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Background: Residential InReach presents an alternative to hospital admission for aged care residents swabbed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), although relative outcomes remain unknown. Aims: To compare rates and predictors of 28‐day mortality for aged care residents seen by InReach with COVID‐19, or 'suspected COVID‐19' (sCOVID), including hospital versus InReach‐based care. Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive patients referred to a Victorian InReach service meeting COVID‐19 testing criteria between April and October 2020 (prevaccine availability). COVID‐19 was determined by positive polymerase chain reaction testing on nasopharyngeal swab. sCOVID‐19 was defined as meeting symptomatic Victorian Government testing criteria but persistently swab negative. Results: There were no significant differences in age, sex, Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) or Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) between 152 patients with COVID‐19 and 118 patients with sCOVID. Similar results were found for 28‐day mortality between patients with COVID‐19 (35/152, 23%) and sCOVID (32/118, 27%) (P = 0.4). For the combined cohort, 28‐day mortality was associated with initial oxygen saturation (P < 0.001), delirium (P < 0.001), hospital transfer for acuity (P = 0.02; but not public health/facility reasons), CFS (P = 0.04), prior ischaemic heart disease (P = 0.01) and dementia (P = 0.02). For patients with COVID‐19, 28‐day mortality was associated with initial oxygen saturation (P = 0.02), delirium (P < 0.001) and hospital transfer for acuity (P = 0.01), but not public health/facility reasons. Conclusion: Unvaccinated aged care residents meeting COVID‐19 testing criteria seen by InReach during a pandemic experience high mortality rates, including with negative swab result. Residents remaining within‐facility (with InReach) experienced similar adjusted mortality odds to residents transferred to hospital for public health/facility‐based reasons, and lower than those transferred for clinical acuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Methods Results Conclusions Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small brain haemorrhages, identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They indicate potential for cognitive decline and mortality in memory clinic attendees. The presence of more than four CMBs is exclusionary for some clinical trials of disease‐modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The prevalence and clinical relevance of CMBs in Australian memory clinic populations has not been reported.To highlight the prevalence of CMBs in an Australian memory clinic cohort and explore associations with diagnoses, topography and cognitive performance.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 393 patients who attended a memory clinic (CDAMS) in Melbourne, Australia from January 2014 to December 2016 who underwent brain MRI. Data collected included age, gender, clinical diagnosis and cognitive scores. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify associations of CMBs with clinical and cognitive findings.The prevalence of CMBs was 27% (n=107) with good inter‐rater reliability (κ=0.75). CMBs were significantly associated with increasing age. Prevalence of CMBs was higher in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (32%) and dementia (39%) compared with other diagnostic groups (p<0.001). Lobar‐predominant CMB distribution was associated with AD diagnosis. Presence of multiple CMBs was associated with poorer cognitive performance overall.CMBs are common in an Australian memory clinic population and are associated with poorer cognitive performance. “Real world” prevalence of CMBs may limit accessibility to disease‐modifying therapies for many people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]