title: A sudden decline in mobility status as an early sign of acute infection in elderly patients: evidence from three case reports.
abstract: Early diagnosis of infections is often a challenge in older patients, since this age group may have atypical presentation. We report here the cases of 3 old patients, in whom a sudden decline in mobility status occurred shortly before the onset of the classically recognized features of infection. The decline was interpreted as an anticipatory marker of imminent infection. We discuss the possible implications of our findings and the opportunity that they offer to improve routine clinical practice in older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo University Hospital, Monza, Italy. giuseppe.bellelli@unimib.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerini
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cerri
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trabucchi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male