Читать книгу Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 339

Older adults are at risk for dehydration because of both reduced fluid intake and increased fluid losses. Ageing is associated with a reduction in thirst in response to water deprivation that is observed in a lower self‐reported thirst score during dehydration and in ingestion of less water after the dehydration period. Acute weight loss of ≥3% of total body mass or more than 1 kg weight loss per day points to the possibility of dehydration. It is a common and potentially lethal problem in both institutionalized and community‐dwelling elderly people. In hospitals, the mortality rate may be up to 50% in older adults with dehydration. The most common causes of dehydration are infection, altered level of consciousness, cognitive impairment, and use of diuretics. Schols et al.¹³ concluded that dehydration is a common problem in nursing homes, often due to failures in the detection of dehydration and appropriate management. An overload of water and salt is also common and may result in impaired recovery from surgery or perioperative mortality and morbidity. The general recommendation for elders is to consume approximately 1.5 l of fluid daily.