Evaluation of comprehensive geriatric assessment in older patients undergoing pacemaker implantation

Background This study evaluated the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in older patients undergoing pacemaker implantation. Methods In this prospective cohort, CGA was performed in 197 patients >= 75 years at pacemaker implantation and yearly thereafter. CGA embraced the following domains: cognition, mobility, nutrition, activities of daily living (ADLs), and falls (with or without loss of consciousness). Based on comorbidities, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was calculated. For predictive analysis, logistic regression was used. Results During a mean follow-up duration of 2.4 years, the incidence rates of syncope decreased from 0.46 to 0.04 events per year (p < 0.001), and that of falls without loss of consciousness from 0.27 to 0.15 (p < 0.001) before vs. after implantation. Sixty-three patients (32.0%) died. Impaired mobility (OR 2.60, 95%CI 1.22-5.54,p = 0.013), malnutrition (OR 3.26, 95%CI 1.52-7.01,p = 0.002), and a higher CCI (OR per point increase 1.25, 95%CI 1.04-1.50,p = 0.019) at baseline were significant predictors of mortality. Among 169 patients who survived for more than 1 year and thus underwent follow-up CGA, CGA domains did not deteriorate during follow-up, except for ADLs. This decline in ADLs during follow-up was the strongest predictor of later nursing home admission (OR 9.29, 95%CI 1.82-47.49,p = 0.007). Higher baseline age (OR per year increase 1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.20,p = 0.018) and a higher baseline CCI (OR per point increase 1.32, 95%CI 1.05-1.65,p = 0.017) were associated with a decline in ADLs during follow-up. Conclusions CGA is useful to detect functional deficits, which are associated with mortality or nursing home admission after pacemaker implantation. The present study seems to support the use of CGA in older patients undergoing pacemaker implantation as functional deficits and falls are amenable to geriatric interventions.