New Virtual Journal Issue Commemorates Key Research that Shaped Geriatrics

A new virtual issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) offers a look back at 20 of the most important studies impacting the care of older adults as published from 2000 to 2015. 

This retrospective on nearly two decades of scholarship provides perspective on how geriatrics, gerontology, and long-term care have evolved since the new millennium, and where and why that progress continues to impact the present and future of eldercare expertise. Thomas T Yoshikawa, MD, AGSF—who served as Editor-in-Chief of the journal during this timeframe—authored an editorial outlining article selections with current Executive Editor Joseph G. Ouslander, MD, AGSF, and new JAGS Editor-in-Chief William B Applegate, MD, MPH, MACP, AGSF (J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016;64(9):1763-1762).

“The past 15 years represent remarkable progress toward improving the health and quality-of-life of older adults, largely through carefully designed and implemented research studies,” noted Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, President of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). “This review is a true microcosm of how the geriatrics evidence base has developed and evolved over time: its papers focus on everything from cognition and physical disabilities to frailty, medications, and hospitalization and transitional care.”

Added AGS CEO Nancy E Lundebjerg, MPA: “This virtual issue offers an important look at how geriatrics expertise has grown, and we’re confident that the next 15 years will see equally vibrant improvements to health care practice, models, and systems of care—all with a laser-focus on improving the health and well-being of older adults.”

More than 30 members of the JAGS editorial board submitted votes for seminal studies from a pool of more than 150 articles cited most frequently on an annual basis from 2000–2015. Both the committee and their final list of top papers as compiled by Drs Yoshikawa, Ouslander, and Applegate reflect the depth and breadth of long-term care and geriatrics, across not only research areas of interest but also professions and specialties. The virtual issue, available online at WileyOnlineLibrary.com/journal/JGS with time-limited, free, open access, includes a reflection on the impact of each selected study, including those below:

American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x): The AGS Beers Criteria have become one of the most widely used clinical tools for determining medications that could be potentially harmful to older persons.

Transitional Care of Older Adults Hospitalized with Heart Failure: A Randomized, Controlled Trial (10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52202.x): This study formed the basis of Dr Mary Naylor’s Transitional Care Model, which has been disseminated widely throughout the United States as a result of evolving Medicare payment models.

Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations of Nursing Home Residents: Frequency, Causes, and Costs
(10.1111/j.1532541 5.2010.02768.x): This study provided the data for an expert panel to make recommendations that evolved into the Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT) quality improvement program, which is being widely used in the United States and abroad.

Geriatric Syndromes: Clinical, Research, and Policy Implications of a Core Geriatric Concept (10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01156.x):
Thisseminal paper has formed the basis of many current clinical care and research initiatives for older adults living with more than one chronic condition.

Physical Performance Measures in the Clinical Setting (10.1046/j.1532- 5415. 2003.51104.x):
In the years since this article was published, both gait (walking) speed and physical performance have become important measures of older adult health.

Research Agenda for Frailty in Older Adults: Toward a Better Understanding of Physiology and Etiology: Summary from the American Geriatrics Society/National Institute on Aging Research Conference on Frailty in Older Adults (10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00745.x): Many of the conference recommendations and concepts included in this article have led to a better definition of frailty and its consequences, and have helped translate that progress into implementation in clinical practice.