Introduction to Geriatric Medicine

Question 1

Why is 2010 to 2030 an important period in geriatric demographics?

Answer 1

2010 is when the baby boomers started turning 65 (because 1945) and 2030 is when the last of the baby boomers will turn 65 (1965).

Question 2

In the 85+ age group, ________ percent are women.

Answer 2

70

Question 3

Although, the 65+ age group now accounts for only 13% of the population, they account for ____________ of hospital admissions.

Answer 3

44%

Question 4

The majority of the increase in life expectancy over the last 100 years has been in ______________.

Answer 4

the “since birth” expectancy, not in the life expectancy at age 65

Question 5

What are the life expectancies for men and women at 70?

Answer 5

• Men: 14.2 years

* Women: 16.4

Question 6

Recently, the concept of “compression of mortality” –trying to delay death –has been achieved and thus replaced by _____________.

Answer 6

“compression of morbidity” –trying to delay disease and disability

Question 7

Explain the concept of “homeostenosis”.

Answer 7

Older people might have normal baselines but are unable to undergo significant stressors.

Example: if you give a young person a bolus of saline (which contains 9 grams of salt), their sodium excretion rate increases four-fold. An older person given the same amount, however, will only increase their sodium excretion rate two-fold.

Question 8

What happens to the heart with age?

Answer 8

• Increased ventricular and vascular stiffness
• Decreased maximum HR and CO
• Hypertension
• Increased pulse pressure
• Decreased responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation

Question 9

What happens to the pulmonary system with age?

Answer 9

• Decreased compliance
• Increased residual capacity
• Decreased vital capacity
• Increased atelectasis

Question 10

Exercise –even moderate intensity –has been shown to slow the decline in ______________.

Answer 10

VO2 max

Note: VO2 max can even be increased in older people who didn’t exercise before.

Question 11

___________ mass increases with age.

Answer 11

Fat

Question 12

The average man loses ___________ kilograms of lean-body mass from age 25 to age 75.

Answer 12

25

Question 13

There’s a big rise in sarcopenia from age ______ to age __________.

Answer 13

75; 80+

Question 14

Although those 65+ account for only 13% of the population, they utilize ____% of the medications.

Answer 14

25

Question 15

Explain how the renal system changes with age.

Answer 15

Overall, people have a decreased ability to adapt to volume depletion and volume overload.

Question 16

Sarcopenia correlates with an increased odds ratio for _________________.

Answer 16

disability, gait disturbance, and falls