Gulistan Karadeniz1, Melike Demir2, Halide Kaya3, Yusuf Yesil4, Semih Degerli5, Derya Yenibertiz6. 1. Department of Pulmonology, Sifa University, 35020, İzmir, Turkey. drglstn35@gmail.com. 2. Department of Pulmonology, Dicle University, 21020, Yenisehir/Diyarbakir, Turkey. melikedoktor@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Pulmonology, Dicle University, 21020, Yenisehir/Diyarbakir, Turkey. halidekaya@yahoo.com. 4. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. dryusufyesil@gmail.com. 5. Anaesthesiology Reanimation Clinic, Kecioren Training and Research Hospital Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. drsemih@gmail.com. 6. Department of Pulmonology, Acibadem University, 34010, Istanbul, Turkey. yenibertizderya@gmail.com.
Abstract
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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Geriatric; Pulmonary consultation; Respiratory function test; Retrospective study
Authors: Klaus F Rabe; Suzanne Hurd; Antonio Anzueto; Peter J Barnes; Sonia A Buist; Peter Calverley; Yoshinosuke Fukuchi; Christine Jenkins; Roberto Rodriguez-Roisin; Chris van Weel; Jan Zielinski Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2007-05-16 Impact factor: 21.405