OBJECTIVE: To describe the preliminary results from evaluating the application of an exhaustive geriatric evaluation procedure within primary care. DESIGN: A descriptive crossover study of a non-random sample. SETTING: This was carried out in primary care at an out-station clinic serving a suburban population. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Those people aged 70 and over who requested health-care at the clinic. All the 131 people who attended between February and December 1992 were included in the procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Exhaustive Geriatric Evaluation was applied as an instrument to diagnose hidden health problems. The instrument is composed of functional classification (Katz and Lawton-Brody scales), detection of risk factors which might lead to institutionalisation and an exhaustive clinical assessment (biomedical, psychological and socio-family). The diagnostic usefulness of the procedure is 2.4 +/- 0.21 new diagnoses per patient, for 98% of those to whom the complete new procedure was applied (62.6% of the patients included). Problems of hypoacusis (33.3%), senile memory lapses (41.6%) and urinary incontinence (26.2%) were found to a significant degree (p < 0.05) compared with the previously diagnosed morbidity. On the Katz and Lawton-Brody scales, 74% and 41.9% of patients, respectively, were independent. 55.7% of patients presented at least one risk factor leading to institutionalisation, with loneliness being the most common (35.8% of cases). CONCLUSIONS: The exhaustive geriatric evaluation is valid in primary care in looking after the elderly population, as it leads to the detection of functional and hidden bio-psychosocial problems.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the preliminary results from evaluating the application of an exhaustive geriatric evaluation procedure within primary care. DESIGN: A descriptive crossover study of a non-random sample. SETTING: This was carried out in primary care at an out-station clinic serving a suburban population. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Those people aged 70 and over who requested health-care at the clinic. All the 131 people who attended between February and December 1992 were included in the procedure. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Exhaustive Geriatric Evaluation was applied as an instrument to diagnose hidden health problems. The instrument is composed of functional classification (Katz and Lawton-Brody scales), detection of risk factors which might lead to institutionalisation and an exhaustive clinical assessment (biomedical, psychological and socio-family). The diagnostic usefulness of the procedure is 2.4 +/- 0.21 new diagnoses per patient, for 98% of those to whom the complete new procedure was applied (62.6% of the patients included). Problems of hypoacusis (33.3%), senile memory lapses (41.6%) and urinary incontinence (26.2%) were found to a significant degree (p < 0.05) compared with the previously diagnosed morbidity. On the Katz and Lawton-Brody scales, 74% and 41.9% of patients, respectively, were independent. 55.7% of patients presented at least one risk factor leading to institutionalisation, with loneliness being the most common (35.8% of cases). CONCLUSIONS: The exhaustive geriatric evaluation is valid in primary care in looking after the elderly population, as it leads to the detection of functional and hidden bio-psychosocial problems.