AME

AME – Management of Elderly in hospital and primary care

The general population of western countries is rapidly aging. In Italy, we observe a constant increase of the population over 65 years old presenting with multiple chronic conditions. Based on these socio-demographic changes, there is a strong need for disease prevention and management actions. The effectiveness of these actions, based on the best evidence available in the literature, will be assessed through randomized controlled studies that will determine the appropriateness of interventions to meet the specfic needs of the Italian population. The whole project is harmonized, so the results of the WPs are complementary to each other to ensure maximum coverage of the intertwined health issues among the elderly.

Work packages and team

• WP1: Models for managing frailty in the elderly at home Implementation and impact assessment of new roles of nurses (e.g. family health nurses) and development of a multifactorial intervention to improve people’s safety (e.g. to reduce falls), including RCTs Team: Alberto Dal Molin, Daniela Ferrante, Fabrizio Faggiano, Patrizia Zeppegno, Carmela Rinaldi, Erica Busca, Daiana Campani;
• WP2: Development of acute care pattern for in-hospital elderly. Design and implementation of an interdisciplinary team model (e.g., Acute Care Elderly Unit) and innovative nursing care approaches. Team: Alberto Dal Molin, Mario Pirisi, Luigi Castello, Pier Paolo Sainaghi, Carlo Smirne, Erica Busca, Daiana Campani;
• WP3: Impact of elective surgery and hospitalization on the frailty of the elderly Exploration of the effect of surgery and hospitalization on long-term outcomes through observational studies; Team: Rosanna Vaschetto, Alberto Dal Molin, Francesco Della Corte, Francesca Vigone;
• WP4: Feasibility and acceptability of delivering Tertiary ALS Centre specialty care to home using technology: a model for geriatric care Exploration of the use of technology and telemedicine in ALS patients, obtaining a model to reproduce in the geriatric population. Team:  Fabiola De Marchi, Letizia Mazzini
• WP5: Epidemiology and development of a new model for the management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in elderly patients admitted to Novara Hospital: the NOV-AKI study Epidemiological analysis of acute renal injuries in Novara hospital with the development of a new integrated model between nephrologist and general practitioner in primary care. Identification of patients with acute renal injury (AKI) in the progression towards chronic renal disease through the evaluation of epigenetic changes in the urine. Team: Vincenzo Cantaluppi, Mario Giordano, Marco Quaglia

Partnership

• Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine (USA)
• Servizio Osservatorio Epidemiologico – Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Vercelli
• Direzione delle professioni sanitarie – Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Maggiore della Carità di Novara
• Direzione delle Professioni Sanitarie – Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Biella
• Direzione delle Professioni Sanitarie – Azienda Ospedaliera Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria
• Infrastruttura Ricerca Formazione Innovazione Azienda Ospedaliera Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo
• Geriatria Azienda Ospedaliera Santi Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo
• Department of Medical Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC), University of Torino (Italy)

Research area: Burden of old age and disability, Prevention and treatment pathways

Principal Investigator (PI) and CO-PI:

Alberto Dal Molin (PI)- Researcher - Department of Translational Medicine – UPO
Mario Pirisi (Co-PI) – Full professor - Department of Translational Medicine - UPO