Ill Elderly Flashcards
Falls that occur as a “prodrome” to a developing illness
premonitory falls
Cardinal sign of potential illness in the elderly
abrupt change in functional status
Toxicity that ACE inhibitors can cause in elderly
hyperkalemia
Why might an elderly patient minimize or deny symptoms?
Fear of being bedridden, institutionalized or losing self-sufficiency
Mental confusion often dominates the clinical picture. Often co-exists with physcial illness
depression without sadness
CXR may be normal, radiologic changes delayed, and may manifest only when dehydration corrected
pneumonia
Clinically silent in 1/3 of patients. Complaints of several days of vague illness, a little exercise intolerance, fatigue anorexia, flu-like symptoms.
MI without chest pain
Disease more common in elderly patient thought to be related to aging. Sx include weight loss, musculoskeletal complaints, confusion
thyroid disease
well recognized syndrome of tiredness and slowing down caused by hyperthyroidism is a classic “altered presentation” of illness in old age
apathetic thyrotoxicosis
Common infectious cause of altered mental status in elderly
silent UTI/urosepsis
Most common cause of dementia where nerve cells in cerebral cortex die, and brain substance shrinks
Alzheimer’s
Serious complication in elderly, non-insulin-dependent diabetics. High mortality. Comatose or with polydipsia and polyuria from osmotic diuresis
Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic (HHNK) Coma
Why are elderly more likely to experience GI hemorrhage?
more likely to be taking ASA/NSAIDs and blood thinners
Common in elderly patients who are bedridden or immobile
pressure ulcers
From cartilage loss and wear on joints
degenerative arthritis
Where do spontaneous fractures due to osteoporosis frequently occur?
wrist, head of femur, vertebrae
Results from inability to compensate for heat loss, less body water to store heat, decreased ability to shiver
hypothermia
Refers to the loss of musculoskeletal strength and the loss of coordinated balancing and righting reflexes
deconditioning
Responding with a medication prescription to each of the many presented problems
reflex prescribing
Medical conditions the predispose elderly to GI bleeding
higher incidence of colon cancer, vascular abnormalities, diverticulitis
