[Review in geriatric medicine].
Several studies published in 2008 underline the potential danger of polymedication in older patients and propose indicators to identify those at higher risk for adverse events. A study from Oregon highlighted the difficulties to diagnose depression in patients, especially older ones, who made a request for assisted suicide. The HYVET study demonstrated that treatment of hypertension is beneficial even in some very old persons. A meta-analysis confirmed the benefits from community-based geriatric interventional programs, in particular when targeting older individuals recently discharged from the hospital. Finally, mixed results were observed in the field of dementia.
Monod
Stéfanie
S
D Service de gériatrie et réadaptation gériatrique, Centre universitaire de traitements et de réadaptation (CUTR) Sylvana, Département de médecine, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.
Rochat
Stéphane
S
Gold
Gabriel
G
Büla
Christophe
C
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D017236:Suicide, Assisted