Heat-Related Illness in the Elderly
- Wed, 2/11/09 - 10:07am
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- 5232 reads
Introduction
Summer heat waves are among the deadliest environmental events, often accompanied by stories of heat-related deaths, usually involving the elderly. In the United States, an average of 400 Americans die each year from excessive heat. Last summer, newspaper headlines in the Southwest described the problem concisely. For example, the Los Angeles Times declared “Elderly, Isolated Are Heat’s Quiet Victims” after a week-long unprecedented heat wave in California that resulted in the deaths of 72 people.1 In the summer of 2003, August temperatures in France reached unexpected an
Prevention and Prophylaxis of Malaria in Older Travelers
- Wed, 2/4/09 - 4:04pm
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- 2719 reads
This article is no longer available for CME credit.
Introduction
The prevention of malaria is an essential part of vacation planning for those traveling to areas of the world where malaria is endemic, especially among older adults who are at increased risk of complications related to infection. Preventive measures fall into two equally important categories: the first focuses on decreasing exposure to potentially infectious mosquitoes; the second involves administration of low-dose antimicrobial drugs for “chemoprophylaxis” against infection. In
Urinary Incontinence in Older Men
- Wed, 2/4/09 - 3:25pm
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- 4452 reads
This article is no longer available for CME credit.
Introduction
Urinary incontinence (UI), defined as any involuntary leakage of urine,1 is a common condition in the elderly and is often encountered in primary care practice.2 Although numerous advertising campaigns have contributed to increased awareness of UI in recent years, many of these efforts appear to focus on women. Studies also suggest that physicians are more likely to ask their female patients about UI than their male counterparts.3 While the reasons for this are not entirely understood
Late-Life Depression: A Review
- Tue, 1/27/09 - 4:44pm
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- 3793 reads
This article is no longer available for CME credit.
Introduction
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is undiagnosed in approximately half of all elderly persons with this disorder.1 Contributing to this fact is that elderly patients are more likely than their younger counterparts to see their primary care physician rather than a psychiatrist.2 Major depressive disorder is not uncommon, occurring in approximately 2% of all community-dwelling elderly.3,4 In primary care clinics, the prevalence increases to approximately 6-9%,5 while among the patients adm
Distinguishing Pemphigus and Pemphigoid for the Non-Dermatologist
- Tue, 1/27/09 - 4:22pm
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- 6336 reads
This article is no longer available for CME credit.
Introduction
Pemphigus and pemphigoid are groups of autoimmune blistering skin diseases that are most commonly seen in elderly patients. The immune system makes autoantibodies that attack anchoring molecules in the skin and mucous membranes. The anchoring molecules form structures called hemidesmosomes and desmosomes, which, respectively, adhere keratinocytes to the underlying basement membrane or to one another. These adherence molecules make skin an important protective barrier. Disruption
Thyroid Cancer in the Elderly
- Tue, 1/27/09 - 4:07pm
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- 3808 reads
This article is no longer available for CME credit.
Introduction
The highly publicized illness and subsequent death of the Chief Justice of the United States, William H. Rehnquist, from anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid has focused attention on malignancies of this gland in older patients. The incidence of thyroid cancer has been gradually increasing over the last 50 years, with a steep increase since 1992.1 It is presently unclear whether this is a biological event or is secondary to more aggressive case finding. The female-to-male ratio o
Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Elderly: A Distinct Clinical Entity?
- Fri, 2/29/08 - 2:04pm
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- 3987 reads
