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Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease characterized by pain, deformity, instability, reduction of motion and function. It is one of the main causes of disability in older adults, affecting about 10% of men and 18% of women over the age of sixty. There are several Guidelines that support the general clinical decision-making process. However, it is necessary to define an integrated management model for patients with OA to ensure an appropriate and quality healthcare. Methods: The objective of the analysis is to determine the economic burden linked to the prevalence and incidence of OA in the acute and chronic phases from the perspective of the National Health Service (NHS) and the entire society. A comparison was made between the management according to the clinical practice and the appropriate management according to National and International Guidelines, determining for each scenario the level of resources absorbed. Results: Patients who started a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-based therapy in clinical practice resulted in a higher absorption of resources of €363.87 than the same patient managed by referring to National and International Guidelines. Conclusions: OA is associated with a high economic burden and it is a priority problem for public health internationally. The savings resulting from our research, if generalized to the entire Italian population, would lead to a signifi- cant reduction of OA economic burden, thus allowing a reallocation of the available resources to other NHS' sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome due to impaired physiological reserve and characterized by a reduced ability to cope with stressing situations. Frailty and cardiovascular diseases share a common biological pathway and cardiovascular conditions may facilitate the manifestation of clinical frailty. Frailty is identified in 25% to 50% of patients with cardiovascular diseases, with estimates varying depending on assessment methods and population under study. Frail patients with cardiovascular diseases, especially those undergoing invasive procedures, particularly because of coronary artery disease or heart failure, have a substantially higher likelihood of complications and adverse events when compared to robust patients. Gait speed is a simple and reliable measure for objectively identifying frailty in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases. A performance marker like the 6-minute walking test should be considered for routine use as a prognostic indicator.