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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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.
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Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella and herpes zoster (HZ) in humans. Herpes zoster is the result of reactivation of VZV within certain sensory ganglia. The burden of illness from HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is high. ⋯ Reported side effects are mild and generally limited to localized injection site findings. Herpes-zoster vaccine reportedly decreases the occurrence of herpes zoster by approximately 50 percent and prevents the development of PHN by two thirds. The vaccine appears to be minimally effective in those individuals over the age of 80 and is not recommended in this age group.
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Clostridium difficile is an important health care-associated pathogen, especially among older adults who are disproportionately affected by C difficile infection (CDI). During the current decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence and severity of health care-associated CDI. ⋯ Prevention efforts should address patient-specific and facility-related risk factors. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of C difficile infection.