Lecture 4 (Geriatric Medicine)-Exam 2 Flashcards
Normal age-related changes in anatomy:
* What can happen to the heart?
* What can accumulate?
* What can happen to the aorta and left atirum?
* What about the valve leaflets?
* What can happen to the coronary artery?
- Increased heart weight, left ventricular mass and wall thickness, mild hypertrophy
- Fibrosis and collagen accumulation
- Rightward shift and dilatation of aorta and left atrium (aortic stenosis or regurg
- Calcific and fatty degeneration of valve leaflets
- Coronary artery dilatation and calcification
Normal age-related changed in physiology: Heart and vessels
* What declines? (3)
* What can stiffen?
- Peak cardiac output declines
- Peak heart rate declines
- Peak ejection fraction declines
- Arteries stiffen
Normal age-related changed in physiology:
* What can occur with the valves?
* Prolongation of what?
* What happens to BP?
- Valvular regurgitation occurs
- Prolongation of PR, QRS, and QT; left axis deviation
- Systolic blood pressure increases (and diastolic can go down therefore increases pulse pressure)
Altered physiologic response to infection
* What may they not experience?
* May not report what?
- May not experience an increase in temperature
- May not report typical pain syndromes
Altered physiologic response to infection
* May not demonstatrate what?
* What is not reliable?
- May not demonstrate typical presentation – no cough, but pneumonia, no dysuria but UTI
- WBC count is not a reliable indicator of infection in the elderly.-> if a cough with elderly, get the CXR because WBC is not realible
increase mortality with abdominal pain among elderly
MSK:
* What do the elderly lose?
Loss of strength, stature and bone health with age
Muscles:
* What happens over time? (5)
- Shrink and lose mass – a sedentary life accelerates
- # and size of muscle fibers decrease
- Water content of tendons decreases
- Handgrip strength decreases
- Heart muscle declines in efficiency
Bones:
* What happens over time? (4)
- Mineral content decreases
- Crush fractures of spine occur
- Less water content in cartilage
- Connective tissues lose elasticity
Counteracting the process:
* may of these changes result from what?
* The most what?
* What is key?
* What type of counseling?
- Many of these changes result from disease
- The most sedentary group in US is >50
- Exercise and stretching is key
- Nutrition counseling
Calcium
* When do men and women need calcium supplements? How much?
- Women 51-70 need 1200mg/day
- Men 51-70 need 1000mg/day
- Men and Women >70 need 1,200/day
Vitamin D:
* Humans convert from what?
* What is not enough for aging humans?
* What does it contribute to?(5)
- Humans convert from direct sun exposure
- Sun exposure not enough for aging humans – need to supplement
- Contributes to cognitive decline (check if your patient’s mental status changes), depression, bone health, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 DM and other disease.
Vitamin D:
* What is the recommended supplement dose?
* What lab to check?
- Recommended supplement between 600 and 1000 IU daily
- Lab to check – 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration.
Other key nutrients in bone health
* What helps bone crystal?
* What helps improve bone strength?
* What helps bone formation and mineralization?
- Phosphorus – bone crystal
- Magnesium – improves bone strength
- Vitamin K – bone formation and mineralization
Other key nutrients in bone health
* What helps collagen synthesis?
* What helps cell differentation and eye health? What can too much lead to?
- Vitamin C – collagen synthesis
- Vitamin A – cell differentiation, eye health (macular degeneration). Too much can cause bone loss. (10,000IU)
Most common MSK changes:
* When does osteoporosis occur?
* How do you women lose their bone density?
* How many women and men are affected?
* What are the MC sites?
- Osteoporosis – bone loss outstrips replacement beginning around age 35
- Women can lose up to 20% of bone density in the first 5-7 years after menopause
- Half of all women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis
- Most common sites – hip, spine, wrist
Osteoporosis:
* What population is affected? (2)
* How many fractures a year? What are they called?
- ~18% of people >65 y/o have osteoporosis
- 10 million Americans >50 y/o
- 1.5 - 2 million fractures per year in US are attributed to osteoporosis, these are often called “fragility fractures”
Diagnosing osteoporosis:
* What testing is done?
* What is the MC way?
* Where is density usually measured?
- Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing
- Most common – dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) – a low level x-ray scanner
- Density is generally measured at he hip and spine
Diagnosing Osteoporosis
* What does the imaging result in?
* What are the scores?
The result is a “T score” – the extent to which bone density differs from the average bone density of young, healthy people
A T-score from a bone density scan, also known as a DXA scan,indicates bone density and the risk of fracture:
* T-score of -1 or higher:Bone is healthy
* T-score of -1 to -2.5:Osteopenia, a less severe form of low bone mineral density than osteoporosis
* T-score of -2.5 or lower:Osteoporosis
* A T-score is a comparison of a patient’s bone density to the average bone density of healthy young adults.A lower T-score indicates a greater risk of fracture.
Screening Recommendations
* When do people need to be screened for osteoporosis?
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends all women aged 65 and over be screened
- Women at high risk for fractures under the age of 65 should also be screened
X-ray findings for osteoporosis
* What can you see on an x-ray?
Bone Density Deficiency May Be Detected on X-ray, But Not Diagnosed
What are the signs on x-ray for osteoporosis?
When examining the X-ray image for signs of bone density deficiency, look for the following:
Overall Appearance of Bones: Bones that appear more translucent or less dense than usual.
* Cortical Bone Thickness: The outer edges of the bones should be examined to see if they appear thinner than normal.
* Trabecular Patterns: Look at the spongy, inner part of the bone for changes in the density and pattern of the trabeculae.
* Vertebral Bodies: If the X-ray includes the spine, check for any signs of vertebral compression or fractures.
* Fracture Lines: Any unusual lines or breaks in the bone structure.
* For a definitive interpretation, it is essential to consult a radiologist or a medical professional specializing in bone health. They can provide a detailed analysis of the X-ray and identify any indications of bone density deficiency.
What is important to monitor in aging patient?
Monitoring for Height Changes is an Important Assessment in the Aging Patient
Kyphosis/Hyperkyphosis
* What is hyperkyphosis?
* What is the angle in hyperkyphosis?
- Hyperkyphosis isexcessive curvature of the thoracic spine, commonly known as the “dowager’s hump.
- Angle > 40% in hyperkyphosis
Kyphosis/Hyperkyphosis
* Impairs what? (2)
* Increased what?
- Impairs mobility
- Impairs vision indirectly
- Increased risk of falls
What does systems does kyphosis affect? (5)
- Height loss
- Inability to stand upright
- Pulmonary volume reduced
- Distension of abdomen
- Constipation, early saity
Which of the following changes is a normal physiologic change associated with aging?
A) Significant loss of memory affecting daily functioning
B) Increased skin elasticity and thicker skin
C) Decreased muscle mass and bone density leading to difficulty with physical activities
D) Increased frequency of severe dizziness resulting in falls
C) Decreased muscle mass and bone density leading to difficulty with physical activities
Which of the following is a typical age-related change in the integumentary system?
A) Increased number of sweat glands and oil production
B) Thinning of the skin and increased susceptibility to bruising
C) Improved skin hydration and elasticity
D) Enhanced skin repair and regeneration
B) Thinning of the skin and increased susceptibility to bruising
What are 5 common conditions in geriatrics?
- HF
- CVA
- Fractures
- UTIs
- Pneumonia
HF risk increases with what?
increases with age
Heart failure in older adults
* What age group is commonly affected?
* What are the causes? (5)
12% of people over age of 80yo experience HF
* CAD: longer you are alive, the more your arteries will be atheroscleric
* HTN heart disease: Have more difficulties pumping and need more pressure to pump out
* Valvuar heart disease: fibrosis or aging
* Cardiomyopathy: struggling to work
* High output failure: anemia, theamine def, hyperthyroid