title: The Report-AGE project: a permanent epidemiological observatory to identify clinical and biological markers of health outcomes in elderly hospitalized patients in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Italy is expected to experience the largest growth in persons ≥65 years (>20% by 2020). This demographic shift allows for geriatric research on predictive clinical and biological markers of outcomes related to frailty, re-hospitalization and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe rationale and methods of the Report-AGE study project of acute care patients in Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA) research hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Report-AGE study is a large observational study on health conditions and outcomes of hospitalized elderly patients (≥65 years). The primary objective of the study is to create a high-level data resource of demographics, comprehensive geriatric assessments, clinical and diagnostic information, as well as biological and molecular markers in all older patients admitted to INRCA Hospitals. Assessments in physical and nutritional parameters, co-morbid health conditions, and associations with frailty parameters are ongoing in older hospitalized adults following an acute event. Study collection began in September 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up to date, there are 3479 patients ≥65 years (mean age: 85 ± 7years) with 1543 men and 1936 women enrolled. Data have been recorded regarding functional and clinical parameters before, during hospital admission and at discharge. Data collection for primary outcome analyses related to re-hospitalization and mortality is estimated for September 2016.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study aims at collecting precise clinical data, comprehensive geriatric assessment, risk factors, and biological data from acute care patients. Data will also be used to identify mechanisms underlying frailty in this specific population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a descriptive epidemiological collection of the health conditions of older in-patients.
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Bustacchini
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy. angela_abbatecola@yahoo.com.
authors: Angela Marie
authors: AM
authors: Abbatecola
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Anna Rita
authors: AR
authors: Bonfigli
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Chiatti
authors: Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Research Hospital of Cosenza, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Cosenza, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Corsonello
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Di Stefano
authors: Clinical and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Galeazzi
authors: Biostatistical Centre, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Fabbietti
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Rosamaria
authors: R
authors: Lisa
authors: Unit of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Research Hospital of Casatenovo, Italian National Research Centre on Aging (INRCA), Casatenovo, Italy.
authors: Enrico E
authors: EE
authors: Guffanti
authors: Scientific Technological Area, Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Provinciali
authors: Scientific Direction, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Fabrizia
authors: F
authors: Lattanzio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Acute care hospital; Biomarkers; Comprehensive geriatric assessment; Health outcomes; Older