assessment) had a record of AEC scores in clinical documentation in cycle one, improving in the second cycle to 100%, 94.6%, respectively. A high post-assessment AEC score of 3 and over reduced from 15.8% in cycle one to 5.4% in cycle two. The trainee feedback suggested an enriching educational experience. Conclusions Using the AEC scale, the findings support the feasibility of comprehensive identification and review of measured anticholinergic burden in older people with neurocognitive disorders.

Aim: Admission to an acute care geriatric unit may lead to adverse outcomes. It is therefore important to identify high-risk patients early so that appropriate management can be instituted to prevent or delay onset of adverse events. The aim of this study is to evaluate one-year mortality and its associated risk factors among hospitalized patients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on consecutive patients admitted to an acute geriatric ward in a Singapore hospital from March to April 2013.Demographic and clinical information was collected from patient medical records. Linkage with death records from a national registry was performed. Results: Of the 196 patients assessed, 4.6%, 20.9% and 35.7% died during admission, within six months post-admission and within one year post-admission respectively. Pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases accounted for most of the death cases. In the multivariable logistic regression adjusted by age and gender, abbreviated mental test (AMT) score, admission for falls and depression were found to be significantly associated with death within one year post-admission. In the analysis stratified by gender, AMT score and depression were found to be significantly associated with death in males whereas AMT score and admission for falls were significantly associated with death in females. Conclusions: This study offers significant insight into mortality trends and risk factors for clinicians, hence guiding them in individualizing their management plan for acutely ill geriatric patients. Predicting long-term prognosis will enhance rehabilitation goal-setting and advance care-planning.