An 82-year-old male who has recently been widowed is now admitted to the hospital for confusion and lethargy. His blood glucose level is 560 mg/dL, BUN is 28 mg/dL, creatinine is 1.8 mg/dL, hemoglobin 11.5 g/mL, hematocrit is 35% , and WBC is 12,000. His temperature is 99.6°. It is important to monitor lab values in the older adult due to risk factors that predispose the patient to toxic drug effects. Identify possible age-related changes in the older adult that would predispose the patient to toxic drug effects. Select all that apply. Select all that apply.

Question

An 82-year-old male who has recently been widowed is now admitted to the hospital for confusion and lethargy. His blood glucose level is 560 mg/dL, BUN is 28 mg/dL, creatinine is 1.8 mg/dL, hemoglobin 11.5 g/mL, hematocrit is 35% , and WBC is 12,000. His temperature is 99.6°. It is important to monitor lab values in the older adult due to risk factors that predispose the patient to toxic drug effects. Identify possible age-related changes in the older adult that would predispose the patient to toxic drug effects. Select all that apply.  Select all that apply.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Age-related changes that predispose older adults to toxic drug effects include changes in tissue and organ structure, a decrease in liver function, polypharmacy (taking several drugs at once), and a decrease in renal function. These factors can affect drug metabolism and excretion, increasing the risk of toxicity.

An 82-Year-Old Male Who Has Recently Been Widowed Is Now