Recognition of neurologic diseases in geriatric inpatients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of neurologic disease and the diagnostic impact of neurologic consultation on a geriatric inpatient unit.


METHODS
Consecutively admitted patients were prospectively assessed by a neurologist and by medical house staff on a geriatrics unit over a 4-month period. Neurologic diagnoses were compared.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight men, aged 76.4+/-8.7 years old (mean+/-SD), had 1.4+/-1.1 new or revised neurologic diagnoses made by the neurologist. The prevalence of neurologic disorder was: gait or balance disorder (90%); cognitive disorders (71%); neuromuscular disorder (59%); cerebrovascular disorder (38%); and extrapyramidal disorders (22%). New diagnoses were made by the neurologist among the cognitive (40%), neuromuscular (36%) and cerebrovascular disorders (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
Neurologic disease is highly prevalent in geriatric inpatients. A neurologist's assessment resulted in altered diagnoses suggesting that neurologists should play a role in geriatric assessment and in education of health professionals caring for the elderly.
Camicioli
R M
RM
Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA.
Kaye
J A
JA
Brummel-Smith
K
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009462:Neurology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States