Screening investigations in the elderly

The study evaluates the usefulness of some commonly used screening investigations in the management of elderly acutely ill medical patients. It was performed on 50 consecutive admissions to one ward and all patients received a full blood count, ESR, urea and electrolyte estimation, liver function tests, thyroid function tests, examination of a mid-stream urine specimen and P-A chest X-ray examination. When performed in the absence of clinical indication these tests were considered to be screening tests. On assessing the tests performed prospectively, it was shown that only a full blood count, urea and electrolyte estimation, ward testing of urine, and, possibly, a P-A chest X-ray examination are worthwhile screening investigations in this patient population. The ESR and liver function tests and mid-stream urine specimens seem to be of little value in the absence of clinical indication.