Flagship Journal

I was inspired to go into geriatric medicine in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when I was a registrar in medicine in Newcastle, UK. I worked with some truly inspirational geriatricians at the time, which I think was a major factor in my decision.

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a global health problem affecting both developing and developed countries, particularly in Asia. Nutritional deficiency, menstrual blood loss, and chronic gastrointestinal blood loss are the common causes of IDA.

Severe asthma (SA), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are three conditions driven by IL-5 and eosinophilic inflammation. As these conditions have high use of healthcare services, as well as lifestyle and psychological burdens, well-tolerated treatment to achieve optimal control is key.

Setting the scene, Bakris defined CKD as a reduction in kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2), alongside the presence of albuminuria (≥30 mg/day) as an indication of kidney damage.

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a frequent, severe, adverse haematological complication of myelosuppressive and immunosuppressive cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment.

An estimated 65 million people worldwide have moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term used to describe a group of progressive lung diseases that obstruct airflow such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking contributes to an estimated 90% of COPD cases, as the harmful chemicals produced during tobacco combustion damage the lungs and airways. Although smoking cessation is the only intervention shown to improve COPD prognosis in smokers, many patients who try to quit continue to smoke.

Metabolic acidosis is characterised by a primary decrease in the serum bicarbonate concentration, a secondary decrease in the arterial partial pressure of CO­2, and a reduction in blood pH. Metabolic acidosis, acute or chronic, may have deleterious effects on cellular function and cause increased morbidity and mortality.

Dr Imran Ahmad. Consultant Anaesthetist and Deputy Clinical Director for Theatres, Anaesthetics and Peri-operative Medicine, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, UK; President, Difficult Airway Society (DAS); Honorary Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London, UK.