Geriatric-CO-mAnagement for Cardiology Patients in the Hospital

This study aims to implement and evaluate a geriatric co-management intervention in older patients admitted for acute heart disease or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implementation (TAVI) to the cardiology units of the University Hospitals Leuven. The study uses a mixed-methods methodology aiming to 1) assess the feasibility and evaluate the effectiveness of geriatric co-management, 2) describe the experiences of intervention participants, and 3) perform a process evaluation. We will first consecutively recruit patients on the cardiology units to measure the standard of care in the control group. The geriatric co-management intervention will then be implemented and piloted on the participating units. Once fully implemented, we will consecutively recruit patients for the intervention group who will receive the geriatric co-management intervention.

Inclusion criteria

Patients will be included if they:

• Are admitted for non-surgical treatment of an acute heart problem (patients may be admitted through the emergency department or the cardiology outpatient services for any heart related acute disease) OR if they are admitted for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI);
• Are aged 75 years or older;
• Have an expected length of stay of three days or longer;
• Non-palliative on hospital admission
• Are Dutch speaking and testable;
• Give informed consent or proxy-informed consent;

Exclusion criteria

Patients will be excluded if they:

• Are admitted from another hospital unit or other hospital;
• Have been admitted to the intensive care unit for three days or longer;