11Gastrointestinal and liver side effects of drugs in elderly patients
Section snippets
Pill injury
Elderly patients may have impaired salivary production [5], oesophageal motility disorders [6] or anatomical abnormalities (oesophageal strictures due to chronic reflux) [7]. These conditions predispose tablets and gelatin capsules to become lodged within the oesophagus. Thereafter, they dissolve and their content causes mucosal damage [8]. Factors influencing the severity of pill-induced injury to the oesophagus include chemical and physical properties of the drug, drug formulation, size and
Introduction – epidemiology
Drug-induced liver disease occurs with increased frequency in the elderly. It has been estimated that drug hepatotoxicity accounts for 10% of cases of hepatitis in all adults and >40% in patients >50 years of age [58]. In Denmark, the overall incidence of drug-induced hepatitis is 20 per 1 million person-years. The incidence increases to a maximum of 50 per 1 million person-years in persons belonging to the age group of 70–79 years [59]. Drug-induced liver disease tends to be more severe in the
Conclusion
Drugs side effects affecting the gastrointestinal tract are common in the elderly. The range of these effects is wide, involving every part of the peptic lumen, presenting with different levels of intensity and making differential diagnosis from other common geriatric organic disorders difficult. However, these effects have not been adequately studied since elderly population is usually excluded from clinical studies and most of the information is derived from clinical practise and
Conflicts of interest
None declared.
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