Post-Emergency Geriatric Units (PEGUs) aim to reduce hospital length of stay (LOS) and prevent functional decline by facilitating earlier discharge. This study aim to identify factors linked to prolonged hospitalization to improve patient selection for PEGU. In this retrospective study at the University Hospital of Angers (Dec 2022-Feb 2024), 590 eligible PEGU patients were analyzed. LOS was categorized as short (0-5 days) or prolonged (6 or more days). Sociodemographic, clinical, and biological data were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Median age was 88, 62.2% were female, and 69% lived at home; 42% had prolonged LOS. Prolonged stay was associated in univariate analysis with higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR: 1.10 [1.02-1.19],p = 0.015), elevated CRP > 64 mg/L (2.07 [1.46-2.92], p < 0.001), and higher Clinical Frailty Scale (1.79 [1.23-2.59], p = 0.002). The multivariate analysis showed that a CRP levels ≥64 mg/L (OR 1.92 [1.35-2.75], p < 0.001) and a CFS equal to or superior to 7 (OR 1.59 [1.07-2.36], p = 0.022) were associated with prolonged LOS. Frailty and inflammation independently predict longer stays. Limitations include retrospective design and patient exclusions. Frailty and elevated CRP are key predictors of prolonged PEGU stay. Although causality cannot be established due to the retrospective design and potential biases, these findings may help to better characterize older patients who could potentially benefit from PEGU interventions.

Aging is associated with a decline in functional capacities, which can lead to challenges in medication preparation. Identifying these issues appears essential. The objectives of this study were to describe the proportion of pharmaceutical interventions carried out following the identification of patient difficulties in preparing and administering medications, and to characterize the difficulties identified. Descriptive cross-sectional study with data collected during 42 pharmaceutical interviews with patients hospitalized on an acute geriatric ward. The interview consisted of two parts: i) a questionnaire assessing potential difficulties, and ii) direct observation of medication preparation using pharmaceutical forms similar to those usually prescribed to the patient. The main outcome was the occurrence of at least one pharmaceutical intervention following the identification of difficulties. Pharmaceutical intervention was suggested to 95.0 % of patients where a difficulty was identified, representing 45.2 % of patients included. Interventions included education on correct use (16.0 %), substitution of pharmaceutical forms (16.0 %), implementation of tools for patients (36.0 %) and home assistance (32.0 %). These interventions were accepted by the geriatrician in all cases and by the patient in 80.0 %. At least one difficulty was identified for 47.7 % of the patients. This study shows that identifying functional difficulties in medication preparation enables tailored interventions to address these issues. Observing older adults' abilities to manage their medication could reduce the risk of medication errors and probably enhance their daily quality of life.

The aim of this study was to determine an association between ionized calcium (CaI) levels and mortality 3 months after Covid-19 infection in geriatric population. Observational retrospective cohort study. One hundred and seventy-nine patients hospitalized in the geriatric acute care unit of Angers University Hospital were included. This specific unit specifically dedicated to COVID-19 patients was opened for 2 periods : from March 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 and from October 1, 2020 to March 29, 2021. Covariates considered were: age, sex, Iso-Resources Groups (GIR) score ≤ 3, Parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), severe undernutrition defined as albumin < 30 g/L, history of cancer, history of cardiomyopathy, severe chronic renal failure (defined as clearance < 30 ml/min), Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) score, use of systemic corticosteroids and usual vitamin D supplementation. Direct potentiometry was also used as a covariate. The time elapsed between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and death was studied by survival curves calculated using Cox model in each group defined by serum CaI concentration (>1.22 and ≤1.22 mmol/L). In the Cox model, a significant association was found between CaI over 1.22 mmol/l and 3-months mortality, analyzed in an adjusted model (HR 2.40 [1.34-4.31], p = 0.003). There is an association between CaI and 3 months mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized for COVID-19.