GERIATRICS TO DO Flashcards
DELIRIUM
What are some other causes of delirium?
- Urinary retention, vascular events (CVA, MI)
DELIRIUM
What is the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for delirium?
- Impaired consciousness + inattention (poor conc, memory deficit, “clouding of consciousness”)
- Perceptual OR cognitive disturbance (agitation, hallucinations > Lilliputian)
- Acute onset + fluctuating course (often worse at night = sundowning)
- Evidence it may be related to a physical cause
DELIRIUM
What is a suitable screening tool for delirium?
4AT (≥4 = likely) –
- Alertness
- AMT4 (age, DOB, hospital name, year)
- Attention (list months backwards)
- Acute change or fluctuating course
DEMENTIA
What is dementia?
- Syndrome of acquired, chronic, global impairment of higher brain function in an alert patient, which interferes with ability to cope with daily living
DEMENTIA
How does subcortical dementia present?
Give some examples
- Psychomotor slowing, impaired memory retrieval, depression/apathy, executive dysfunction, personality change, language preserved
- PD, Huntington’s, alcohol-related + AIDS
DEMENTIA
What might a MMSE score indicate in dementia?
MMSE (/30) –
- 21–26 = mild, 14–20 = mod, 10–14 mod-severe, <10 = severe cognitive impairment
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
What is the clinical presentation of Alzheimer’s
4As of Alzheimer’s –
- Amnesia (recent memories poor, disorientation about time)
- Apraxia (unable to button clothes, use cutlery)
- Agnosia (unable to recognise body parts, objects, people)
- Aphasia (later feature, mixed receptive/expressive)
Insidious + progressive course of short-term memory loss Sx in early disease
FT DEMENTIA
What is the management of FT dementia?
- No specific treatment
- SSRIs may help behavioural symptoms
FALLS
How may rhabdomyolysis present?
- Urine may be dark (‘Coca-Cola urine) + urinalysis +ve to Hb but without RBCs
POSTURAL HYPOTENSION
What are some iatrogenic causes of postural hypotension?
Diuretics, anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, polypharmacy
POSTURAL HYPOTENSION
What is the pharmacological management of postural hypotension?
- Med review + stop causative agent
- Fludrocortisone (raises BP by raised Na+ levels + affecting blood volume) but can cause uncomfortable oedema
- Midodrine (when cause if autonomic dysfunction) but can cause retention, itchy scalp + paraesthesia
PRESSURE ULCERS
What are the different grades for pressure ulcers?
- 0 = skin hyperaemia
- I = non-blanching erythema with intact skin
- II = broken skin or blistering (epidermis ± dermis only)
- III = full-thickness skin loss involving damage/necrosis of subcutaneous tissue
- IV = extensive loss, destruction/necrosis of muscle, bone, joint or tendon
- Unstageable = depth unknown, base of ulcer covered by debris
MALNUTRITION
How is malnutrition defined?
- BMI <18.5kg/m^2
- Unintentional weight loss >10% in last 3–6m
- BMI <20kg/m^2 AND unintentional weight loss >5% in last 3–6m
MALNUTRITION
What investigations would you do in someone with malnutrition?
- U+Es, LFTs + ECG prior to commencing feedings
- Serum albumin often marker of nutrition (can be inaccurate)
MALNUTRITION
What are the components of MUST?
- BMI = 18.5-20 (1), <18.5 (2)
- Hx of weight loss = 5-10% (1) ≥10% (2)
- Acutely unwell or likely to have no intake >5d (2)
OSTEOPOROSIS
What is the pathophysiology of osteoporosis?
- Imbalance between modelling + resorption
- Inadequate formation of new bone during remodelling occurs
- Excessive bone resorption (PTH can trigger this as RANK-ligand binds to RANK activating osteoclasts)
OSTEOPOROSIS
What is the role of PTH?
- Released from chief cells of parathyroid gland in response to low serum Ca2+ detected by Ca2+ sensor cells
- Increased osteoclast activity, increased intestinal Ca2+ absorption, vitamin D activation + renal tubule reabsorption of Ca2+
OSTEOPOROSIS
What are 2 important factors in osteoporosis development/primary causes?
- Increasing age
- Post-menopause as oestrogen is protective
OSTEOPOROSIS
What are the secondary causes/risk factors for osteoporosis?
SHATTERED
- Steroids
- Hyper/hypothyroid
- Alcohol/smoking
- Thin (low BMI)
- Testosterone low (F)
- Early menopause
- Renal/liver failure
- Relatives (FHx)
- Erosive bone disease (RA)
- Dietary Ca2+ low
OSTEOPOROSIS
What factors are assessed in the FRAX score?
- Personal = age, sex, weight, height
- PMH = RA, previous #, secondary osteoporosis (renal/liver disease, coeliac, thyroid issues)
- DH = glucocorticoids, lithium
- FHx = parental hip #
- Social = smoking, alcohol (≥3 drinks/day)
- Other = femoral neck BMD
OSTEOPOROSIS
What is the overall management of fragility fractures?
- Any patient should have calcium + vitamin D supplementation as well as bisphosphonate regardless of biochemistry as usually normal anyway
OSTEOPOROSIS
What is an alternative to HRT?
- Selective oestrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) like raloxifene
- Less breast cancer risk as stimulates oestrogen receptors just on bone
OSTEOPOROSIS
How do bisphosphonates, denosumab, HRT + SERMs compare to teriparatide?
- First lot are anti-resorptive meds which inhibits osteoclast activity + bone turnover
- Teriparatide is anabolic which increases osteoblast activity + bone formation
OSTEOPOROSIS
Give some examples of bisphosphonate regimes
- PO 70mg alendronate once weekly
- PO 35mg risedronate once weekly
- IV 5mg zoledronate once yearly
OSTEOPOROSIS
What are some adverse effects of bisphosphonates?
- Reflux + oesophagitis
- Osteonecrosis of jaw
- Atypical stress # (proximal femoral shaft)
PHARMACOLOGY
What is the mechanism of action of N-methyl D receptor antagonists (NMDA)?
- Protects brain cells from excess glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter) released from cells affected by Alzheimer’s to prevent further damage, good for agitation + BPSD
PHARMACOLOGY
Give an example of NMDA?
- Memantine
URINARY RETENTION
What are some causes of urinary retention?
- BPH (#1 cause in men)
- Urethral strictures
- Anticholinergics
- Alcohol
- Constipation
- Infection
- Cancer