A Clinical Study of Colon Diseases of Old Age Based on Colonoscopic Finding

BACKGROUND: Recently, geriatric diseases become the matter of concern, and the neoplastic lesion of colon including polyp and cancer by the western-style diet is increasing. The aims of this study were to assess the relations between colon diseases, clinical manifestations and features of colonoscopic finding in elderly. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated records of 764 patients underwent colonoscopy. Colonoscopic finding, each colon diseases and lower gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed to compare between two groups, which are 416 elders aged over 65 and control of 348 adults aged from 25 to 65. RESULTS: Both two groups underwent colonoscopy showed lower abdominal pain is the most symptom of lower gastrointestinal symptoms. But, anaemia and bowel habit change were significantly high frequency in the elderly group while diarrhea appeared in the control group(p<0.05). Colon polyp and cancer were significantly increased frequency in the elderly group(p<0.05). Symptoms such as diarrhea and hematochezia were significantly high in case of colon polyp of elderly group(p<0.05). But in case of colon cancer, lower abdominal pain had significantly high in the control group compared with the elderly group who had various lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, hematochezia, bowel habit change(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As people getting older, the incidence of colon polys and cancer is higher, and non-specific, various clinical manifestations are seen. Therefore, we think that seniors who have change in bowel habit, abdominal pain, hematochezia or constipation need colonoscopy increasingly and should pay attention to find neoplastic lesions.

Clinical Analysis of Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases in Elderly Patients Underwent Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Background: Recently the elderly people have increased in Korea. So, the interest of upper gastrointestinal diseases have increased. Our aim was to determine clinical characteristics of upper gastrointestinal diseases in the elderly patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Methods: We investigated clinical characteristics of 1190 elderly patients aged 65 years or older and 952 controls aged 64 years or younger who underwent esophagogastrodu odenoscopy in Seonam University Hospital from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2004. retrospecti vely. Only two main symptoms were included among symptoms of two or over. The endoscopic findings were in the same manner. Results: The average age were 73.9 (+/-7.25)-year-old in the elderly, and 47.2 (+/-11.32)-year-old in controls. The most common symptom was dyspepsia in the elderly and in controls. The most common endoscopic findings showed chronic atrophic gastritis in the elderly, and chronic erythematous & erosive gastritis in controls. 64% was positive in 424 cases performed rapid urease test in the elderly and 63% was positive in controls. The most common associated diseases was hypertension in both group. The history of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirins were 21% in the elderly, and 15% in controls. Conclusion: We found that dyspepsia was the most common symptom in the elderly and controls underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The most common upper intestinal disease was chronic atrophic gastritis in the elderly. We recommend esophagogastroduodenoscopy for the elderly patients in regular interval because they may have vague and atypical symptoms or asymptom.