After Emergency Hospitalization, Elders Fare Better with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Elders (age, ≥65) are at elevated risk for disability, cognitive decline, and admission to residential care after emergency admission to the hospital. These adverse outcomes might be prevented by comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a multidisciplinary process used to determine patients' medical, psychological, and functional capabilities and to coordinate treatment and follow-up. In this meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials that involved more than 10,000 elders, investigators evaluated the effects of CGA in hospital after emergency admission on various outcomes.

The odds of living at home were significantly higher for elders who underwent CGA than for those who received usual care after median follow-up of 6 months (odds ra…