How to Diagnose Failure to Thrive in the Elderly

Failure to thrive in geriatric patients is a state of decline that may be caused by factors such as chronic diseases or functional impairments. It is characterized by a gradual physical decline accompanied by apathy and a loss of willingness to eat or drink. Failure to thrive is prevalent in hospitalized veterans and affects up to 60 percent of these patients. Here's how to diagnose failure to thrive in the elderly.

Instructions

1

Weigh the elderly patient. The Institute of Medicine includes weight loss of more than 5 percent of the baseline as the only objective criteria for failure to thrive. A diagnosis is therefore almost entirely clinical.

2

Conduct an initial evaluation of the patient's level of cognitive impairment, depression, impaired physical function and malnutrition. These factors are considered predictive of the outcome of a failure to thrive.

3

Obtain a thorough history and physical examination. The goal of this phase of the evaluation is to identify any underlying medical conditions that may account for the symptoms. Possible causes of this type are extensive but generally may be categorized as systemic diseases or chronic organ failures.

4

Review the elderly patient's medication. This can be particularly challenging in the case of geriatric patients who may have a lengthy list of medication. The patient's symptoms may need to be referenced against possible drug interactions for a matching side effect.

5

Evaluate the patient for psychosocial function, especially depression. This is a common cause of failure to thrive, especially for patients requiring long-term care in a hospital setting. The Mini-Mental State Examination is considered a valid tool for this requirement.