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.
