Introduction: We investigated a protocol to support the treatment of constipation that was developed in collaboration with physicians and the effectiveness of Protocol Based Pharmacotherapy Management (PBPM) performed by pharmacists in improving constipation.Methiod: Patients with constipation who underwent PBPM between August 2020 and May 2021 were included in this study. The results of the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) assessments by pharmacists on the first day of intervention and at discharge were collected retrospectively to evaluate the efficacy of PBPM. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used for statistical analysis, and the threshold value for rejecting the null hypothesis was p < 0.05.Results: Of the 23 eligible patients, three were excluded according to the criteria, and 20 patients were included. Median CSS improved significantly from 11.5 points [8.25-16.75] at the first intervention to 5.5 points [2.75-10.25] at discharge. The median BSFS improved significantly from Type 2 [2-3] to Type 3.5 [3-4]. Conclusion: PBPM by pharmacists to support the treatment of constipation resulted in improvement of constipation.

Background: The effect of sarcopenia on depressive mood during geriatric rehabilitation remains unclear. This study investigated the potential influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood among geriatric patients in a rehabilitation setting. Methods: This observational cohort study enrolled 204 patients aged ≥65 years (mean age, 78.8±7.6 years; women, 45.1%) admitted to a rehabilitation unit between April 2020 and July 2021. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment criteria, which include low handgrip strength and muscle mass. Depressive mood was defined as a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥6 points. We applied logistic regression models to examine the influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood at discharge. Results: We observed sarcopenia in 58.3% of patients. The logistic regression model showed that sarcopenia negatively influenced depressive mood at discharge (odds ratio=5.460; 95% confidence interval, 2.344–13.415). Of the 68 patients without depressive mood at admission, those with sarcopenia (n=31) had a significantly higher incidence of depressive mood at discharge compared with patients without sarcopenia (n=37) (41.9% vs. 16.2%, p=0.037). Conclusion Sarcopenia at admission negatively affected depressive mood at discharge from geriatric rehabilitation. Thus, early and routine assessment of sarcopenia is vital for patients undergoing geriatric rehabilitation.

Background: The effect of sarcopenia on depressive mood during geriatric rehabilitation remains unclear. This study investigated the potential influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood among geriatric patients in a rehabilitation setting. Methods: This observational cohort study enrolled 204 patients aged ≥65 years (mean age, 78.8±7.6 years; women, 45.1%) admitted to a rehabilitation unit between April 2020 and July 2021. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment criteria, which include low handgrip strength and muscle mass. Depressive mood was defined as a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥6 points. We applied logistic regression models to examine the influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood at discharge. Results: We observed sarcopenia in 58.3% of patients. The logistic regression model showed that sarcopenia negatively influenced depressive mood at discharge (odds ratio=5.460; 95% confidence interval, 2.344–13.415). Of the 68 patients without depressive mood at admission, those with sarcopenia (n=31) had a significantly higher incidence of depressive mood at discharge compared with patients without sarcopenia (n=37) (41.9% vs. 16.2%, p=0.037). Conclusion Sarcopenia at admission negatively affected depressive mood at discharge from geriatric rehabilitation. Thus, early and routine assessment of sarcopenia is vital for patients undergoing geriatric rehabilitation.

Background: The effect of sarcopenia on depressive mood during geriatric rehabilitation remains unclear. This study investigated the potential influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood among geriatric patients in a rehabilitation setting. Methods: This observational cohort study enrolled 204 patients aged ≥65 years (mean age, 78.8±7.6 years; women, 45.1%) admitted to a rehabilitation unit between April 2020 and July 2021. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment criteria, which include low handgrip strength and muscle mass. Depressive mood was defined as a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥6 points. We applied logistic regression models to examine the influence of sarcopenia on depressive mood at discharge. Results: We observed sarcopenia in 58.3% of patients. The logistic regression model showed that sarcopenia negatively influenced depressive mood at discharge (odds ratio=5.460; 95% confidence interval, 2.344–13.415). Of the 68 patients without depressive mood at admission, those with sarcopenia (n=31) had a significantly higher incidence of depressive mood at discharge compared with patients without sarcopenia (n=37) (41.9% vs. 16.2%, p=0.037). Conclusion Sarcopenia at admission negatively affected depressive mood at discharge from geriatric rehabilitation. Thus, early and routine assessment of sarcopenia is vital for patients undergoing geriatric rehabilitation.