Med. praxi 2013; 10(8-9): 300-303

A multimorbid elderly from the perspective of a gastroenterologist

prof.MUDr.Milan Lukáš, CSc.

Klinické výzkumné centru pro střevní zánět, ISCARE I. V. F. a. s., Praha

Ústav klinické biochemie a laboratorní diagnostiky 1. LF UK, Praha

It is not surprising that, with the increasing age of the population, patients of older age are also increasingly encountered in gastroenterological

practice who exhibit significant comorbidities while having dyspepsia or other gastrointestinal symptomatology. In addition

to malignancy of the alimentary canal and of the subhepatic region the incidence of which increases rapidly after sixty years of age, the

differential diagnosis must also include some specific conditions associated with older age. Moreover, the whole situation in the elderly

is complicated by comorbidities that, in the case of deterioration, can induce dominant symptomatology only related to the alimentary

canal. The majority of elderly patients take multiple drugs some of which may, due to their side effects, not only adversely affect the

functioning of the digestive system, but also lead to drug interactions with drugs used for the treatment of impaired digestion.

Keywords: multimorbid patient, drug interactions, diseases in the elderly

Published: September 15, 2013  Show citation