Medicine of Older Adults1 UKMLA question
Falls in the elderly — UKMLA Revision Notes
Falls in the elderly is an important clinical condition in Medicine of Older Adults that is tested in the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT). Medical students and doctors preparing for the UKMLA or PLAB 1 must understand the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, investigations, and evidence-based management of Falls in the elderly as outlined in current NICE guidelines.
Key Facts
- Falls in the elderly is a key condition on the GMC UKMLA Content Map
- Commonly tested in the Medicine of Older Adults section of the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test
- Understand the pathophysiology, clinical features, investigations, and management
- NICE guidelines provide the evidence base for management decisions
- Consider differential diagnoses and red flag symptoms in clinical scenarios
Investigations
- Clinical history and examination
- FBC, U&E, LFTs
- Urine dipstick
- Blood pressure measurement
- Fasting lipids/glucose
- Relevant specialist referral
Management
- Patient education and lifestyle advice
- Pharmacological management per NICE guidelines
- Safety netting and follow-up
- Referral to secondary care if indicated
- Chronic disease management plan
- Shared decision-making