[Digestive diseases in the elderly].
This study was carried out in two phases. First a survey was done, interviewing 57 apparently healthy persons, who were older than 60 years. Information was collected about previous illnesses and any digestive symptoms. Then a prospective study was developed in 43 out patients seen previously in a gastroenterological centre (aged 60 or older). The frequency and type of digestive diseases for this group of patients was established. Nineteen (33.3%) of the former 57 patients from the survey referred frequent digestive discomfort, predominantly symptoms related to the upper gastrointestinal tract, like epigastric pain, meteorism, early satiety, abdominal distention and pyrosis. These symptoms could be in part expected due to the physiological changes seen in the elderly, mainly in the esophagus. In the prospective study, digestive diseases related to the upper gastrointestinal tract were the most common (46.5%), followed by diseases from the colon and rectum (23.2%) and those of the liver, biliar tract and pancreas (16.2%). Taking into account the high incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the elderly, we must make special efforts to extend and or complete studies related to the geriatric population in our country. We need to establish rules for the control, prevention and early detection of such illness in order to promote higher standard in the quality of the life of population which will increased considerably in the near future.
Farfán
G
G
Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
Seclén
J
J
Munsevai
E
E
Soto
S
S
Tapia
A
A
Quispe
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
Enfermedades digestivas en el anciano.