A Risk Index for Geriatric Acute Medical Admissions (RIGAMA).

Link to article at PubMed

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A Risk Index for Geriatric Acute Medical Admissions (RIGAMA).

Acute Med. 2014;13(1):6-11

Authors: Romero-Ortuno R, O'Dwyer C, Byrne D, O'Riordan D, Silke B

Abstract
Aim: to create and validate a Risk Index for Geriatric Acute Medical Admissions (RIGAMA) for those aged ≥ 65, based on accumulation of deficits. Methods: we retrospectively validated a 30-item RIGAMA against inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), discharge to long-term care (LTC) and 30-day readmission, adjusted for age. Results: ≥ 1 RIGAMA deficit was superior to age in predicting mortality and prolonged LOS, with a clear incremental effect. The latter was true for ≥3 deficits in predicting 30-day readmission. Three to 5 deficits predicted discharge to LTC better than age. Conclusions: RIGAMA is easy to collect by the admitting junior doctor and may help trigger early senior support and inform the appropriate use of hospital resources by older patients.

PMID: 24616899 [PubMed - in process]

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