This study aims to implement and evaluate a geriatric co-management intervention in older patients admitted for acute heart disease or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implementation (TAVI) to the cardiology units of the University Hospitals Leuven. The study uses a mixed-methods methodology aiming to 1) assess the feasibility and evaluate the effectiveness of geriatric co-management, 2) describe the experiences of intervention participants, and 3) perform a process evaluation. We will first consecutively recruit patients on the cardiology units to measure the standard of care in the control group. The geriatric co-management intervention will then be implemented and piloted on the participating units. Once fully implemented, we will consecutively recruit patients for the intervention group who will receive the geriatric co-management intervention.
The primary objective of the evaluation study is to determine if geriatric co-management is superior to standard of care in preventing functional decline in older patients admitted for acute heart disease or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implementation (TAVI) to the cardiology units of the University Hospitals Leuven.