Differences in evaluation between geriatric and adult patients requiring pulmonary consultation.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age in pulmonary consultation and to evaluate differences between geriatric and adult patients.


METHODS
Consultation referrals to the clinic of chest diseases for patients from emergency, inpatient and outpatient clinics of a tertiary care general hospital between December 2010 and April 2011 were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, namely those aged 65 years and over (geriatric patients) and those under the age of 65 years (adults).


RESULTS
Out of 272 patients 135 (49.6%) were geriatric patients and 137 (50.4%) were adult patients. The mean age of the geriatric patients and adults was 75.6±7.1 years and 49.7±11.8 years, respectively. While the geriatric patients showed a significantly higher presence of pathologies in chest radiography, respiratory complaints and concomitant diseases compared to the adult group, the respiratory function test results were lower. The complaint of shortness of breath was higher in the geriatric group compared to the adult group (71% in geriatric patients and 59.1% in adults). The most common diagnosis was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 37%) in the geriatric patients and asthma (27.7%) in the adult patients. As to the results of consultations, treatment-oriented recommendations were given for 63 (46.6%) geriatric patients and approval for operation was given for 75 (54.7%) adult patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Consultants should take the age of patients into consideration during evaluation in order to achieve the most appropriate treatment plan for these patients and reduce the potential postoperative complications to a minimum.
Department of Pulmonology, Sifa University, 35020, İzmir, Turkey. drglstn35@gmail.com.
Gulistan
G
Karadeniz
Department of Pulmonology, Dicle University, 21020, Yenisehir/Diyarbakir, Turkey. melikedoktor@hotmail.com.
Melike
M
Demir
Department of Pulmonology, Dicle University, 21020, Yenisehir/Diyarbakir, Turkey. halidekaya@yahoo.com.
Halide
H
Kaya
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. dryusufyesil@gmail.com.
Yusuf
Y
Yesil
Anaesthesiology Reanimation Clinic, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. drsemih@gmail.com.
Semih
S
Degerli
Department of Pulmonology, Acibadem University, 34010, Istanbul, Turkey. yenibertizderya@gmail.com.
Derya
D
Yenibertiz
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Geriatric; Pulmonary consultation; Respiratory function test; Retrospective study