Management of Oesophageal Disease in the Elderly

Abstract

Oesophageal disease becomes increasingly common with age and is therefore prevalent in the elderly (>70 yr). Oesophageal disease may present with symptoms related to the oesophagus - dysphagia, odynophagia or chest pain - and presents a number of management challenges related to the presence of comorbidities in this group. With the exception of infections and the occasional malignancy, diseases affecting the oesophagus are generally chronic, progressive and not amenable to curative therapy. Oesophageal diseases affecting the elderly may be grouped into gastrooesophageal reflux disease, motility disorders, malignancy, infection and drug-induced oesophageal disease. This article reviews the us..