Geriatrics
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and the leading cause of disability in the United States, especially among older adults. Treatment options have primarily focused on alleviating the pain often associated with this condition. Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often employed for relief of mild-to moderate pain associated with OA. ⋯ Safety concerns of traditional pharmacotherapeutic agents used in the management of OA, such as NSAIDs and opioids, have led healthcare professionals to seek other options. Trials of disease modulating agents that focus on preventing further damage to the joints have the potential to change how this disease state is managed. This article reviews nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches to management of OA of the knee and hip.
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This review of the guideline developed by the Clinical Efficacy Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians and the accompanying systematic review offers clinicians evidence-based recommendations for palliative care. Seriously ill patients should be assessed for pain, dyspnea, and depression. Clinicians should use therapies of proven effectiveness to manage pain, depression, and dyspnea, including opioids in patients with unrelieved dyspnea and oxygen for short-term relief of hypoxemia. Clinicians should ensure that advance care planning, including completion of advance directives, occurs.
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Elder abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) and neglect (by caretakers or self-neglect) are major public health problems. Most cases are not identified by clinicians and reported to the appropriate government agencies. ⋯ These barriers mainly result from a lack of clinician education and comfort regarding this topic. We propose that clinician understanding of the phenomenon of elder mistreatment, familiarity with a simple approach to screening and identification of cases, awareness of risk factors and warning signs, and awareness of appropriate interventions will help to eliminate these barriers and result in clinicians properly fulfilling their duty to help protect their most vulnerable elderly patients.
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Diabetes is a complex chronic disease that affects approximately 25% of people above the age of 60 in the United States. This poses a significant challenge to primary care physicians to provide optimal treatment plans to improve metabolic control and to minimize debilitating complications. ⋯ The purpose of this guideline is to provide a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and management of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults. Management strategies from the evidence-based guideline will include recommendations for nutrition therapy, physical activity, self-management approaches, and pharmacologic agents.
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Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness of Americans over age 65 years. Severe loss of vision is usually due to exudative ARMD, of which there are about 200,000 new cases in the United States annually. ⋯ The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people over age 65 years should have a comprehensive eye examination every 1 to 2 years to check for cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other conditions. Those who complain of difficulty reading, driving at night, or adapting from sunlight to indoor lighting might have macular degeneration.