Persistent COVID-19 Symptoms

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

We have read and written many articles and blogs regarding this topic but it continues to fascinate everyone including researchers. The frequency and variety of persistent symptoms after COVID-19 are definitely stumping the medical community! In a study published in JAMA Open, a systematic review of 45 studies including 9,751 participants with COVID-19, the median proportion of individuals who experienced …

Once a Faller Always a Faller

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

In a presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 2021 Annual Meeting, researchers identified that people with a history of falls were more likely to experience another fall in a few months post-fall. The ACSM’s Guidelines of Exercise Testing and Prescription recommend that older adults perform aerobic exercise days a week and that they supplement this with 2 …

Natural Immunity

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Disease, naturally acquired SARS-CoV-2 immunity persists for up to 11 months following infection. The study was a prospective, longitudinal analysis of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donors at multiple time points over an 11-month period in order to determine how circulating antibody levels change over time following natural infection. 228 donors …

Lack of Sleep

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

In a study published in Science Daily, having trouble falling asleep was associated with cognitive impairment. More frequent trouble falling asleep predicted poorer episodic memory, executive function, language, processing speed, and visuospatial performance. Insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or regularly waking up earlier than desired, despite allowing enough time in bed. This study analyzed data from the …

Elderly Patient in Hospital

Isolation and Mortality

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Social isolation, generally defined as having few social network ties or infrequent social contact, is an important public health concern that affects many older adults. By age 85, 39% of older adults live alone, and socially isolated adults experience high rates of negative health outcomes, including premature mortality and a 5% increase in the risk of dementia. In the LTC …

Xray image of hip fracture

Fracture Hospitalization Trends

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Fractures in late life are highly consequential for health, services use, and spending, however, little is known about trends in extremity fracture hospitalizations among older adults in the United States. Although trauma-related death and disability is most common among young and working-age Americans, older adults comprise approximately 30% of trauma hospitalizations. While both injurious falls and osteoporotic hip fractures have …

Excess COVID-19 Mortality Assisted Living

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, they examined the excess mortality among assisted living residents in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. After adjusting for facility fixed effects, assisted living residents experienced 17% higher overall mortality in 2020 compared with the prior year. These results suggest that assisted living residents experienced increased mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic …

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Per an article published in JAMA Network, adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes had better outcomes using continuous glucose monitoring versus blood glucose meter monitoring. The trend in geriatric care has been to step away from using sliding scale insulin, opting for long-acting insulins such as Lantus instead. This recent study indicates that continuous monitoring using a medical device …

eNoses Ingenious!

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

Rapid diagnosis is key to curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic. One path to such rapid diagnosis may rely on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the infected body, or in other words, identifying the smell of the infection. Consistent with this rationale, dogs can use their nose to identify COVID-19 patients. Given the scale of the pandemic, however, animal deployment …

Legionnaires Disease

Legionnaires’ Disease Fact Sheet from the CDC

Angie SzumlinskiHealth

Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease is a very serious type ofpneumonia (lung infection) caused by bacteria called Legionella. Ifyou develop pneumonia symptoms and may have been exposed toLegionella, see a doctor right away. Be sure to mention if you haveused a hot tub, spent any nights away from home, or stayed in ahospital in the last two weeks