geriatrics
Overview of Evaluation of the Older Adult
Missed or delayed diagnosis
Disorders that are common among older adults are frequently missed, or the diagnosis is delayed. Clinicians should use the history, physical examination, and simple laboratory tests to actively screen for disorders that occur only or more commonly in older patients (see Disorders More Common Among Older Adults ); when diagnosed early, these disorders can often be more easily treated. Early diagnosis frequently depends on the clinician’s familiarity with the patient’s behavior and history, including 