You are right, confusion or altered mental status can be a sign of many other conditions. It is easy to take confusion for granted in elderly patients because of the thought that they are only suffering from Dementia. This is one of the reasons why changes like acute confusion and mild changes in behavior should be taken seriously. Silent myocardial infarction can show vague symptoms especially for frail older adults. Yes, I have seen patients who present with GI upset turns out having an MI. I have not heard that excessive burping can also be a sign of MI and it is something that I just learned today. I am excited about this course, because it will help me expand my knowledge and assessment skills when caring for geriatric populations.
