Week 1: Section 19, Chapter 102. pp 2359 - 2364 (Geriatric Drug Use)

Question 1

This is one of the most important problems associated with drug use in older adults.

Answer 1

Adverse drug events

Question 2

The drug of choice for treating hyperlipidemia in the elderly is ____

Answer 2

statins

Question 3

The first-line therapy for prevention of CAD includes

Answer 3

ASA and B-blockers

Question 4

This is the most common psychiatric disorder in the elderly.

Answer 4

Depression.

They often present with atypical symptoms of significant depression.

Question 5

These are generally better tolerated than other agents and are considered first-line therapy for older adults with depression.

Answer 5

SSRI

Question 6

This is the leading infectious cause of mortality in elderly, who typically present with atypical symptoms of lower respiratory infection.

Answer 6

Pneumonia

Question 7

These are beneficial in the prevention of pneumonia in the older population. (2)

Answer 7

1. Influenza Vaccine

2. Pneumococcal Vaccine

Question 8

This is the most common bacterial infection in the elderly.

Answer 8

UTI

Question 9

This is the most common cause of morbidity in the elderly.

Answer 9

Arthritis

Question 10

This publication provides the most current information on the health and well-being of older Americans in the US.

Answer 10

Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (FIFARS)

Question 11

This is the progressive decrease in the ability of each organ system to maintain homeostasis in the face of challenge.

Answer 11

Physiological aging

Question 12

True or False:

The extent of absorption via the oral route is similar in older patients and in young adults. The rate of absorption is reduced or unaltered in older patients, and drugs that undergo first-pass metabolism are absorbed more completely in the older patient.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

This is a major site of drug binding.

Answer 13

Albumin

Question 14

These drugs have high hepatic-extraction ratios. They may have reduced hepatic metabolism in older adults. (4)

Answer 14

1. Nitrates
2. barbiturates
3. Lidocaine
4. Propranolol

Question 15

This is used most commonly in calculating creatinine clearance in geriatrics.

Answer 15

Cockcroft-Gault equation

Question 16

Orthostatic hypotension occurs in 20% of ambulatory patients older than 65 years of age and in 30% of those older than 75, and it is often aggravated by drugs with sympatholytic activity like (5)

Answer 16

1. Alpha-adrenergic blockers
2. Phenothiazines
3. TCA
4. Diuretics
5. Vasodilators (eg. alcohol, nitrates)

Question 17

These drug classification is associated with memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive impairments in older patients.

Answer 17

drugs with anticholinergic properties

Question 18

True or False:

Monoamine oxidase activity increases with normal aging, and this is reflected by a decline in NE and dopamine levels in aging brains.

Answer 18

true

Question 19

This is the primary cause of drug-related adverse events in older population (CDC).

Answer 19

Multiple medication use (polypharmacy)