Digestive system diseases in the elderly: Symptoms and diagnostics (cross-sectional trial)

Abstract

Diseases of the digestive system are widely represented in modern society and tend to increase in frequency among the elderly. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms and established diagnoses of digestive system diseases in the elderly and senile age. 106 patients were examined: 77 (72.6 %) women and 29 (27.4 %) men aged 65 to 92 years; the median age was 77 years. All subjects were examined for symptoms and medical history of digestive diseases, medical history of drugs, screening for frailty, malnutrition, and depression, and an analysis of outpatient cards for the previous 5 years. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms in the elderly were epigastric pain (33.0 %) and epigastric burning (30.2 %), bloating (33.9 %), and constipation (28.3 %), and frequent heartburn (20.8 %). Less common symptoms included loose stools (17.9 %) and pain in the mesogastrium and hypogastrium (16.9 %). Only 33.0 % of respondents were diagnosed with a digestive disease. The underdiagnosis of digestive diseases may be due to the infrequent use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and liver tests. 52.8 % of respondents reported taking medications for gastrointestinal symptoms, often without a doctor's prescription, particularly proton pump inhibitors, antispasmodics, and non-optimal classes of laxatives. Symptoms of digestive disorders, including constipation and gastric or colon resection, increase the risk of frailty and malnutrition.