To provide the cultural basis to learn about the epidemiology, specificity and clinical presentation of the elderly's illnesses. Main aspects of geriatric diseases. Development of the decision-making process for an appropriate assessment request (differential diagnostics) of the most common pathologies of geriatric interest and the knowledge necessary to conduct the multidimensional evaluation of the elderly patient. Approach to therapeutic, pharmacological and non-pharmacological orientation in the elderly patient. Approach to preventive measures in elderly patients.
To learn the main rheumatic diseases (autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders), their clinical pictures, diagnostic work-up, and therapeutic notes.
Frontal lessons
Classroom lessons, using PowerPoint.
GERONTOLOGY Biology, physiology, demographic and epidemiological aspects of aging: classification and types of aging. Theories of aging and hallmarks (distinctive features).
Age-related changes in the endocrine system: somatopause, adrenopause, late-onset hypogonadism (LOH)
GERIATRIC MEDICINE: the geriatric patient and his clinical evaluation: Models of care in Geriatrics (bio-medical, bio-psycho-social, functional). Specific aspects of presentation of diseases in old age: the "complex" elderly; the "frail" elderly, polypathology, the concept of disability and multidimensional assessment tools (VMD)
Geriatric syndromes: distinctive features; atypical presentation of disease. Giants of Geriatrics: immobility, instability, incontinence, iatrogenic drug reactions, intellectual impairment.
Malnutrition; Sarcopenia
M. of Parkinson's and parkinsonism
Dementias (primary and secondary) - Delirium
Urinary tract infections in the elderly
Inflammatory prostatitis in the elderly (= prostatic adenomyomitis / related IPC and its comorbidities (UPOINT phenotype)
Sexual dysfunction in the elderly male
Cardiovascular diseases: arterial hypertension in the elderly; heart failure. Syncope; AOCP; stroke
Endocrine diseases in the elderly: senile diabetes, hypo and hyperthyroidism, s. from low T3
DVT and Pulmonary Embolism
Anemias in the elderly
Principles of care for the elderly in different care situations: integrated network of services in geriatrics; the Geriatric Evaluation Unit; continuity of care between hospital and territory; the nursing homes.
The pain in rheumatology: articular inflammatory or degenerative pain, muscle and fibromyalgic pain, neuropathic pain.
The main chronic inflammatory arthropathies: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankilosing spondylitis, and other spondyloarthritis. Main features, diagnostic work-up, and brief therapeutic notes.
Crystal arthritis: gout and chondrocalcinosis.
Osteoarthritis.
Fibromyalgia.
Polymialgia rheumatica.
Connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Main features, diagnostic work-up, and brief therapeutic notes.
Vasculitides: giant cell arteritis and Takayasu's arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki's disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, ANCA-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis). Main features, diagnostic work-up, and brief therapeutic notes.
Autoinflammatory diseases: physiopathological concepts and brief description of the main syndromes.
Osteoporosis.
Other painful syndromes due to nerve commpression.
1. Manuale Merck di Geriatria;
2. Linee guida nel trattamento e nella gestione delle malattie geriatriche. M. Palleschi, S.M. Zuccaro, F. Nico. Cesi
3. Paziente anziano, paziente geriatrico e medicina della complessità. Fondamenti di gerontologia e geriatria. U. Senin, A, Cherubini, P. Mecocci - Edises
Books for medical students or general practioners on rheumatology or clinical immunology are suggested.