Geriatric multidimensional assessment for elderly patients with acute respiratory diseases.
The case of an 87-year-old woman who falls at home and is admitted to the Emergency Department of an acute hospital with delirium exemplify a common situation that physicians face in their everyday clinical practice. We describe the typical context of frailty in which acute illnesses frequently present in frail elderly patients and, in particular, the relationship between comorbidity, disability and frailty. We also report the current knowledge about frailty theories and we focus on the "atypical" presentation of many acute illnesses. Major attention is devoted on delirium and on mobility impairment, two of the most common atypical symptoms of elderly frail subjects. Finally we describe the evidence on the comprehensive geriatric assessment, i.e., the method that is required to identify and understand the ultimate needs of elderly complex subjects.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.bellelli@unimib.it.
Giuseppe
G
Bellelli
Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Adriana
A
Bruni
Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Mara
M
Malerba
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
Andrea
A
Mazzone
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Pneumologic Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Stefano
S
Aliberti
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Pneumologic Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Alberto
A
Pesci
Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy; Geriatric Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Annoni
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
Comorbidity; Comprehensive geriatric assessment; Disability; Elderly; Frailty