Geriatric Anesthesia: A Prospective Study on the Prevalence of Comorbidities and Associated Challenges in Elderly Surgical Patients in Bangladesh

Background: This study is built upon the understanding that ageing is a physiological phenomenon characterized by degenerative changes to organ and tissue structure and function. This physiological process can be seen in the geriatric population's heightened sensitivity to anaesthetic drugs, which often requires reduced dosage for desired clinical results. The complexities of the geriatric population necessitate specialized perioperative care plans to optimize patient outcomes. This study examines the difficulties associated with geriatric anaesthesia, focusing on anaesthesia-related intraoperative and postoperative problems in elderly individuals.

Objective: Geriatric anesthesia necessitates understanding, observing, and managing associated difficulties, risks, and co-existing conditions for optimal patient outcomes.

Methods: This research employs a prospective observational study design and was conducted at the Department of Anesthesia, Sadar Hospital, Chuadanga District, Bangladesh. A sample of 100 patients aged over 60 who received surgical treatments was studied. The patients were evaluated through medical history, physical examination, and necessary investigations were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 software.

Results: The study's primary findings were that the most prevalent cardiovascular comorbidity was hypertension (40%), followed by emphysema as the most common pulmonary comorbidity (30%), and epilepsy and seizure disorders were the most common neurological conditions (22%). In addition, the age distribution revealed the majority (60%) of patients fell within the 66-70 years age bracket.

Conclusion: This prospective study highlights the high prevalence of co-existing medical conditions, especially hypertension, emphysema, and epilepsy in the geriatric population undergoing surgery in Bangladesh. Anesthesia management in the elderly is challenged by a higher susceptibility to complications such as intraoperative hypotension and postoperative delirium, particularly in the 70-79 age group. These findings underscore the importance of specialized perioperative care, meticulous preoperative evaluation, and targeted anaesthesia strategies to optimize outcomes in elderly surgical patients in resource-limited settings like Bangladesh.