Diarrhea is a significant cause of morbidity and
mortality worldwide. In geriatric patients, especially due to comorbid
conditions and multiple medication use, diarrhea episodes can be more fatal.
Data regarding the most common causes of diarrhea in the elderly is limited
because concurrent comorbid conditions and medications used in elderly patients
make it difficult to determine the exact cause of diarrhea. Diarrhea can put an
elderly patient at risk of dehydration and malnutrition, significantly affecting
their quality of life and functional status. The approach to evaluating chronic
diarrhea in the elderly can be complex due to its multifactorial potential.
Important factors to consider in the geriatric population include an increased
likelihood of colorectal cancer, a second peak in the incidence of inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD), the potential contribution of polypharmacy to diarrhea,
and awareness that fecal incontinence may be more likely in elderly
individuals.
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