Med. praxi 2013; 10(6-7): 242-245

Specificity of a comprehensive approach to a patient of older age: a multimorbid elderly

prof.MUDr.Hana Matějovská Kubešová, CSc.

Klinika interní, geriatrie a praktického lékařství LF MU a FN Brno

The approach to an elderly patient with multiple morbidities is specific from the very first contact with the patient with the medical

history itself posing challenges one has to be aware of; the symptomatology of diseases in elderly patients also has specific features

including oligosymptomatology, microsymptomatology or transfer to another organ. In the elderly, pharmacotherapeutic strategies

must be adjusted to the degree of multimorbidity, the functional status of their organ systems as well as the ability of compliance. The

outcome of treatment differs as well from that in younger age groups with the goal in the elderly usually not being a complete cure of all

the patient’s diseases, but rather minimizing the functional consequences of the ongoing disease, achieving as high as possible degree

of self-sufficiency and preserving their ability to stay in their own environment.

Keywords: cognitive disorder, microsymptomatology, pharmacotherapy in the elderly, self-sufficiency

Published: July 29, 2013  Show citation