Geriatric syndromes, falls, polypharmacy, and cognitive decline as tested on USMLE Step 2 CK.
38 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is a geriatric syndrome?
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A multifactorial health condition in older adults resulting from the cumulative effect of impairments in multiple systems, not from a single disease- What are the core components of Fried frailty phenotype?
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Unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, weakness (grip strength), slow gait speed, and low physical activity- What single bedside test best screens for fall risk by timing a patient standing, walking 3 meters, turning, and sitting back down?
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Timed Up and Go (TUG) test- A TUG test time of more than how many seconds suggests increased fall risk?
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12 seconds- What is the diagnostic criterion for orthostatic hypotension?
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A drop in systolic BP of at least 20 mmHg or diastolic BP of at least 10 mmHg within 3 minutes of standing- What is the purpose of the Beers Criteria?
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A list identifying medications that are potentially inappropriate for use in older adults due to higher risk of adverse effects- In the STOPP/START tool, what does STOPP identify?
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Potentially inappropriate medications that should be stopped in older adults- In the STOPP/START tool, what does START identify?
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Medications that are appropriate and should be started if not already prescribed- Why are benzodiazepines generally avoided in elderly patients?
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They increase the risk of falls, fractures, sedation, and cognitive impairment- Why are anticholinergic medications particularly risky in elderly patients?
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They can worsen cognition, cause confusion or delirium, and contribute to falls and urinary retention- What is polypharmacy commonly defined as?
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Regular use of five or more medications by a single patient- What is the key clinical feature that distinguishes delirium from dementia?
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Delirium has an acute onset with a fluctuating course, while dementia has a gradual, progressive onset- Which feature of consciousness is typically impaired in delirium but preserved in dementia?
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Attention and level of consciousness- What tool is most commonly used at the bedside to diagnose delirium?
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Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)- According to the CAM, delirium requires acute onset with fluctuating course, inattention, plus which one of the following two features: disorganized thinking or altered level of consciousness?
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Either disorganized thinking or altered level of consciousness (at least one is required)
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