Survey shows that older patients are missing out on specialist healthcare

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Doctors are still denying both tests and treatment to older patients.
Doctors sometimes treat older patients differently because they are concerned about co-existing illnesses or the patient's overall state of health. A survey carried out among doctors in England now shows the consequences of this kind of attitude towards older patients. A group of around 90 family doctors, elder care specialists and cardiologists was questioned about how they would treat 72 fictional patients with angina.

The research was carried out using a specially devised computer program and face to face interviews. The 'patients' were aged 45 and 92, had differing degrees of angina severity and provided head and shoulders photos. Overall, older patients were less likely to be referred to a cardiologist, or be offered an angiogram or exercise tolerance test. They were also less likely to be offered angioplasty or heart bypass. The older patients were, however, more likely to be asked to return and to have medication altered. Around half of the doctors in each group were influenced by a patient's age. The reasons they gave were various - relating to the patient's own wishes, potential complications of the treatment and the frailty of the individual concerned.

Source
Quality and Safety in Health Care 2007 Volume 16 pages 23-27

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