Elderly care: doctors discriminate says study

Half of doctors discriminate against elderly patients because of their age according to a study of elderly patients with angina. They were less likely to be prescribed a statin to lower their cholesterol, given appropriate tests, be referred to a cardiologistor or be offered surgical treatments. They were more likely to have current prescriptions changed and be told to come back later.

The survey questioned 28 GPs, 28 elderly care specialists and 29 cardiologists from southern England and the Midlands. The study of doctors treatment of the elderly (published in the journal Quality and Safety in Health Care)found patients over 65 were managed differently from younger patients.

In the study the doctors were interviewed about 72 fictional patients with varying degrees of heart problemsangina were presented using a specially-created computer programme.