Ageing and Complex Health Flashcards
What tool can be used to estimate risk of fractures
FRAX tool - estimates 10 year fracture risk and guides whether or not to initiate treatment
Treatment for osteoporosis
Bisphosphonate - Alendronic acid 70mg once weekly
Calcium and Vitamin D supplements
Risk factors for osteoporosis
Female Small/thin Menopause Inactivity Smoking Alcohol Steroids Low Ca/VitD White/Asian
What mneumonic can be used to categorise causes of falls
DAME D - drugs A - ageing M - medical E - environmental
Medications that can increase the risk of falls
Polypharmacy Anti-hypertensives Sedatives Opioids Psychotropics Anti-hyperglycaemics Alcohol
What ageing-related changes can increase risk of falls
Vision deterioration Cognitive decline Abnormal gait OA Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
Which medical conditions can increase the risk of falls
Hypotension Postural hypotension Arrhythmias Parkinson's disease Stroke Neuropathy Cataracts Epilepsy BPPV UTI/infection
What environmental causes of falls could you ask patients about
Walking aids
Footwear
Home hazards
Elderly patients who get dizzy when looking up indicates what pathology
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
Peripheral (ear) causes of vertigo
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Menieres disease
Vestibular neuritis
Acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma
Central (neuro) causes of vertigo
Migraine
Brainstem ischamia
Cerebellar stroke
Multiple sclerosis
What test is used to diagnose BPPV
Dix-hallpike manoeuvre
What is used to treat BPPV
Epley manoeuvre
Typical history of BPPV
Short spells of vertigo (5-30 seconds), settle spontaneously, happen with head movement and lying down
Typical history of menieres disease
Intermittent attacks of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, fluctuating tinnitus
Get symptoms before the attack and vomiting
What causes menieres disease
Increased pressure in the inner ear
Difference in symptoms between vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis
People with labyrinthitis also get hearing loss and tinnitus
Symptoms of both vestibular neuronitis and labyrinthitis
Usually following URTI/viral illness
Sudden severe vertigo
Nausea and vomiting
Balance and concentration difficulties
The labyrinth (inner ear) contains what two main structures
Cochlea Vestibular system (semicircular canals)
Acoustic neuroma symptoms
Unilateral hearing loss
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Headache
What is an acoustic neuroma
Benign tumour of the vestibulocochlear nerve
BP drop needed to diagnose postural hypotension
Systolic drop of 20+ OR Diastolic drop of 10+ OR Systolic drops to < 90
Bedside investigations for a fall
Obs - HR, BP, RR, Sats, Temp Lying + standing BP Urine dip ECG Cognitive screening - e.g. AMT BM
Differentials for confusion
Delirium Stroke TIA SOL Cerebral bleed Dementia Constipation Dehydration Recent surgery Environmental
Causes of delirium
Dehydration Electrolyte disturbances Infection - UTI, pneumonia Urinary retention Constipation Medication/drug toxicity or withdrawal Lack of sleep Hypoglycaemia Stroke/subdural haemorrhage Hypoxic states
Definition of delirium
Acute onset of disturbed consciousness/cognitive function/perception that has a fluctuating course
What are the 3 types of delirium
Hyperactive
Hypoactive
Mixed
Management of delirium
Treat underlying cause Reassurance Reorientation to their environment Calm Establish normal sleeping pattern Close monitoring
What questions are asked in the AMT 4 (abbreviated mental test 4)
Age
DOB
Current year
Current location
What are the 4 components of the 4 AT test
Alertness
AMT 4 - age, DOB, year, location
Attention - name the months backwards
Acute + fluctuating course
What are the 4 components of CAM (confusion assessment method)
Acute onset + fluctuating course
Inattention/counting backwards
Disorganised thinking/incoherent
Altered level of consciousness
Which lobe of the brain contains brocas area
Frontal lobe
What is brocas area responsible for
Language production
Which lobe of the brain contains Wernicke’s area
Temporal lobe
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for
Language comprehension
The ACA supplies which part of the brain
Frontal and parasaggital region
The MCA supplies which part of the brain
Lateral part of the frontal and parietal lobe, superior temporal lobe
The PCA supplies which part of the brain
Occipital lobe, inferior temporal lobe, thalamus
Signs of an MCA stroke in the dominant hemisphere (left in most people)
Brocas/Wernickes/conduction aphasia
Signs of an MCA stroke in the non-dominant hemisphere (right in most people)
Hemineglect to the contralateral side (left)
Is the leg or arm more affected in an ACA stroke
Leg
What visual defect is caused by a PCA stroke
Homonymous hemianopia with macula sparing
Which parts of the brain do the vertebrobasilar arteries supply
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Which parts of the brain do the lacunar arteries supply
Basal ganglia
Internal capsule
Thalamus
Pons
Risk factors for ischaemic stroke
HTN DM IHD Smoking Carotid stenosis AF Polycythaemia Sickle cell Thrombophilia
Risk factors for haemorrhagic stroke
HTN Aneurysms AV malformations Vascular brain tumours Anticoagulation Alcohol Smoking Stress
What is the NIHSS
National Institute of Health Stroke Scale - scores stroke severity and monitors improvement