COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT - FACT S AND CHALLENGES

A recent meta-analysis has shown that comprehensive geriatric assessme nt can reduce mortality, increase survival at home, and improve functi onal status in elderly patients. Despite their high effectiveness, ger iatric assessment programs have not yet been widely introduced into cl inical practice. This review discusses the following four factors pote ntially explaining the limited spread of geriatric assessment programs . 1) There is a lack of accepted targeting criteria to select patients who need evaluation and management in costly in patient geriatric uni ts. 2) There are effectiveness gaps in current knowledge on modifiable disability risk factors. 3) Geriatric assessment programs have been i nsufficiently integrated into the continuity of primary care. 4) More data are needed for evaluating the cost of geriatric assessment. Inter disciplinary research might help to optimize geriatric assessment prog rams and, at the same time, might ensure access of elderly patients to appropriate geriatric assessment programs despite current restraints in health care costs.