COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT (CGA) IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: IDENTIFY VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Introduction: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) has the purpose of early diagnosis of diseases of aging, aimed at preventing hospitalizations and adverse clinical outcomes. The clinical manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency are polymorphic, being a cause of reversible dementia and requiring skills of health professionals in Primary Health Care.Objectives: To quantify the elderly ascribed to the territory covered by health center, with serum vitamin B12, identify cases of vitamin deficiency and find signs and symptoms.Methodology: Data were collected from medical records, generating a total of 215 elderly ascribed in 4 microareas; identifying cases of vitamin B12 deficiency (serum levels below 180 pg / ml); symptomatic disease evaluation (megaloblastic anemia associated with neurological symptoms with frequent appearance of the triad weakness, glossitis and paresthesia).Results: In 2015 the care of the elderly population represented 19.8% clinical evaluation (3602 total). In 4 microareas studied, we found 21 cases of vitamin B12 deficiency and indicated as replacement scheme: Vitamin B12 5000 IU intramuscularly once a week in the first month; after 2 applications 15 days apart in the second month; monthly the third month to the sixth month. Then requested new serum Vitamin B12. Fourteen patients satisfactorily adhered to the proposed treatment, reporting improvement in symptoms (memory, muscle weakness and falls).Conclusion: Three elderly did not follow the proposed treatment. We observed that 69.7% of all ascribed elderly were evaluated with the serum, requiring therefore more available to the crew identify early those cases. Practical training is a great teaching and learning strategy that disseminates and uses essential tools‘ evaluation of the elderly in full.