Although the function of most organ systems in the body decreases with age, aging has relatively little effect on the function of the gastroenterologic organs. This is probably due to the large functional reserve capacity, such as redundancy in the structure of the organ system and excessive production of hormones and enzymes. Most gastroenterologic disorders developed in younger persons may also develop in the elderly. However, the presentation, treatment and prognosis may be different between elderly patients and younger patients. One important thing is the high prevalence of certain disorders in the elderly. For example, the incidence of peptic ulcer, ischemic complications of vascular abnormalities, drug-induced disorders, malignancies, and some other disorders significantly increases with age. These disorders results either from age-determined changes in the gastroenterologic organs or from extragastroenterologic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, neurologic diseases, and vascular changes. In this paper, an important consideration of common gastroenterologic disorders frequently developed in the Korean elderly is described. In addition, physiologic and pathologic changes of the gastroenterologic organs associated with aging are also discussed.
Aged ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology/therapy ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology

Although the function of most organ systems in the body decreases with age, aging has relatively little effect on the function of the gastroenterologic organs. This is probably due to the large functional reserve capacity, such as redundancy in the structure of the organ system and excessive production of hormones and enzymes. Most gastroenterologic disorders developed in younger persons may also develop in the elderly. However, the presentation, treatment and prognosis may be different between elderly patients and younger patients. One important thing is the high prevalence of certain disorders in the elderly. For example, the incidence of peptic ulcer, ischemic complications of vascular abnormalities, drug-induced disorders, malignancies, and some other disorders significantly increases with age. These disorders results either from age-determined changes in the gastroenterologic organs or from extragastroenterologic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, neurologic diseases, and vascular changes. In this paper, an important consideration of common gastroenterologic disorders frequently developed in the Korean elderly is described. In addition, physiologic and pathologic changes of the gastroenterologic organs associated with aging are also discussed.
Aged ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology/therapy ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology

To determine the approximate incidence and clinical features of pernicious anemia in a Korean population, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data for patients with pernicious anemia who were diagnosed between 1995 and 2010 at five hospitals in Chungnam province. Ninety-seven patients were enrolled, who accounted for 24% of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. The approximate annual incidence of pernicious anemia was 0.3 per 100,000. The median age was 66 (range, 32-98) yr, and the male/female ratio was 1.25. Anemia-associated discomfort was the most common symptom (79.4%), followed by gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms (78.4% and 38.1%, respectively). Pancytopenia was found in 36 patients (37.1%), and autoimmune disorders were found in 15 patients (15.5%). Antibody to intrinsic factor was detected in 62 (77.5%) of 80 patients examined, and antibody to parietal cells was detected in 35 (43.2%) of 81 patients examined. Of the 34 patients who underwent tests for Helicobacter pylori, 7 (12.5%) were positive. The anemia-associated and gastrointestinal symptoms resolved completely in all patients after intramuscular injection of cobalamin, whereas neurological symptoms remained in some. In conclusion, pernicious anemia is less frequent in Koreans than in Western populations; however, the clinical features of this disorder in Koreans do not differ from those of Western cases.
Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Pernicious/complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications/epidemiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/complications/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Isoantibodies/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System Diseases/complications/epidemiology ; Parietal Cells, Gastric/immunology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin B 12/blood/therapeutic use

Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; complications ; pathology ; Rats ; Stomach Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy