Geriatric patients show various changes in the liver, which play a role in the clinical characteristics of liver diseases in these patients. Geriatric patients with risk factors for hepatitis should be screened for liver disease, along with those that have a family history of liver diseases, or a history of long-term or heavy alcohol consumption. Age cannot be a single exclusion criterion from the liver transplantation, and an individualization strategy, which takes into consideration all risk factors of a recipient, needs to be considered. Geriatric patients should be a candidate for liver transplant, and the healthcare team treating our elderly generation to collaborate for these patients for them to have a smoother transition both in pre-transplant phase and post-transplant phase. Decreases in the functioning of the liver and other organs, as well as, alterations in immune functions should be taken into consideration in the management of the liver diseases. Aging has been shown to not only enhance vulnerability to acute liver injury but also increase the susceptibility of the fibrotic response. Aging has a significant impact on the risk and poor prognosis of various liver diseases including NAFLD, ALD, HCV, and liver transplantation. The diagnosis of advanced liver disease is important to make in the elderly population since many of the condition’s features are treatable and can lead to improved quality of life and, most importantly, decrease the likelihood of acute care hospitalization, which carries a high risk of nosocomial infections and therapeutic mishaps in the aged population.

Journal of Digestive Diseases and Hepatology, 2019, 3: 167.