RECOGNITION OF NEUROLOGIC DISEASES IN GERIATRIC INPATIENTS

Objectives: - To determine the prevalence of neurologic disease and th e diagnostic impact of neurologic consultation on a geriatric inpatien t unit. Material and methods - Consecutively admitted patients were pr ospectively assessed by a neurologist and by medical house staff on a geriatrics unit over a 4-month period. Neurologic diagnoses were compa red. Results - Fifty-eight men, aged 76.4+/-8.7 years old (mean+/-SD), had 1.4+/-1.1 new or revised neurologic diagnoses made by the neurolo gist. The prevalence of neurologic disorder was: gait or balance disor der (90%); cognitive disorders (71%); neuromuscular disorder (59%); ce rebrovascular disorder (38%); and extrapyramidal disorders (22%). New diagnoses were made by the neurologist among the cognitive (40%), neur omuscular (36%) and cerebrovascular disorders (19%). Conclusions - Neu rologic disease is highly prevalent in geriatric inpatients. A neurolo gist's assessment resulted in altered diagnoses suggesting that neurol ogists should play a role in geriatric assessment and in education of health professionals caring for the elderly.