Develop professional guidelines for more than 20 syndromes and diseases specific to the elderly

SKĐS - The Ministry of Health and the Central Geriatric Hospital are developing professional guidelines for more than 20 groups of syndromes and diseases specific to the elderly, including high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, pneumonia, dementia, depression, etc.

On November 7 and 8, the 6th National Gerontology Conference took place in Quang Ninh with the theme "Successful aging and the era of prevention in the elderly " gathering more than 500 delegates who are leading experts and scientists from the country and internationally.

The conference focused on key contents such as: Preventive and comprehensive care models for the elderly; Chronic disease management, early rehabilitation and integrated care; Application of technology and sharing of international experiences in adapting to population aging.

Comprehensive care for the elderly according to Resolution 72

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trung Anh - Director of the Central Geriatric Hospital, Chairman of the Vietnam Geriatrics Association emphasized that 2025 is an important milestone when the Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW on "Some breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health in the new situation", which affirmed: " Developing geriatrics, strengthening the health care system for the elderly, adapting to the aging population is an urgent task ".

This is the right direction for the health sector in general and geriatrics in particular to continue to innovate thinking, develop a comprehensive care model focusing on early prevention and improving the quality of life of the elderly.

“We are entering an era of rapid population aging. The success of modern medicine is not only to prolong life, but also to help the elderly live healthy, active lives with a good quality of life. This is a shared responsibility of the entire health sector and the whole society,” said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Trung Anh.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Trung Anh - Director of the Central Geriatric Hospital, President of the Vietnam Geriatric Association spoke.

Towards a model of preventive medicine and life-cycle health management

Dr. Vuong Anh Duong - Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) said that Vietnam is one of the 10 countries with the highest population aging rate in the world. Therefore, the health care of the elderly is always a top priority for the Party and State.

The documents clearly stipulate the responsibilities of medical facilities, requiring general and specialized hospitals to organize geriatric departments or arrange separate beds for the elderly; at the same time, strengthen rehabilitation, combine traditional medicine and modern medicine in elderly health care. At the grassroots level, commune and ward health stations need to promote communication, consultation, and health records for the elderly, aiming at life-cycle health management.

The Ministry of Health has also issued Circular No. 35/2011/TT-BYT, clearly defining the role of the Central Geriatric Hospital - the leading hospital, the final line in examination, treatment and rehabilitation for the elderly. Geriatric hospitals are required to have a minimum size of 50 beds, ensuring facilities and human resources to meet the increasing treatment needs.

National and international experts shared at the 6th National Gerontology Conference.

Resolution 72 of the Politburo continues to emphasize the need to develop geriatrics, enhance health care for the elderly, and move towards a preventive medicine model and health management along the life cycle. Recently, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, in coordination with the Central Geriatric Hospital and hospitals such as Thong Nhat Hospital and Da Nang C Hospital, has organized many seminars to determine the orientation, focus, and key points for developing geriatrics in the coming time.

In professional work, experts have pointed out that the elderly often suffer from many specific syndromes and diseases such as: vulnerable syndrome, fall syndrome, sarcopenia syndrome (loss of muscle mass), nutritional disorders, depressive disorders... These syndromes often appear simultaneously in the same patient, especially in the group over 80 years old, when a person can suffer from 6 to 8 diseases at the same time.

This raises the question of which disease should be prioritized for treatment at that time and which specialty will take the lead in treatment? For example, if a geriatric patient has cardiovascular disease requiring vascular intervention or musculoskeletal disease requiring intensive intervention, can a geriatrician directly handle those situations? This is an important question that needs to be clearly defined in the development and orientation of geriatric activities in the general hospital system.

Dr. Duong said that the industry is researching to complete the scope of professional activities and the list of techniques for geriatricians. Currently, the national list of techniques has more than 9,200 techniques, but only about 30 specific techniques of geriatrics have not been fully updated, such as comprehensive assessment scales for the elderly, assessment of mental, social and nutritional functions... These are the contents that will be added in the coming period.

Caring for elderly patients at the Central Geriatric Hospital.

In addition, the Ministry of Health and the Central Geriatric Hospital are developing professional guidelines for more than 20 groups of syndromes and diseases specific to the elderly, including hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, pneumonia, dementia, depression, etc. to specify the differences in diagnosis, treatment and care compared to patients of other ages.

It is expected that in 2026, Decree 96 and Circular 32 will be revised, and guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, technical procedures and the scope of professional activities of geriatrics will be issued. This will be the foundation for the Vietnamese health system to develop synchronously in the field of geriatrics, meeting the needs of elderly health care in the current period of rapid population aging.

“Developing the Geriatrics specialty is a core task with profound humanitarian significance. We hope to continue receiving the consensus and intellectual contributions of domestic and international experts to jointly promote the sustainable development of this specialty" - Dr. Vuong Anh Duong emphasized.

The 6th National Geriatric Conference was co-organized by the Vietnam Geriatrics Association and the National Geriatrics Hospital, in coordination with the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Health and related units. This is a forum for sharing experiences and proposing new directions in research, training and care for the elderly, while strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and international medical and academic organizations.

More than 100 scientific reports with in-depth topics on dementia, frailty syndrome, cardiovascular-renal-metabolic diseases, the role of preventive vaccines and elderly care models adapted to the new context. Thereby aiming to improve the quality of life, prolong healthy life, and contribute to building an elderly health care system adapted to the rapid aging process in Vietnam.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/xay-dung-huong-dan-chuyen-mon-cho-hon-20-nhom-hoi-chung-va-benh-ly-dac-trung-o-nguoi-cao-tuoi-169251107212041193.htm