Rationale to integrate comprehensive geriatric assessment for older olds presenting gastro-intestinal disorders

The prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms is underestimated. However, complaints consistent with functional gastrointestinal disorders are common in the elderly, but symptoms are a poor predictor of presentation for medical care. Moreover, chronic colonic symptoms appear to interfere with daily living and quality of life in the elderly. Clinicians are questioning about the diagnostic management of frail older adults presenting these common and non specific symptoms. This paper proposes a definition of the "geriatric patient" and gives an overview of recently published literature concerning the concept of comprehensive geriatric assessment. The rationale to integrate comprehensive geriatric assessment for older adults presenting gastro-intestinal disorders is pointed out.