Geriatric Medicine

In 2000, the World Health Organization reported depression to be the leading cause of disability, as measured by years lived with disability, and the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of disease. In this article, we will…

Anniversary article; first published in 1970.

Cancer of the bladder is a commonly diagnosed malignancy that is frequently seen in the elderly population and accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. The annual statistics for the UK report that 10,000 cases are diagnosed and…

A range of effective drug treatments are available for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, long-term treatment is associated with the development of motor complications in a proportion of patients. The traditional view has been that…

The publication of the 2006 NICE guidelines for Parkinson's disease may seem to have taken much of the management of patients with Parkinson's disease out of the hands of the GP and put them solely in the care of hospital specialists.…

Superficial thrombophlebitis (phlebitis) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are both common conditions and they share some clinical features and risk factors. It is important to differentiate between the two disorders because they are managed…

Catheterisation is an important and commonly performed clinical procedure. In this article we review types and indications for catheters and we discuss the major complications of catheter insertion, with the focus being on urinary tract…

Chronic heart failure is a common condition, with high mortality rates and poor prognosis if not treated aggressively. Numerous comorbidities may co-exist and should all be given equal consideration when treating patients. In this review,…

Anniversary article; first published in 1970.

Anniversary article; first published 40 years ago.

New guidance from the General Medical Council supports doctors in making challenging and complex decisions about care at the end of patients' lives.

Drug-induced movement disorders are common in the elderly and responsible for significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life. It is important that they are recognised early to enable prompt initiation of treatment. Unfortunately…

The optimum management of pain in older patients with cancer requires comprehensive assessment, particularly as older people may under report pain. This article reviews the assessment and management of pain in older people with cancer.

This article aims to give a brief overview of the epidemiology, diagnostic issues and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease is common, especially in the UK. People are often diagnosed in their 20s and 30s but live for a median…

Alzheimer's disease affects an ever growing number of people, with almost half a million patients in the UK alone. Unfortunately approaches to treating Alzheimer's disease are limited and cholinesterase inhibitors are the most commonly used…