Lecture 3 Flashcards
Why is 65 yo generally considered geriatric?
It is when someone qualifies for medicare.
What are the top 5 causes of death for people over 65?
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- COVID 19
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Alzheimer’s
What are the 3 most affected organ systems in terms of inability to maintain homeostasis?
- CV
- Renal
- CNS
Define frailty.
A vicious cycle of declining energetics and reserves that leads to a progressive decline in health and function
Linda Fried Model
What are the 4 phenotypes that emerge from aging?
- Changes in body composition
- Energy imbalance production/utilization
- Homeostatic dysregulation
- Neurodegeneration
Describe the pathway of physiologic decline beginning at molecular level.
- Biological mechanism decline molecularly (oxidative stress, telomere shortening)
- Pathophysiologic markers (inflammation, loss of weight, etc.)
- Clinical presentation (slowness, reduced mobility, etc)
Define homeostenosis.
Inability to recover from stress.
What are the considerations with presentation of disease in aging patients?
- Atypical presentations, such as asymptomatic or an UTI presenting as mental disorientation.
- Older people also generally don’t present with fever or WBCs due to their impaired immune system.
Women often present with atypical acute coronary syndrome.
What is the primary consideration with testing, screening, and treatment in aging patients?
Need to consider if the test will be conclusive (altered physiology), or if treatment is worth the cost/quality of life given the limited life expectancy at their age.
Example: Atrial tachycardia with minimal symptoms may not need amiodarone given the SE profile of the drug and the limited improvement in quality of life.
Where is the majority of geriatric care performed?
Outpatient.
