[Fluid intake by healthy old people? A literature survey]

This literature search investigates the amount of fluid that a healthy elderly person drinks if he is able to drink according to his needs. The answer to this physiological question may be used by clinicians if they make decisions about how much fluid they need to administer to their patients. The literature that offered an answer to this question was limited. The total number of patients that were examined, however, was high (2866). It appeared that healthy elderly people drink approximately 2100 ml. of fluid per day. This is (probably) no less than the average fluid intake of young adults. Clinicians often think that healthy elderly persons drink less than healthy young adults. However, there is no evidence to be found in the literature to support this opinion. The tendency to underestimate the fluid intake level of elderly patients should be taken into account when determining the quantity of fluid that should be administered to an individual patient.