PROSPECTIVE CARE OF ELDERLY PATIENTS IN FAMILY-PRACTICE .3. PREVALENCE OF UNRECOGNIZED TREATABLE HEALTH CONCERNS

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of recognized and unrecognized h ealth concerns and risks in an elderly population. DESIGN Questionnair e survey. SETTING Institutional primary care practice in a small south ern Ontario city. PATIENTS Volunteer sample of all patients older than 65 years (N = 1385) who were registered with the practice; were not d emented, unstable, or residing in institutions at the time of contact; consented to participate; and completed a questionnaire (n = 674). MA IN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported health concerns and health risks, in cluding compliance with periodic health examinations; patient-generate d concerns; and medical, lifestyle, and psychosocial issues. RESULTS M ost (92%) patients had at least one health concern or risk; 83% of the se had one or more unreported or unrecognized health concerns or risks . The proportion with at least one concern or risk did not differ by s ex or by age group. Many but not all complied with periodic health exa minations. Loneliness was a meaningful psychosocial problem. Many pati ents had unreported medical concerns; the proportion rose slightly wit h age. Seniors with more concerns visited more frequently. CONCLUSIONS Although most seniors had health concerns or risks, on average, each patient had only one or two concerns. These concerns are not concentra ted in any particular area. Although non-attenders have fewer concerns , many have risk factors for diseases likely to progress without preve ntive measures, such as influenza vaccine and screening procedures for hypertension and breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.