Geriatrics




B Geriatrics




Definition


Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the physiologic effects of aging and the diagnosis and treatment of persons who are 65 years of age or older. By 2030, it has been estimated that approximately one in five people in the United States will be older than 65 years of age. Persons reaching age 65 years have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.4 years (19.8 years for women and 16.8 years for men).



Pathophysiology


Human organ function shows a linear decline with age. The rate constant for this decline is slightly less than 1% per year of the functional capacity present at age 30 years. As a consequence, a 70-year-old geriatric patient may have a 40% decrease in the function of any specific organ compared with that present at the age of 30 years.



Clinical manifestations


Clinical manifestations include an increased prevalence of age-related concomitant disease (hypertension, renal disease, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiomegaly, diabetes, liver disease, congestive heart failure, angina, cerebrovascular accident). The commonly age-related anatomic and physiologic changes that occur are listed in the box on pg. 225.


 



Common Age-Related Anatomic and Physiologic Changes



General changes



• Decreased organ function

• Increased body fat

• Decreased blood volume

• Loss of protective reflexes

• Decreased ability to retain body heat

• Decreased lean body mass

• Decreased skin elasticity

• Collagen loss

• Decreased intracellular water


Cardiovascular changes



• Impaired pump function

• Prolonged circulation time

• Myocardial fiber atrophy

• Hypertension

• Depressed baroreceptor function

• Impaired cardiac adrenergic receptor quality

• Increased vagal tone

• Decreased sensitivity of adrenergic receptors

• Increased peripheral vascular resistance

• Decreased cardiac output

• Decreased organ perfusion

• Left ventricular hypertrophy

• Coronary artery disease

Dec 2, 2016 | Posted by in ANESTHESIA | Comments Off on Geriatrics

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