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Tribune News Network
Doha
The latest developments and challenges in providing healthcare to older patients were explained at the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Grand Rounds.
Dr Mai Mahmoud, assistant professor of Medicine at WCM-Q, identified health issues and common challenges relating to older adults and explained how healthcare providers can use evidence-based practices to create effective care plans.
Dr Mahmoud, who also holds the positions of Consultant in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Hamad Medical Corporation, said that the global population is ageing. According to the WHO, between 2015 and 2050 the proportion of the world’s population aged over 60 will rise from 12 percent to 22 percent.
Dr Mahmoud explained that societies and healthcare systems should prepare for rise in the ageing population by creating age-friendly environments, both within health institutions and in the wider community. She said: “I am glad to see healthy ageing is a priority in Qatar National Development Strategy 2018-2022.”
Dr Mahmoud said: “With age, the organs of the body lose their physiological reserve of cells, which function somewhat like spare parts that allow each organ to maintain its function during an insult like an illness. Also, there are more medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension and arthritis that require medications, so we often have the additional issue of polypharmacy and the side-effects of medications to consider. All these challenges make older patients more vulnerable to severe diseases and complications when compared to younger population.”
Dr Mahmoud explained the risk posed to older patients by falls, which are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in patients aged over 65. Complications following falls, such as fractures and problems arising from surgeries, are also a common cause of death among older patients. Older patients most at risk of falls are those with dementia, poor vision, osteoarthritis, general frailty, sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), cardiovascular disease, central nervous system diseases and complications from diabetes mellitus and certain prescription drugs, she said.
To mitigate these issues, healthcare practitioners must understand the health issues of the hospitalised older patients in a holistic manner, conduct frequent patient evaluations, manage medications extremely carefully, be patient, give clear and simple instructions, and assess the patient’s mental state as often as possible. Also, healthcare professionals should be aware of the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria (named after Mark Beers MD) for drugs that should be avoided in older patient. Older adults should also receive vaccines and screening as recommended.
Dr Mahmoud is also director for Student Academic Advising and director of the Medicine Clerkship at WCM-Q.
Doha
The latest developments and challenges in providing healthcare to older patients were explained at the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Grand Rounds.
Dr Mai Mahmoud, assistant professor of Medicine at WCM-Q, identified health issues and common challenges relating to older adults and explained how healthcare providers can use evidence-based practices to create effective care plans.
Dr Mahmoud, who also holds the positions of Consultant in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at Hamad Medical Corporation, said that the global population is ageing. According to the WHO, between 2015 and 2050 the proportion of the world’s population aged over 60 will rise from 12 percent to 22 percent.
Dr Mahmoud explained that societies and healthcare systems should prepare for rise in the ageing population by creating age-friendly environments, both within health institutions and in the wider community. She said: “I am glad to see healthy ageing is a priority in Qatar National Development Strategy 2018-2022.”
Dr Mahmoud said: “With age, the organs of the body lose their physiological reserve of cells, which function somewhat like spare parts that allow each organ to maintain its function during an insult like an illness. Also, there are more medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension and arthritis that require medications, so we often have the additional issue of polypharmacy and the side-effects of medications to consider. All these challenges make older patients more vulnerable to severe diseases and complications when compared to younger population.”
Dr Mahmoud explained the risk posed to older patients by falls, which are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in patients aged over 65. Complications following falls, such as fractures and problems arising from surgeries, are also a common cause of death among older patients. Older patients most at risk of falls are those with dementia, poor vision, osteoarthritis, general frailty, sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), cardiovascular disease, central nervous system diseases and complications from diabetes mellitus and certain prescription drugs, she said.
To mitigate these issues, healthcare practitioners must understand the health issues of the hospitalised older patients in a holistic manner, conduct frequent patient evaluations, manage medications extremely carefully, be patient, give clear and simple instructions, and assess the patient’s mental state as often as possible. Also, healthcare professionals should be aware of the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria (named after Mark Beers MD) for drugs that should be avoided in older patient. Older adults should also receive vaccines and screening as recommended.
Dr Mahmoud is also director for Student Academic Advising and director of the Medicine Clerkship at WCM-Q.
