TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional abdominal pain in the elderly
AU - Bharucha, A. E.
AU - Camilleri, M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants RO1DK54681-01 and K24DK02638-01 (MC), and RO1HD38666-01 (AEB).
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Although aging per se affects function throughout the gut, particularly after age 70, the observed changes are relatively modest and often asymptomatic, perhaps because of the vast reserve of neuromuscular functional elements in the gut. The proximal esophagus, anus, and pelvic floor are possible exceptions to this generalization, and the combination of aging and factors such as minor strokes or obstetric damage often results in dysphagia, constipation, or fecal incontinence. Managing elderly patients with functional abdominal pain demands clinical acumen, tact, understanding, and patience. Further studies are required to elucidate the consequences of aging on gastrointestinal sensorimotor function at several levels of the digestive tract. With the expected explosion in the proportion of the population older than age 75, this field should become a high priority for clinical and research efforts. Also required will be a major campaign to educate patients and practitioners and multidisciplinary collaborations among primary care practitioners, gastroenterologists, psychologists, and physiatrists to provide optimal pain management in the elderly.
AB - Although aging per se affects function throughout the gut, particularly after age 70, the observed changes are relatively modest and often asymptomatic, perhaps because of the vast reserve of neuromuscular functional elements in the gut. The proximal esophagus, anus, and pelvic floor are possible exceptions to this generalization, and the combination of aging and factors such as minor strokes or obstetric damage often results in dysphagia, constipation, or fecal incontinence. Managing elderly patients with functional abdominal pain demands clinical acumen, tact, understanding, and patience. Further studies are required to elucidate the consequences of aging on gastrointestinal sensorimotor function at several levels of the digestive tract. With the expected explosion in the proportion of the population older than age 75, this field should become a high priority for clinical and research efforts. Also required will be a major campaign to educate patients and practitioners and multidisciplinary collaborations among primary care practitioners, gastroenterologists, psychologists, and physiatrists to provide optimal pain management in the elderly.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70193-X
DO - 10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70193-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 11432303
AN - SCOPUS:0034973256
SN - 0889-8553
VL - 30
SP - 517
EP - 529
JO - Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
JF - Gastroenterology Clinics of North America
IS - 2
ER -