Contribution of the elderly to a district hospital combined gastroenterology clinic.

The contribution of the elderly to the workload of a combined consultative District Hospital Gastroenterology Clinic has been studied over a 12-year period. The elderly group comprise 24% of the total referrals with a gradually increasing trend over successive years. The service implications are discussed and the main diagnostic categories reviewed. Particular attention is drawn to the low incidence of functional gastroenterological disorders in the elderly and the corollary that there is a high chance of an organic explanation for the presenting complaints.