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- Title
Altered Mental Status: Geriatric Edition.
- Abstract
This article provides an overview of altered mental status (AMS) in geriatric patients, focusing on the causes, risk factors, and diagnostic approach. AMS refers to a condition where there is impairment in a patient's level of consciousness, cognition, or behavior. It is estimated that at least 25% of emergency department patients over the age of 65 have some form of AMS. Risk factors for delirium, a common form of AMS, include low education attainment, poor functional status, advanced age, use of certain medications, malnutrition, and comorbidities. The article emphasizes the importance of a thorough evaluation, including history-taking, physical examination, laboratory testing, and imaging studies, to determine the underlying cause of AMS. Treatment should be tailored to the specific etiology. The text discusses various factors that can contribute to acute brain dysfunction in elderly patients. These factors include electrolyte imbalances, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, medication-induced effects, and substance misuse. The management of delirium focuses on addressing the underlying cause, while the treatment of stupor and coma requires immediate evaluation and stabilization. The text emphasizes the importance of considering the unique physiological changes and risks associated with aging when assessing and treating elderly patients with acute brain dysfunction. The text discusses the importance of considering acute ingestion and substance use disorders as potential causes of altered mental status (AMS) in older adults. It highlights alcohol as the most commonly ingested drug in this population, with high-risk drinking and binge
- Subjects
HYPERNATREMIA; HYPONATREMIA; OCTOGENARIANS; WERNICKE'S encephalopathy; POSTERIOR leukoencephalopathy syndrome
- Publication
Emergency Medicine Reports, 2024, Vol 45, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
0746-2506
- Publication type
Article