Geriatric Medicine

Pneumothorax is a relatively common presentation in patients under the age of 40 years (approximately, 85% of patients are younger than 40 years). It is described as typically occurring in tall, thin, young men; hence, morbidity and…

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common condition, particularly among older patients, and is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. In the first part of this article, we reviewed the diagnostic tools and medical therapies…

Alcohol use disorders are common in the elderly, and on the increase as the population ages. While life changes may trigger the unhealthy use of alcohol, ageing physiology, comorbidities and polypharmacy can increase vulnerability to its…

A third of people aged over 65 years fall each year and medication review is an important part of the assessment of these patients. Both polypharmacy and specific medications increase the risk of falls and discontinuing these medications…

With its videos of unlikely singing sensations, sneezing pandas and tap-dancing cats, YouTube has become an international phenomenon. But, as well as being a source of amusement to the bored office worker, YouTube has the potential to be a…

Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease characterised by a clonal population of plasma cells in the bone marrow. The disease occurs in the elderly and results in lytic bone lesions, blood cytopenias and the production of monoclonal…

About 50% of patients with diabetes mellitus worldwide suffer from diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The most common form of DPN is a symmetrical, predominantly sensory, polyneuropathy with distal onset and slow proximal progression.…

Reorganising health-care workers' functions is necessary to improve the quality of care in residential homes and to achieve the objectives of the National Dementia Strategy. General practitioners with a special interest in the…

There is little doubt that medical therapy has transformed the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The medical treatment of BPH continues to be based on two main classes of drugs, alpha adrenergic blockers and 5-alpha reductase…

Giant cell arteritis is the most common chronic granulomatous vasculitis, mainly involving large and medium-sized vessels, and it almost exclusively affects patients older than 50 years. The initial event that triggers the cascade of…

Postprandial hypotension is commonly defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 20mmHg or more observed within two hours after meal ingestion. It is very common in older patients especially in those living in long-term healthcare…

Diabetes is a major healthcare challenge for both primary and secondary care, affecting approximately one in 10 people over 65 years of age. An estimated 25% of people with diabetes undergo surgical procedures, often as a result of…

Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) are defined as temporary neurological deficits lasting less than 24 hours. In this review, we aim to delineate TIAs to ensure prompt diagnosis and management. We do this by presenting a case series with a…

Diabetes is a chronic multi-system disease that needs specialised annual review that is thorough, efficient and beneficial to the patient's needs. The diabetes review clinic in the UK has varying formats and contents. In the main, the goal…

The NICE QOF advisory committee has decided to pilot indicators for osteoporosis and fractures with a view to inclusion in the 2012/2013 framework; a six-monthly injectable anti-resorptive agent recently launched in the UK is to be…