Questions and Answers
What is the field of medicine that focuses on the management of illness in the elderly?
What is a common concern when prescribing multiple medications to elderly patients?
What happens to renal blood flow after the age of 30?
Why is initial drug dosing in elderly patients often lower than the usual adult dose?
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What is a common condition that can affect elderly patients' ability to adhere to medication regimens?
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At what age do most age-related physiologic functions peak?
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Which of the following conditions is particularly common in the elderly?
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Why do elderly patients often require multiple-drug therapies?
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What is a consequence of reduced kidney function in elderly patients?
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What is a common challenge in treating elderly patients?
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How does the decline in renal blood flow affect the elderly?
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What is a common mental health issue in elderly patients?
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Study Notes
Geriatric Medicine
- Geriatric medicine is the field that encompasses the management of illness in the elderly.
- Higher use of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of disease in the elderly compared with other age groups.
Common Conditions in the Elderly
- Degenerative osteoarthritis, congestive heart failure, venous and arterial insufficiency, stroke, urinary incontinence, prostatic carcinoma, parkinsonism, and Alzheimer disease are particularly common in the elderly.
Challenges in Geriatric Patients
- Many elderly patients have coexisting pathologies that require multiple-drug therapies.
- This increases drug interactions and adverse drug effects, and decreases patient compliance.
- Depression or apathy, and economic reasons may also hinder patient compliance.
Age-Related Physiologic Changes
- Most age-related physiologic functions peak before age 30 years, then gradually decline.
- Renal blood flow diminishes nearly 1% per year after age 30.
- The cumulative decline in renal blood flow is about 30% to 40% in most persons 60 to 70 years of age.
- This decline is even greater in older persons.
Drug Dosing in the Elderly
- Reduced kidney function increases the possibility of toxic drug levels in the body and adverse drug effects.
- Initial drug dosing in the elderly patient often requires a downward variance from the usual adult dose.
Geriatric Medicine
- Geriatric medicine is the field that encompasses the management of illness in the elderly.
- Higher use of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of disease in the elderly compared with other age groups.
Common Conditions in the Elderly
- Degenerative osteoarthritis, congestive heart failure, venous and arterial insufficiency, stroke, urinary incontinence, prostatic carcinoma, parkinsonism, and Alzheimer disease are particularly common in the elderly.
Challenges in Geriatric Patients
- Many elderly patients have coexisting pathologies that require multiple-drug therapies.
- This increases drug interactions and adverse drug effects, and decreases patient compliance.
- Depression or apathy, and economic reasons may also hinder patient compliance.
Age-Related Physiologic Changes
- Most age-related physiologic functions peak before age 30 years, then gradually decline.
- Renal blood flow diminishes nearly 1% per year after age 30.
- The cumulative decline in renal blood flow is about 30% to 40% in most persons 60 to 70 years of age.
- This decline is even greater in older persons.
Drug Dosing in the Elderly
- Reduced kidney function increases the possibility of toxic drug levels in the body and adverse drug effects.
- Initial drug dosing in the elderly patient often requires a downward variance from the usual adult dose.
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Description
This quiz covers the management of illness in the elderly, including common conditions and pharmacological treatments. Test your knowledge of geriatric medicine and care!
