Anaesthesiological risk assessment in young/adult and elderly dental patients.
OBJECTIVE
Analysing the differences in number of diseases reported, medicines taken and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) scores in young/adult and elderly dental patients.


METHODS
Forty-seven young/adult and 47 elderly dental patients living in the community.


METHODS
Private dental practice.


METHODS
Age, number of systemic diseases reported during anamnesis, number of medicines taken, seriousness of pre-existent diseases measured according to the ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiologist) scale.


METHODS
Analytical study.


RESULTS
The differences between young/adult and elderly dental patients as far as self-reported medical conditions, medicines taken and ASA scores were statistically significant (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The number of elderly patients' medical conditions are greater than young/adults'. It is therefore necessary to adequately assess the elderly patient before starting any dental treatment.
Ragonesi
M
M
Genoese Geriatric Group, Genoa, Italy. odontoiatriageriatr@libero.it
Ivaldi
C
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment