Screening the elderly: a Christchurch study

Two hundred and four people aged 65 year or older participated in a study to assess the merits of screening the elderly in a general practice. An average of 4.6 (SD 2.2) problems per patient were found. There was a mean of 1.1 (1.0) previously unrecognised problems per patient. Visual and hearing impairment, prostatism, incontinence and some neurological conditions were the main unrecognised problems. Those with unrecognised problems were older, less mobile and received more community supports. There was also a trend towards lower mental status questionnaire and functional scores and to greater medication usage. The results of this study support the principle of screening or case finding in the elderly. Targeting those at risk is required in order to reduce the workload involved. However, the current at risk indicators identified only a proportion of those in need of screening. Further research is required as to how to correctly identify these patients.